Press Releases

Daines to NIH Director: We Must Continue to Combat Montana Meth Addiction

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Honorable Francis Collins M.D., Ph.D, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to encourage the agency to continue working to find solutions to the meth epidemic in Montana and the nation. “In Montana we have a crisis wreaking havoc throughout the state: a methamphetamine epidemic. Meth is destroying families and communities, and disproportionately impacting Native American tribes,” the letter states. “As Montana and other parts of the country confront this crisis, I write to encourage the [NIH] to continue their diligent pursuit of a Medication Assisted Treatment to combat

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byms of Sanders County

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byms of Sanders County for their commitment and dedication of service to this country.     Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE. The following is the statement

Daines, Hoeven, Gianforte and Gosar Lead Letter to President Trump on Keystone XL Pipeline

U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today led 42 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Trump to urge any immediate action necessary to move construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline forward “The Keystone XL pipeline will bring nearly 6600 high paying jobs in the near-term and nearly $4 billion in new capital investment next year alone,” the letter states. “[O]ne of your first actions as President was to expedite the approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline across six western and rural states. While we sincerely appreciate your strong leadership on this issue, we write

Daines to BIA: Time for Answers for Loring Heavyrunner Family

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today in a U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) hearing on Indian Country’s missing and murdered demanded answers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on the epidemic of missing and murdered persons in Indian country. The hearing follows Daines’ request to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee to hold the hearing. Daines also successfully secured Kimberly Loring HeavyRunner, the sister of missing Ashley Loring Heavyrunner of the Blackfeet Tribe, as a witness at today’s hearing. At the hearing, Kimberly told her sister’s tragic story and the complete disregard and lack of answers for Ashley’s case they

Senate Western Caucus Applauds Trump Administration Rewrite of EPA WOTUS rule

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, chair of the Senate Western Caucus, and Caucus Members Senator Jim Inhofe, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Joni Ernst, Senator John Barrasso Senator Pat Roberts, Senator Jeff Flake and Senator Jon Kyl, today applauded the Trump administration’s rewrite of the Obama era “Waters of the US” (WOTUS) rule. The new EPA rule more narrowly defines “waters of the US” to focus on truly public waterways. “The Obama WOTUS rule took federal government overreach in rural America to absurd new levels,” Daines said. “Maybe the Obama administration should have spent more time focusing on economic growth and protecting the

Daines Calls for Passage of Blue Water Bill

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined bipartisan senators and veterans to call for Senate passage of the bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act.    Click HERE to download audio “The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act is about fairness, about justice and about congressional intent,” Daines said. “The intent of congress was to ensure that those who served in Vietnam and were exposed to agent orange are getting the care they need and deserve. It’s time to make this wrong, right. We need to take away the muddy water of the VA and pass the bipartisan Blue Water bill

Daines Secures Critical Montana Priorities in 2018 Farm Bill

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the 2018 Farm Bill will include critical priorities for Montana farmers and ranchers and forestry provisions to help prevent catastrophic wildfire.   The final compromise must now be passed by the House and Senate before moving to the President’s desk to be signed into law. You can find the text of the Farm Bill here. “I’m glad to see that we’re moving forward with the 2018 Farm Bill and helping our farmers and ranchers get the certainty they deserve. As Montana’s lone voice on the Senate Ag Committee, and as the Chairman of the Senate Western Caucus,

Daines Successfully Secures U.S. Senate Hearing on Missing and Murdered Persons in Indian Country

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a hearing this Wednesday on the issue of missing and murdered persons in Indian country. The announcement comes after Daines sent a letter to Committee leadership requesting a hearing.     “We face tragedies from across Montana where tribal citizens, particularly women and girls, go missing without a trace,” Daines said. “We must do all in our power to curb the crisis of American Indians and Alaska Natives who disappear and whose cases never see justice. I’m glad to see that the committee is treating this issue with

Daines Secures Critical Meth, Sex Offender Provisions in Criminal Justice Reform Legislation

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced he will cosponsor and support legislation to reform the criminal justice system after working to ensure meth and sex offender provisions were included in the bill.  “Meth use has skyrocketed in Montana. We need to make sure we have every tool available to fight against an epidemic that is tearing families apart and increasing violent crimes in our state,” Daines said. “I’m glad to have worked to ensure high level meth dealers and sex offenders are excluded from the benefits of the First Step Act to help protect Montana families and communities. I’m happy to cosponsor this bill.” The bill,