Daines, Stefanik Call for Passage of their Bill to Open the Northern Border
U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik are continuing their push to open the northern border, this time calling on Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi to take action on their bill, the “Restoring Northern Border Travel Act,” which would finally reopen the U.S.-Canada border. “The closure of the northern border was implemented as a temporary measure to limit the spread of COVID-19 in March 2020, yet the restrictions have been extended 17 times without any adjustments or relief for family members or homeowners despite the immense progress we have made in combating the COVID-19 pandemic,” the
Daines Calls on VA to Address Impact of Afghanistan Withdrawal on Montana Veterans’ Mental Health
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of senators calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct outreach to Montana veterans who served in the Global War on Terrorism – especially those who served in Afghanistan – and provide them with mental health resources. Their request comes as reports find calls to veterans’ suicide hotlines have increased since the fall of Afghanistan earlier this month. “We write in light of the recent events in Afghanistan to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. More than two
Daines Issues Statement on Conclusion of Biden’s Afghanistan Withdrawal Following Meeting with MT Veterans
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today met with Montana veterans, including several who served in Afghanistan. As the meeting wrapped, it was announced that President Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan came to an end with the last U.S. flight leaving the country. “Today, I had the honor to sit down with several Montana veterans, including many who fought in Afghanistan, to hear their thoughts on President Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan—they are outraged and ashamed,” Daines said. “At the same time our meeting wrapped, America’s last flight left Afghanistan, even though we still don’t know the total number of Americans trapped behind enemy
Daines Calls on Biden Administration to Distribute Remaining COVID-19 Relief Funds to Montana Health Care Providers, Rural Communities
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to distribute funds remaining in the Provider Relief Fund without delay to support health care providers in Montana who continue to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19. “We write today to ask that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provide an immediate update on its plans to distribute the unobligated funds remaining in the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and other health care relief programs,” the letter states. “Over the course of the pandemic, Congress has appropriated $178 billion for the
Daines Urges CDC to Listen to Local Montana Leaders & Parents, Reverse Mask Mandate on School Buses
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is urging the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to withdraw the mask mandate on school buses that infringes on the authority of Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to make their own decisions regarding the safety and health of their students. “This fall, a significant proportion of Montana students will return to their classrooms without masks. Forcing young children to wear masks on the school bus, only to arrive at school and remove them makes no sense. Furthermore, it exposes an intrusion of the federal government into the daily operation of local school districts. I am not alone in my concern over this latest
Daines Statement on the Terrorist Attacks Against U.S. Troops, Afghan Allies in Afghanistan
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement in response to today’s terrorist attacks in Afghanistan resulting in the death of several U.S. service members and the news of the Biden administration giving the names of Americans and Afghan allies to the Taliban. “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of our fallen and wounded service members—our troops are American heroes,” Daines said. “This tragedy was entirely preventable. The terrorist attacks in Kabul today against U.S. troops, American citizens and innocent Afghans are a devastating result of President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal out of Afghanistan. To learn that Biden shared the names of Americans
Daines Statement on House Democrats’ Passage of Plan for Trillions in Reckless Tax and Spending
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after the United States House of Representatives voted to pass the $4 trillion budget resolution with a commitment to vote on the $1 trillion infrastructure package next month. “We knew all along Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats would prioritize their far-Left agenda over the needs of the American people. The Democrats had always planned to force their liberal wish-list of social policies through Congress with or without the support of Republicans. It is astonishing that as Montanans are already facing skyrocketing prices and soaring inflation, Democrats believe the best solution is to grow the government, spend more money we don’t have and impose taxes on hardworking
Daines Demands Accountability for the Billions of Dollars Worth of U.S. Military Equipment Left Behind for the Taliban
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is demanding accountability and action from President Biden over the reckless loss of more than $80 billion in military equipment and weaponry in Afghanistan, which has already been confiscated by the Taliban because of the President’s disastrous withdrawal. “According to one Administration official, ‘everything that hasn’t been destroyed is the Taliban’s now.’ Under normal military protocols, an accidental equipment mishap can trigger an automatic investigation and can have career-altering consequences for ordinary service members. Who in your Administration will be held accountable for this profound and preventable loss? Further, I ask you to explain to the American taxpayer your plan for preventing this equipment from
Daines Blasts Biden’s Continued Closure of Northern Border, Stresses Impacts to Montana Families, Businesses
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement after President Biden once again extended the closure of the northern border until at least September 21st. This extension comes despite Canada reopening the border for fully vaccinated Americans on August 9th. “President Biden has once again let down Montana families and businesses. His refusal to open the northern border is hurting our economy, jobs and border communities. At the same time Biden is keeping the northern border closed, the southern border has remained wide open to illegal drugs and illegal immigrants, many potentially with COVID-19—it makes no sense,” Daines said. “This hypocrisy has gone on for far too long at