Press Releases

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the U.S. Social Security Administration to continue processing Montanans Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. Recently, Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge Nicholas LoBurgio suspended all hearings for SSDI and SSI claims in the state of Montana until at least the summer of 2017 unless there is a dire need.  In letters to Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin and Judge LoBurgio, Daines implored her to find an alternative solution to reduce the backlog of Region 8 cases while still processing claims for the state of Montana.  “Montanans deserve a timely hearing and

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today helped introduce the Improved National Monument Designation Process Act, a bill to facilitate greater local input and require state approval before national monuments can be designated on federal lands and waters. The bill requires, before any national monument can be declared on public land or within the exclusive economic zone, that the following be met: Specific authorization by an Act of Congress; Approval by the state legislature, and for marine monuments, approval by each state legislature within 100 miles of the proposed monument; and Certification of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.  “As a

(U.S. Senate)—Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines kicked off the 115th Congress by introducing bipartisan legislation to grant the Little Shell Tribe of the Chippewa Cree federal recognition. The Little Shell Tribe has sought federal recognition for nearly four decades, and has been recognized by the State of Montana since 2000. “The federal government can’t fulfill its trust responsibility to Montana’s Little Shell Tribe until it recognizes their sovereignty,” Tester said.  “These folks have been waiting long enough for what they deserve, and we won’t stop fighting until we get this bill across the finish line.”   “The Little Shell Tribe has waited far

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after meeting with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s designee for the U.S. Department of Education, Betsy DeVos. “Betsy DeVos has a passion for education and will be a formidable leader at the Department of Education,” Daines stated.  “I look forward to watching her shape the Department of Education to increase local control of our schools, with policies that originate with the parents, teachers and administrators who are closest to the classroom.”  Daines and DeVos discussed: Increasing local control over education policies and funding and reducing the role of Washington, D.C. bureaucrats. Efforts to ensure

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s designee for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Montana U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke.   “Commander Zinke is a military hero who served honorably for 23 years and is taking his service to another level,” Daines stated. “Ryan understands the balance of conservation, responsible energy development and public access.”  “I appreciate Senator Daines taking the time to sit down and talk about how together we can Make America Great Again,” Rep. Zinke stated. “As two Montana kids who were at Boys State together in 1979 and who grew up with

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s designee for the U.S. Department of Energy, Rick Perry.     “After speaking with Governor Perry, I have confidence that he will work to restore the balance between fossil fuel and renewable energy investments and regulation, a balance that has been lacking in President Obama’s Energy Department,” Daines stated. “Governor Perry will work to make our nation energy secure.”  During the meeting, Daines invited Perry to Colstrip and the Crow Reservation and commended his attention to a letter from Lori Shaw, co-founder of Colstrip United, a grassroots citizens’ group to

  U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today commented on a recent U.S. House of Representatives budgetary rule change related to federal lands.  “I continue to strongly oppose the transfer of federal lands to the states while fighting to improve the management of those lands.” ###

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s designee for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Wilbur Ross.     “Wilbur Ross has an impressive resume and is a force in the private-sector,” Daines stated. “The Department of Commerce and the American economy will be well served by his extensive experience. I’m excited for his ideas to institute strong trade policies that expand opportunities for Montana ag producers and manufacturers to create more good-paying jobs.”  Daines and Ross discussed the importance of exports to Montana jobs and economy and about expanding access to foreign markets for Montana