Press Releases

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

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,

‘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

U.S. SENATE — During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin committed to U.S. Senator Steve Daines that the Administration will not relax export controls and allow sensitive technologies to be sold that compromise U.S. security when negotiating trade deals with China. During the hearing, Daines urged to Secretary Mnuchin that it is critical that during these ongoing negotiations with the Chinese the Administration reject any trade proposals with China that would loosen or weaken existing restrictions on the export or transfer of U.S. military technologies and advanced dual-use technologies. Secretary

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter signed by a bipartisan group of Senators to Administrator Raymond Martinez of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), calling for greater flexibility within hours of service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers, which help maintain the safety on Montana’s roadways.  Daines and the bipartisan group of colleagues wrote, “The trucking industry provides for over three million jobs in the U.S. and is the backbone of our economy, ensuring our nation’s goods get to market. It is important that HOS regulations provide for a commonsense framework for drivers, rather than

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced Robert Wilkie, the acting secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as his next nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. “Robert is a friend and I know he will do what it takes to put our veterans first in a department that has not been giving our heroes the treatment they deserve,” said Daines. “I look forward to putting my full support behind his nomination to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.”   ###

U.S. SENATE – During National Police Week, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester introduced the bipartisan Putting First-Responders First Act. This legislation would clarify the current tax code to ensure injured first-responders do not have to pay taxes on injury-related compensation. In addition, this bill prevents injury-related compensation from becoming taxable when injured first-responders reach retirement age since their injuries and associated costs remain. The legislation was inspired by the story of the now retired Billings police officer, Ladd Paulson. In 2002, Mr. Paulson was hit by an impaired driver while he was conducting a routine traffic stop on

U.S. SENATE – Just a day after U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to lift a court gag order on the Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund site cleanup plan, Daines announced today that the Department of Justice in conjunction with the EPA and the Atlantic Richfield Company filed a motion to lift the confidentiality order. During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies hearing, Daines secured Administrator Pruitt’s commitment that EPA staff would quickly go to Butte to hear the community’s input once the details of the plan are released.