Press Releases

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,040,808 in funding for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) for diabetes treatment and prevention. “Diabetes sadly plagues many in Montana’s Native communities, and through this funding the CSKT can continue to improve care for tribal members living with this disease,” Daines stated. Native Americans have the highest rate of Type 2 diabetes in the United States. Daines is a supporter of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). The 301 SDPI Community-Directed grant programs help to implement diabetes prevention and treatment interventions in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  On September 20,

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized educator Lisa M. Cline for over 30 years of service as a K-6 STEM educator throughout the State of Montana.   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 form on Daines’ website: http://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve The

U.S. CONGRESS —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today underscored the urgency in reversing the ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. U.S. Forest Service by introducing bipartisan bicameral legislation to do just that. The bill seeks to codify the Obama administration’s position that federal agencies are not required to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service at a programmatic level when new critical habitat is designated or a new species is listed.   “Congress needs to take urgent action to reverse the disastrous activist court ruling for the sake of

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today highlighted the importance of reducing divided land ownership on Indian reservations.   During a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Daines questioned two Montana tribal leaders testifying at the hearing, Chairman Floyd Azure of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes and Vice Chairman Terry Tatsey of the Blackfeet Tribe, on the value of the U.S. Department of the Interior Land Buy-Back Program to their communities and how they would want to see the program improved. “Montana is home to Indian reservations with some of the most divided ownership in the nation

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Elaine Chao. “Secretary Chao has the proven experience that the Department of Transportation needs to implement bold policies that reinvigorate our roads, bridges, railroads and pipelines,” Daines stated. “After speaking with Secretary Chao, I am excited to support her confirmation and look forward to working with her to empower states to create new construction and manufacturing jobs.”  Daines and Chao discussed the importance of prioritizing rural America, specifically the need to ensure equity between urban and rural infrastructure development. They

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on Todd Ricketts, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Deputy Secretary of Commerce following their meeting in his Washington, D.C. office.     “Mr. Ricketts knows how to win and will get the job done at Commerce,” Daines stated. “I look forward to watching him bring his decades of proven business experience to the government to create more good-paying American jobs.” ###  

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator:  “I greatly appreciate the leadership Attorney General Pruitt has shown in suing to stop the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and look forward to watching him dismantle it piece by piece as EPA Administrator.”    A University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research study found the Clean Power Plan would lead to the biggest economic disaster in Montana in 30 years—including the closure of the Colstrip plant, the reduction of over 7,000

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the bipartisan agreement for final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “The NDAA provides critical support and security for our servicemembers in uniform to carry out their missions,” Daines stated. “It’s great to see Congress prioritize the needs of our servicemembers, while protecting the important role that Montana holds in our national defense.”  The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk for his signature.  Daines secured the following priorities for Montana: Cyber Command: Daines’ amendment to elevate U.S. Cyber Command to a Combatant Command was included in the NDAA. U.S. Cyber Command it is currently

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the passage of bipartisan legislation to bring medicine into the 21st century:  “Around every kitchen table in Montana are moms and dads worried about healthcare,” Daines stated.  “This bill helps folks gain access to life saving drugs, provides help for family members struggling with depression and gain access to equipment needed for an elderly parent.  Working together in a bipartisan fashion we took an important step in helping these families.” S. Kevin Howlett, Director, CSKT Health Department: “We are pleased that the Senate has recognized and supported the need for resources to address the epidemic of