Press Releases

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,402,200.00 for the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) to study how best to improve accessibility and efficiency of rural public transportation.   “It’s great to see additional funds being sent to an organization that has been an advocate for rural transportation efficiency and safety for over 20 years,” Daines stated.  “As a graduate of MSU’s College of Engineering, I am proud their contributions are recognized and these funds will be used to improve mobility in Montana and rural America.” The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) is a department within Montana State University’s (MSU) College of Engineering.  They

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the inclusion of his amendment to elevate U.S. Cyber Command to a Combatant Command in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Cyber Command it is currently a subordinate unit to U.S. Strategic Command.  “The elevation of CYBERCOM will ensure that we are always one step ahead of the enemies who seek to destroy us and our way of life,” Daines stated. “As radical Islamic extremists continue to recruit online, it is imperative now more than ever that CYBERCOM has the tools to react quickly and defeat the enemy.” Congress established U.S. Strategic Command

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bill to promote the use of telehealth today passed the U.S. Senate.  The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration, to study technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models and the ability of those models to improve patient care and provider education.   “Geographic location should not dictate quality of care,” Daines stated. “This bill will promote opportunities to increasingly open up access to high-quality care in rural communities that is not currently available, such as access to specialists; support

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the unanimous U.S. Senate passage of his legislation to protect consumers who want to write honest online reviews of companies, without fear of financial repercussions from the businesses being reviewed.   Daines’ bill, the Consumer Review Freedom Act, would prohibit the use of non-disparagement clauses referred to as “gag clauses,” which are often found in little-read online user agreements.   “Today was a good day for the First Amendment rights of Americans,” Daines stated. “This legislation protects folks who provide honest feedback about the products and services they purchase. I look forward to continuing to read

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill that allows federal, state and local policymakers to better understand the economic impact outdoor recreation has to the American economy unanimously passed the U.S. Senate this evening.  This legislation would inform policymakers and business leaders on the jobs created, and the consumer spending driven by, the outdoor recreation economy. “Montana is well-known for our world-class outdoor recreation that is critical to our state’s economy,” Daines stated. “This legislation will help us to better understand the economic impact of outdoor recreation and the good paying jobs it supports. I look forward to the President swiftly signing this bill into law

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris’s ruling on Alliance for the Wild Rockies et al v. Marten et al. “Yet another ruling confirms that we need urgent action to reverse the disastrous Cottonwood decision,” Daines stated. “Too many commonsense forest management projects have been halted because of lawsuits from fringe environmentalists that do more to harm forest health.”  U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris on Tuesday cited the Ninth Circuit’s Cottonwood ruling to halt the Red Lodge forest management project through an injunction order. The project would reduce the risk

U.S. SENATE —In recognition of Small Business Saturday, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester are encouraging their fellow Montanans to “shop small.”  Daines and Tester are original co-sponsors of a bipartisan resolution to recognize November 26, 2016 as “Small Business Saturday” and to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses. S.Res. 569 unanimously passed the United States Senate.  “When small businesses grow, our economy grows,” Daines stated. “Our country was founded on hard work and entrepreneurship and I’m proud that Montana small businesses continue to lead the way and exemplify the best of our country’s heritage. I encourage my

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following video message wishing Montanans a happy Thanksgiving. Click here to watch the video. Click here to download the video. Below is a transcript of Daines’ message: “From my family to yours, I want to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. “On this day of Thanksgiving we celebrate and we give thanks to God for our many blessings.  “We can be so thankful for this great country we are blessed to live in, and for our freedom – and for the hardworking men and women who make it so.  “Like our men and women in

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Montana Attorney General Tim Fox today released the following statement on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) rejection of Montana’s application for an extension on REAL ID compliance:  “Montanans have spoken loud and clear: we don’t want REAL ID and we don’t want the federal government infringing on our personal privacy,” Daines stated. “I’m going to work to pursue every legislative fix I can to safeguard Montanans’ civil liberties and personal privacy.” “Montana has emphatically rejected the invasion of personal privacy by requiring sharing of private information with the federal government, and other states, through