Press Releases

U.S. SENATE – Today during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Steve Daines pressed Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on what the Department is doing to address the recent severe flooding in Montana. During the hearing, Daines asked how DHS is assisting affected communities in Montana now, and how the Department can provide support in the coming months as Montana deals with additional flooding and the upcoming wildfire season. Watch video HERE. Download video HERE.  “Surging rivers and streams due to severe flooding have affected communities across the state, forcing

According to Estimates, Nearly 56,000 Servicemembers Meet Criteria for Gambling Disorder  Fact Sheet (PDF) Bill Text (PDF) U.S. SENATE – United States Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced the bipartisan Gambling Addiction Prevention (GAP) Act. The legislation would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to begin tracking gambling disorder in its health assessments and instructs the DOD to develop policies and programs to prevent and treat gambling problems among our servicemembers. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, an estimated 56,000 active duty servicemembers may meet the criteria for gambling disorder.  “Countless service members and veterans suffer from gambling

Calls on DOD to Prioritize National Guard Readiness U.S. SENATE — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing, U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged the U.S. Department of Defense to prioritize equipment shortfalls in the National Guard. During the hearing, Daines questioned General Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, about the military’s plan to strengthen funding for tank units in the National Guard, such as Charlie Company of the 163rd in Great Falls. Watch video HERE. Download the video HERE. “Montana is home to nearly 2,600 Army National Guard members who are ready to fight for our

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced his sponsorship of bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017, bringing the total number of bill sponsors to 28 senators. Among other initiatives to strengthen law enforcement, the bill establishes new mandatory penalties to fight the opioid and drug crisis, which includes methamphetamine use. “There is a meth epidemic in Montana,” said Daines. “It is destroying families and threatening the future potential of communities. This bill will strengthen law enforcement’s ability to help fight this crisis.” Current and former law enforcement leaders from around the

U.S. SENATE — Today, at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke, USDA’s Interim Chief of the Forest Service Vicky Christiansen and other congressional leaders joined U.S. Senator Steve Daines in agreeing to join forces to strengthen the fight against wildfires. At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Zinke also affirmed his commitment to work with Daines to fully repeal the Ninth Circuit’s Cottonwood decision. During the roundtable, Daines, Perdue, Zinke, Christiansen and the other congressional leaders from wildfire-prone states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that facilitates interagency coordination in response to

U.S. SENATE — Following a recent congressional delegation trip U.S. Senator Steve Daines led to China, Daines pressed Department of Defense secretary Jim Mattis on the importance of protecting American innovation from theft and forced technology transfers in China today during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing. The current laws in place do not ensure sufficient protections. During the hearing, Secretary Mattis agreed with Daines about the need to protect American research and development, especially relating to national security. Watch video HERE. Download the video HERE.  “The time has passed where America can be complacent,” said Daines. “China poses very

Legislation Would Remove Bureaucratic Obstacles to Ensure Guard Officers Receive Pay and Benefits They Have Earned U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who was rated one of the Senate’s most bipartisan Senators, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representatives Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) and Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) today introduced the bipartisan National Guard Promotion Accountability Act to address delays in federal recognition of promotions for National Guard members. The bill would compensate Guard officers who serve at a higher rank while waiting for federal recognition by backdating their date of rank to the date at which it was recognized

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Forest Service will allocate over $17 million to Montana’s rural and forested counties under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The Forest Service this week released 2017 SRS payment levels for Montana counties following the recent reauthorization of the critical program. “These much-needed funds are critical for Montana’s rural counties who have fallen on hard economic times due to declining timber harvests and natural resource production,” said Daines. “I will continue to fight for long-term solutions that strengthen the health of forests and create good-paying jobs so rural counties