Press Releases

U.S. SENATE — Just ahead of Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced legislation to ensure that underserved veterans get the care they need.   Daines’ bill, “Veteran State Home Grant Backlog Reduction Act” will create a new prioritization system that will separate out upgrades and needed rehabilitation to existing VA facilities and much-needed new construction.   It requires the VA to separately designate construction specific budget resources and have a plan to clear up the state home construction backlog by the end of Fiscal Year 2023.  “Montana is home to one of the highest populations of veterans per capita – and our

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary nominee Kirstjen Nielsen about border security at both the northern and south borders and protecting Americans’ privacy and cybersecurity. During today’s hearing on Nielsen’s nomination in the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Daines discussed the cyber threat facing Columbia Falls, Montana.   “Recently the Columbia Falls, Montana school district was hacked from overseas, using the stolen data of children and faculty to make very violent threats and very direct threats. As the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security – if confirmed

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured an agreement between JD.com, one of China’s largest retailers and the Montana Stockgrowers Association with the intent to purchase a minimum of $200 million in Montana-sourced beef over the next several years. JD.com will also seek to invest up to another $100 million to build a processing plant in Montana to support Montana beef production, with construction beginning as early as 2018. While President Donald Trump is in China to grow and strengthen the American economy, Errol Rice, Executive Vice President of the Montana Stockgrowers Association and JD.com signed the agreement. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross Jr. and Chinese Vice

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined his Senate colleagues, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway and leading tax reform advocates at an event to highlight the need for tax cuts. Click HERE to watch Daines’ remarks. Click HERE to download Daines’ remarks. Excerpts of Daines’ remarks are below:   “We’re standing here on behalf of millions of American families who cannot afford a plane ticket, a bus ticket or a train ticket to come here and fight on behalf of their paycheck and their families.  “This is about giving these families a pay raise through a tax cut – it’s

U.S. SENATE — During National Adoption Awareness Month, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Diana Tolstedt of Billings for helping navigate Montanans through all aspects of the adoption process for nearly three decades.   Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here.  Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines underscored the importance of states taking the lead in both protecting the environment and energy development.  During yesterday’s U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the potential for oil and gas exploration and development in the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Daines remarked on the important of states defining their own future, not out of state bureaucrats. “It’s a bit arrogant for folks in Washington, D.C. – folks who are a long ways away from Alaska – to be in some way dictating what Alaskans want to do,” Daines

Levels the playing field for Montana Lumber Mills U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today protected Montana jobs by working with U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to levy a tariff on Canadian lumber to level the playing field for Montana lumber mills.  “Today’s announcement is putting America first and protecting the hardworking families who rely on good-paying lumber jobs,” Daines stated. “We are leveling the playing field so that the Canadians have to play by the same set of rules that Montanans do.”  Earlier this week, Daines pressed Secretary Ross to finalize these tariffs as quickly as possible during a Homeland Security

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the passing of the 22nd Governor of Montana, Judy Martz.  “Governor Martz was a woman of grit and faith who fearlessly blazed new trails from the Olympics to the Governor’s Mansion.  Judy was rarely seen without a pin of the humble turtle on her lapel and would often invoke a saying that embodied her fearlessness and courage ‘Behold the turtle, he only moves forward when his neck’s stuck out’.  Cindy and I wish her and her family prayers during this time.”    ###