Press Releases

Legislation will expand access to federal lands, support outdoor economy U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sponsored the Guides and Outfitters (GO) Act, legislation to expand access to public lands by streamlining the permitting process for outfitter and guides on federal lands. “Streamlining permitting for small outfitters and guides will help Montana’s over $7 billion outdoor economy continue to thrive and grow,” said Daines. This morning, Daines met with Montana members of the America Outdoors Association, Donna McDonald and Dusty Crary, to discuss the GO Act and its importance to Montana’s outdoor recreation industry. Background: The GO Act streamlines

Science shows unborn children feel pain at 20 weeks U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines made the following statement after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell met Daines’ request to bring the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which prohibits abortion after 20 weeks – the point at which scientific evidence shows that unborn children can feel pain – to the Senate floor for a vote. The bill failed to reach the 60-vote threshold mandated under Senate rules. Prior to the vote, Daines spoke on the Senate floor, calling on his colleagues to join him in fighting for the unborn. Watch the

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today welcomed nine year-old Danielle (Dani) Highley of Deer Lodge to Washington, D.C. as his guest for tomorrow’s State of the Union Address. Dani is one of the 24,000 Montana children who will benefit from the six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Daines recently fought to pass through Congress. “It is great to be here with Dani for her first trip to Washington, D.C.,” said Daines. “Dani and the 24,000 Montana kids who depend on CHIP can now rest assured they’ll continue to have access to critical health care. These kids are

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other parties reached a cleanup agreement for the Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund site after requests from Daines to prioritize the site. The Butte Superfund site is one of the largest in the country.  “This is an important development for the Butte Superfund site,” said Daines. “The people of Butte have waited long enough for this milestone. I will continue fighting to ensure Montana Superfund sites make the progress they need. Daines’ Actions to Prioritize Montana Superfund Sites: On January 17, 2018,

Bipartisan Legislation Targets High-Speed Internet Deployment to Nation’s Farms & Ranches U.S. SENATE — Montana U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced legislation to promote precision agriculture and rural broadband deployment. The Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act of 2018, S. 2343, would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a task force to identify gaps in high-speed internet connectivity for the nation’s cropland and ranchland. The measure also instructs the agency to develop ways to help encourage broadband adoption and precision agriculture in areas where it is currently unavailable. “Montana farmers and ranchers need access to the farming tools of

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on the shipment of drugs through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), questioned witnesses about the Postal Service’s shipment of methamphetamine in rural America. Watch the video HERE. Download the video HERE. “Methamphetamine use has become an epidemic in Montana,” said Daines. “We must do more to protect the families and communities this terrible drug has torn apart by disrupting its distribution.” Last week, the Flathead Beacon reported that a couple employed by the USPS in Polson, MT was caught distributing methamphetamine through postal shipments.

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that nine year-old Danielle (Dani) Highley from Deer Lodge, one of the 24,000 Montana children who will benefit from the six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), will be his guest at this year’s State of the Union Address. This is the longest reauthorization in the program’s history. “Dani and the other 24,000 Montana children who depend on CHIP are the reason I fought so hard for the longest reauthorization in the program’s history,” said Daines. “I couldn’t think of anyone better to bring as my one guest to the

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Walmart announced 3,340 Montanans will benefit from $3.8 million in wage increases and bonuses of up to $1,000 due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by Congress last December. “It’s simple, tax cuts equal more jobs and bigger paychecks,” said Daines. Click HERE to see a list of major U.S. companies increasing pay and giving bonuses due to tax reform. Due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Walmart will: Increase starting hourly wage from $9 to $11 Expand maternity and parental leave Offer financial assistance

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today highlighted the critical role Colstrip Power Plant plays in all-of-the-above approach to meet energy demands. His remarks were made during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing about the importance of reliable and affordable energy during cold winters. Watch the video HERE. Download the video HERE.   During his opening remarks, Daines mentioned his plans to host his second Montana Energy Summit in Billings, Montana on May 30th and 31st. At the summit, attendees will discuss energy infrastructure and the good-paying jobs energy creates. Excerpt from Daines’ prepared remarks: “One critical piece