In The News

Daines addresses Bureau of Indian Affairs official during committee hearing

During Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C., Senator Steve Daines spoke about how the missing and murdered indigenous women crisis needs immediate attention. Daines said that communication between the different law enforcement agencies needs to improve to be able to combat the problem. “The murder rate of native woman are 10 times the national average,” Daines said. Daines added that lawmakers must raise awareness and bring justice to these cases. He asked Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney what they need to be able combat this crisis. Sweeney said they have been working

Daines proposes bill to allocate college savings to apprenticeships

(HELENA) On Friday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines met with leaders from the skilled trades in Helena to discuss ways to encourage more students to consider apprenticeship programs. Daines visited the Montana Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center, operated by local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association. The center offers a competitive apprenticeship program where young people who want to become electricians can earn a salary while developing the skills they will need. “What we saw here today is an example of how we’re training the workforce for 21st-century challenges,” Daines said. But

Hundreds march through downtown Billings to bring awareness to murdered and missing women

BILLINGS – Several hundred people gathered at the MSU-Billings Native American Achievement Center on Friday morning for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women March. The group marched on the west side of North 27th Street and was helped by police officers as they marched toward the Yellowstone County Courthouse. The march began at about 10 a.m. The Native American Achievement Center at MSU-Billings wrote the crisis of MMIWG is prevalent in the Billings community and the march is an important step in ending the violence against Native women. Senator Steve Daines, who believes missing and murdered Native women is a significant problem in

Jim Stogner Decorated With Receipt of Navy Cross Medal At Friday Ceremony In Polson

Jim Stogner, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, received the prestigious Navy Cross Medal during a special ceremony Friday afternoon, April 5 at the VFW in Polson. The presentation was made by United States Marine Corps Lt. General Frank Libutti. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines served as master of ceremonies for the well-attended event. April 5 of this year marks the 52nd anniversary of the day when Stogner showed extraordinary heroism and courage while rescuing a fellow Marine. On that date in 1967, the 18-year-old Stogner was serving as part of a machine gun team. He

Bill to honor Cadet Nurse Corps women in WWII with honorary veteran status introduced

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, along with senators Elizabeth Warren, Susan Collins, and Angus King, introduced bipartisan legislation to honor the women who served in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II with honorary veteran status. This bill credits service in the Cadet Nurse Corps between 1943 and 1948 as active military service for the purpose of attaining status as a veteran. We happen to have a World War II cadet nurse right here in the Magic City! Laura Koch – Natvig is originally from South Dakota. She moved to Billings in 1964 and has lived in the

Daines urges HHS to stop pension for doctor convicted of sexual abuse

HELENA – Senator Steve Daines wants a doctor convicted of sexual abuse on the Blackfeet Reservation to stop receiving government benefits. Daines sent a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging him to stop Stanley Patrick Weber from receiving a pension while serving an 18-year prison term. Daines stated a report from earlier this week showed Weber could receive nearly $2 million while in prison. Weber’s story was outlined in an investigation by the Wall Street Journal and aired on the PBS program Frontline. Weber served as a pediatrician in Browning between 1992 and 1995. He was also accused

Geraldine students visit Washington, D.C. and meet with Daines

Students from a Montana high school recently took a trip to Washington, D.C. and met with one of Montana’s U.S. senators. Geraldine High School students visited Senator Steve Daines at the United States Capitol Tuesday. The students also saw President Donald Trump as he was leaving the Capitol where he had lunch with Daines and other senators. Daines and the students spoke about what drove Daines to become a senator and about how to prevent future government shutdowns. They also talked about one of the hottest topics in Montana: Cat vs. Griz. Students from Hellgate Elementary School in Missoula joined

Daines questions transportation secretary on airport funding, future of Amtrak

The future of Amtrak’s long-distance routes and airport infrastructure could be addressed in the Trump administration’s new transportation budget, though it may not all be pleasing, agency secretary Elaine Chao said Wednesday. The release of federal transportation funding could also implicate airport projects planned in Montana, including Missoula International Airport and its new passenger terminal, which is now under construction. “Our question was, with the government shutdown, what’s the new schedule for the release of those supplemental funds?” airport director Cris Jensen said this week. “We have airports and projects in the state of Montana that are impacted by this.

Senator Daines hears veteran healthcare concerns

MISSOULA- Saturday veterans met in Hamilton and sat down with Senator Daines to discuss veteran healthcare issues. Earlier today a group of veterans had the opportunity to sit down with Senator Steve Daines and open up about positive and negative feedback with the veteran healthcare system. With Ravalli County having a strong model of what healthcare should look like for veterans, Senator Daines believes their model should be spread throughout all of the treasure state. “This is a great example of veterans serving and helping other veterans. I hope they can take the model here in Ravalli County and spread