Daines Fights to Protect Montanans’ Privacy
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines reintroduced a bipartisan bill to require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to remove personally identifiable information (PII), which includes social security and passport numbers, from public disclosure. Currently the PII is disclosed in the CBP manifest disclosure process. “Montanans and the American people need assurance that their private information is safeguarded from all threats,” Daines said. “This commonsense legislation ensures transparency as well as security in protecting our citizens from identity theft and fraud.” Daines introduced the bipartisan bill with Senators Peters, Lankford, Hoeven, and Sullivan. There is companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Daines, Tester Fight for First Responders
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester reintroduced the bipartisan Putting First Responders First Act to clarify the current tax code to ensure injured first responders do not have to pay taxes on injury-related compensation. Daines and Tester introduced the bill ahead of National Police Week. “Montana’s first responders risk their lives every day to protect our communities,” Daines said. “This legislation will ensure these brave men and women will no longer endure unfair taxes or audits from the IRS as a result of the sacrifices they have made for our safety.” “Montana’s first responders put themselves in
Daines, Tester & Gianforte Introduce Bill to Invest in Critical Milk River Infrastructure Project
U.S. Congress – U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines, and Congressman Greg Gianforte today introduced legislation to increase critical investments in the Milk River Infrastructure Project that thousands of Montana farmers rely on for access to reliable irrigation water in northcentral Montana. The St. Mary’s Reinvestment Act, will ensure that the federal government picks up 75 percent of the costs for upgrades to the century-old water project. Currently, the federal government only funds 26 percent of the project, leaving local users with the responsibility to pay the rest of the tab. “The Milk River Project is about protecting jobs and our way of life in Montana,” Daines said. “This project would lift the
Daines Introduces Bill to Increase Veterans’ Access to Outdoors
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan bill to expand opportunities for veterans recovering from trauma to access public lands for outdoor therapy and rehabilitation treatments. “In Big Sky Country, we know how important our outdoor heritage is to our Montana way of life,” Daines said. “This bill will help ensure our veterans are able to take full advantage of Montana’s and our nation’s outdoors as they recover from the trauma and injuries they experienced in combat. The therapeutic benefits the great outdoors can have on our veterans will help aide in their recovery and showcase the beauty of the
Daines Introduces Bill to Prevent Child Predators from Receiving Government Pensions
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bill to prevent convicted pedophiles from receiving a federal government pension. Daines discussed the bill, the Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act, in a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, the Principal Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS). Download video HERE “Despite numerous reported suspicions of Weber’s inappropriate behavior, IHS turned a blind eye and enabled Weber to continue his unspeakable actions for years,” Daines said. “It’s shocking that a government employee can still receive a pension after being convicted of sexually
Daines, Tester Introduce Bill to Fix Burdensome Regulations on Livestock Haulers
U.S. Senate – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced a bill that will ease burdensome regulations on livestock haulers. The bipartisan Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act changes a Department of Transportation rule that requires drivers who haul live animals to adhere to strict time constraints monitored by Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), exempting them from some road time requirements and allowing them to better care for the live animals they are transporting. “Our ranchers and livestock haulers don’t need some burdensome government mandate telling them how to do their jobs,” Daines said. “This legislation is about strengthening
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency, Accountability in Drug Pricing
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan bill to shed light on the drug pricing process and the middlemen responsible for negotiating prescription drug costs. “Montanans can’t afford to keep paying the outrageous costs of prescription drugs,”Daines said. “Transparency and accountability in drug pricing is long overdue. That’s why I’m introducing this bill to protect Montanans and ensure those responsible for negotiating drug prices are focused on driving costs down, not lining the pockets of their own industry.” The bipartisan bill, the Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019, helps shed light on the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry
Daines Continues Bipartisan Fight for Vietnam Veterans Harmed By Agent Orange
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines renewed efforts to secure disability and health care benefits for Navy veterans, known as “Blue Water” veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange while fighting in the Vietnam War. “Commonsense tells us that sailors who were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam deserve the same level of care as their counterparts ashore,” Daines said. “Together with the court’s recent Procopio decision, this bill should settle any questions over Congress’ intent to care for all Vietnam veterans who were injured in the line of duty.” During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of Agent
Daines, Gianforte Secure 24-Hour Status at Raymond Port of Entry, Protect Montana Jobs
U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today secured the reinstating of around-the-clock status at the Raymond Port of Entry. In a call today with John Sanders, the Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Sanders announced his decision to reinstate full hours of operation at the Raymond Port of Entry. This decision came in response to Daines and Gianforte’s requests to keep the Port of Raymond open 24/7 and three of Montana’s other ports of entry operating at full status. On the call, CBP also committed to holding listening sessions to reengage with local communities on the issue.