Press Releases

Daines Announces over $12 Million in Grants for Montana Community Health Centers

U.S. SENATE – Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced over $12 million in grants for Montana Community Health Centers. “Community Health Centers provide vital and affordable care to the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Daines. “These critical funds will work to improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of Montanans.” The following Community Health Centers received grants from the Department of Health and Human Services: RiverStone Health: $3,338,867.00 Lincoln County Community Health Center: $1,689,470.00 Glacier Community Health Center: $1,603,310.00 Bullhook Community Health Center: $1,689,606.00 Bighorn Valley Health Center: $3,767,224.00 Background: On February 6, 2018, Daines joined a bipartisan press conference

Daines Applauds Zinke for Prioritizing Montana, Sperry Chalet Reconstruction in DOI Funding Request

U.S. SENATE – Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines applauded Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke for prioritizing Montana in the DOI’s appropriations request and setting aside $12 million for the reconstruction of Glacier National Park’s Sperry Chalet hotel.  The Sperry Chalet hotel was burned down in a forest fire in August 2017. “Glacier’s Sperry Chalet hotel has been a place for visitors to stay for over a century,” said Daines. “I thank Secretary Zinke for putting Montana’s priorities first and fighting to rebuild this historic building.”   ###

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Broadband to Rural Montanans

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the bipartisan Reprioritizing Unserved Rural Areas and Locations for Broadband (RURAL Broadband) Act of 2018, which will prioritize federal funds that are used to provide broadband access to areas that are unserved with no access before they are used to upgrade areas with existing service.  “We must work to close the rural-digital divide so our rural communities can be part of the 21st Century economy,” said Daines. “My bill ensures that these critical funds be used for the communities who need them most.” Read the full bull text, HERE. Statements of Support: “The Montana Telecommunications Association (MTA) enthusiastically supports the good-government legislation introduced by Senators Steve

Daines Joins President at White House to Roll Back Dodd-Frank Regulations

U.S. SENATE – Today, President Donald Trump invited U.S. Senator Steve Daines to a bill signing ceremony at the White House for legislation that will roll back disastrous Dodd-Frank regulations. “Montana’s rural banks, credit unions and customers have been the biggest victims of Dodd-Frank,” said Daines. “It was great to join the President at the White House to finally takes steps to provide relief to our rural communities.” The Dodd-Frank Act has done tremendous harm to Montana by eliminating small community banks and credit unions and by limiting consumer access to their services, such as mortgages and depository services. Since

Daines Introduces Legislation to Protect Tribes from Costly Obamacare Employer Mandate

Senator Steve Daines today announced the introduction of legislation to protect Native American tribes from Obamacare’s costly employer mandate. The Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act will exempt tribes and tribal employers from Obamacare’s employer mandate. The bill prevent massive fines that tribal employers would incur under Obamacare’s employer mandate. The employer mandate places an undue burden on tribes, leading to lost jobs and increased unemployment. Instead of bolstering tribal economies, it drives out opportunities and wages. Tribal members were already exempt from the individual mandate in the original Obamacare law. This legislation upholds the United States’ trust responsibility to

Senate Sends Bill to Overhaul VA, Deliver on Promises to Our Veterans to President’s Desk

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today supported and the Senate passed, the VA MISSION Act, which will overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs and fix many of the shortcomings in the VA Choice Program. “Under the Choice Program, our veterans did not receive the healthcare they deserved,” said Daines. “The bipartisan VA MISSION Act will follow through on the promises that were made to our Veterans.” This week, Daines took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to join him in supporting the VA Mission Act. Watch video HERE. Download video HERE. The bipartisan MISSION Act will

IHS Director Concedes to Daines More Must be done to Combat Suicide in Tribal Communities

U.S. SENATE — During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, the Acting Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), conceded to U.S. Senator Steve Daines that IHS is not doing enough to combat the suicide epidemic in Indian country. During the hearing, Daines confronted Admiral Weahkee with the startling statistic that American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of suicide of any demographic group in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Daines asked Admiral Weahkee that in light of these statistics, did he believe IHS was

Secretary Mnuchin to Daines: CFIUS Modernization Must Cover Joint-Ventures

U.S. SENATE — During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told U.S. Senator Steve Daines that congressional modernization of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) must include jurisdiction over joint-ventures. CFIUS’ jurisdiction over joint-ventures is critical as China regularly requires U.S. companies to create joint-ventures with Chinese counterparts to do business in China. These joint-ventures often result in mandatory technology transfers, equity limits, and other onerous regulations that can restrict market access, impede U.S. innovation, and serve as a long-term threat to national security. During the hearing,

Daines, Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Administration to Safeguard Critical Military and Dual-Use Technology from China

‘There can be no question that China seeks to surpass the U.S. both economically and militarily and become the world’s foremost superpower, and neither the Federal Government nor private U.S. companies should aid and abet that effort. As such, we implore you to reject any proposal to soften restrictions on the transfer to China of U.S.-made military technologies and advanced dual-use technologies, including semiconductors.’  ‘Export control and sanctions laws should not be negotiable, because fidelity to the rule of law is a key part of what distinguishes the U.S. from a country like China that is ruled by a Communist