Press Releases

President Signs Bill to Reopen Government and Protect Montana Kids

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed legislation that ends the government shutdown and provides a six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which 24,000 Montana kids depend upon. The legislation will keep the government funded until February 8th. “After several days of a pointless Democrat-led shutdown, the families of the 24,000 Montana children who depend on children’s health insurance can finally have certainty their kids will continue to have access to health care,” said Daines.  Background:  On January 22, Daines and 81 Senators voted to reopen the government and reauthorize the

Senate Votes to End Government Shutdown

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to end the government shutdown and reauthorize a critical children’s health care program. The bill passed with 81 votes – only 18 Senators voted no. The bill includes a six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which 24,000 Montana kids depend upon, and will keep the government open until February 8th. The U.S. House of Representatives will now vote on the bill and if it passes, the bill will move to the President’s desk to be signed into law. To watch Daines’ statement click HERE. To download Daines’ statement click HERE. 

Daines Votes to End Democrat Led Filibuster, Provide Critical Health Care for 24,000 Montana Kids

U.S. SENATE — Today U.S. Senator Steve Daines voted to end the filibuster and end the government shutdown. The bipartisan bill passed with 81 votes. The bill is expected for final passage in the Senate later this afternoon. The government funding bill includes a six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which 24,000 Montana kids depend upon, and will keep the government open until February 8th.  “This afternoon Senate Democrats joined us and we were able to pass a bill to end the filibuster, setting us up to reopen the government and ensure our national security needs are

Senate Democrats Continue Government Shutdown

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines made the following statement after Senate Democrats rejected efforts to bring the end of the government shutdown to a vote. This decision continues to put the 24,000 Montana children who depend on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at risk due to an unrelated immigration issue that only impacts 72 Montana residents. “Tonight Senate Democrats were given another chance to fund the government. But yet again, they chose to continue the government shutdown, due to a controversial immigration policy.” said Daines. “Montanans and the American people will continue to suffer. Enough is enough.” Background: On January 20, Daines spoke on the

A Minority of Senators Hold Government Funding Hostage Over Controversial Immigration Issue

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate after Democrats refused to fund the government over an unrelated controversial immigration policy that impacts 72 – or .00007 percent – Montanans at the expense of the 24,000 Montana children who depend on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for access to critical health care. To watch the video click HERE. To download the video click HERE. Also featured on Fox News.  Text as prepared: Mr. President, I’m here to make one point crystal clear for those Montanans who are wondering what is going on

Daines Statement on Government Shutdown

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today made the following statement after the government funding bill failed to pass the Senate before the Friday midnight deadline.  “While I voted to fund the government, 44 Democrats chose to shut it down, failing 24,000 Montana children, compromising our national security, and letting down our veterans and active service members.” said Daines. The funding bill would have kept the government open for four weeks and would have included a six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which gives 24,000 Montana children access to critical health care. Background: On January 19, Daines

Daines Calls on Colleagues to Protect Montana Children

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate, calling on his colleagues to keep the government open and support a six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides access to health care for 24,000 Montana children and nine million children across the country.  To watch the video click HERE. To download the video click HERE. “Here’s the choice we have before us today,” said Daines. “A choice we have less than seven hours to make: we can either keep the government open and fund health insurance for 24,000 Montana kids

Daines Urges vote on Pain Capable Legislation

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined Senators Lindsey Graham (SC), James Lankford (OK), Joni Ernst (IA) and Roy Blunt (MO) in sending Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a letter, urging him to announce his commitment to bring the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to the floor for a vote in the near future. The announcement would coincide with today’s 45th Annual March for Life. The legislation would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks—the point at which scientific evidence shows that unborn children can feel pain. The United States is currently one of only seven countries in the world that permit elective

Daines Votes to keep Government Open and Protect 24,000 Montana Children

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to protect vital health care services for 24,000 Montana children provided under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and to avoid a government shutdown. “It’s ridiculous that we are on the verge of a government shutdown over controversial immigration legislation,” said Daines. “We have a funding bill that will keep the government open and reauthorize CHIP for six years, which impacts 24,000 kids in Montana. Now is not the time to back down. I hope my colleagues will join me and vote to keep the government open and fund CHIP.” Today’s