Daines Statement on Helena Cutting Law Enforcement Budget
HELENA, MT – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement ahead of the Helena City Commission’s work session to cut $300,000 from the Helena Police Department’s personnel budget and remove School Resource Officers (SROs) from all school campuses. To download the full video, click HERE. “I’m deeply troubled by efforts to defund local police departments and strip vital school safety resources like SROs from our schools. These divisive actions take us further away from real reform and jeopardize the safety of both officers and the communities they serve,” Daines said. “Cutting resources at a time when law enforcement is
Daines Secures DOI Response on St. Mary’s Milk River Next Steps
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) has determined the Drop 2 and Drop 5 of the St. Mary’s River Project qualify as emergency work which will allow repairs to go forth with less strain on Montanans. This follows Daines’ request to Department of the Interior Secretary Bernhardt to make this decision expeditiously. “I’m glad the administration responded to the St. Mary’s Joint Board and my request to make this decision and do everything in their power to lessen the burden on water-users ,” Daines said. “The St. Mary’s Milk River Project is
Daines Fights to Support Montana Seniors, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the Emergency Support for Nursing Homes and Elder Justice Reform Act of 2020 to support the health and safety of Montana seniors during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and extend funding for vital Elder Justice Act programs. “I’m grateful for the important work being done by Montana’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities who care for and help keep our most vulnerable populations safe,” Daines said. “This bill is critical to ensuring that our senior care facilities have the resources necessary to continue serving and keeping Montana’s seniors safe especially during the ongoing COVID-19
Daines Fights to Support the U.S. Postal Service for Montana
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan bill to provide the United States Postal Service (USPS) with $25 billion in funding to keep their operations afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic and procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect Postal workers. “The postal service supports Montana jobs and provides critical access to supplies like life-saving prescription drugs and medicines for Montana’s rural communities,” Daines said. “This bipartisan bill will ensure the postal service has the resources it needs to continue its operations and support rural Montanans who depend on them.” To read the full bill, click HERE. Daines
Daines Continues to Push to Fix St. Mary’s Milk River Project
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced an amendment to a major defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to repair the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works system. “I’m fighting to repair the St. Mary River project however I can,” Daines said. “This is about supporting jobs and ensuring Montana farmers, ranchers, and communities on the Hi-Line have this critical water infrastructure project fully restored. Montanans need this project done.” On Monday, Daines sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee urging quick consideration and passage of his bipartisan St. Mary’s Reinvestment Act
Daines Secures $3 Million for Great Falls Transit District
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Federal Transit Administration will be directing $3 million to the Great Falls Transit District to support transit operating assistance and preventative maintenance during the COVID-19 health emergency. “This critical funding will help support the transportation infrastructure needs of the Great Falls community and ensure our transit system in the city has the resources needed to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak,” Daines said. “I will continue working to support Montana infrastructure as we safely reopen the economy.” Daines fought to secure this funding through the CARES act which passed through
Daines Calls for an Investigation on the Mishandling of Montana Veteran’s Remains by USPS
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter requesting the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of the Inspector General investigate an incident where the remains of a Montana veteran, Donald Tyler, were lost in the mail. “While his remains were eventually returned to Mrs. Tyler and the USPS will reimburse her for the damaged urn, it is unacceptable that a federal agency misplaced the human remains of an American citizen,” Daines wrote. “I urge you to conduct a full and thorough investigation into this matter to identify the cause and identify any reforms necessary to ensure that a
Daines Statement on Montana School Choice, Religious Freedom SCOTUS Ruling
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision ruling in favor of the three Montana mothers, a major win for Montana families, in the Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue case—one of the most important equal protection and religious freedom cases in recent history. To download the full video, click HERE. “I’m very glad the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to overturn the State of Montana’s discriminatory action and support three Montana mothers who were trying to do what’s best for their children’s education,” Daines said. “Today is a major victory
Daines Announces Over $35 Million in PILT Funds for Montana’s Small and Rural Counties
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) will be directing $35,166,221 in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to Montana’s small and rural counties. “PILT payments provide critical support to Montana’s rural counties,” Daines said. “I’ve worked hard to support the PILT program which provides critical resources for essential services like emergency response efforts and transportation in Montana’s rural counties. Given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, this funding is more important than ever.” The federal government directs PILT funds to local governments to offset the loss of property taxes from