Press Releases

BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Interior:  “Ryan Zinke protected us abroad and in combat and I know he will do the same for our treasured public lands as Secretary of the Interior,” Daines stated. “In Congress, I’ve seen Ryan stand up and fight to protect our way of life.  As a westerner, Ryan understands the challenges of having the federal government as your largest neighbor and I couldn’t think of a better fit for Secretary of the Interior.” Audio of

COLUMBUS, Mont. —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to exempt small business from burdensome regulations found in their 317-page “net neutrality” rules. Daines led the effort in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to extend a temporary exemption from the FCC’s so-called “enhanced transparency requirements,” which would require internet service providers to disclose an excess of information about their network performance, some of which may require investing in new equipment and hiring an engineer.  If the FCC doesn’t take action by December 15, 2016, small businesses will be subject to these burdensome requirements. In a

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bill to encourage and increase the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science within the federal government to advance and accelerate scientific research, literacy and diplomacy passed the U.S. Senate this evening.  This is the first ever legislation to grant explicit authority to the government to use these methods. Daines’ bill is included in S. 3084 American Innovation and Competitiveness Act. “The best solutions to the challenges facing our country are going to come from hardworking folks – not the federal bureaucracy,” Daines stated. “By encouraging the federal government to pursue citizen-driven solutions we will be able

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured passage of legislation to combat the spread of invasive mussels in Montana.  Daines secured language in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, clarifying congressional intent that inspection stations are not just intended to be in the Columbia River Basin, they must be strategically located across Montana and the West to prevent transmission of these invasive species from all bodies of water.  “If these invasive mussels continue to mature and spread it will have a costly impact on Montana’s ecosystem, obstructing irrigation and hydropower infrastructure and negatively impacting our economy,” Daines stated. “Watercraft

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the passage of the Blackfeet water compact in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act.  The authorization of Blackfeet water compact is included in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).  The WIIN Act authorizes the Blackfeet water compact and ends decades of litigation and paves the way for more than 400 million of investment water, irrigation and infrastructure projects. “Today is a historic day for the Blackfeet Tribe, Montana farmers, ranchers and families, ” Daines stated. “The Blackfeet water compact will update decades old infrastructure, strengthen

U.S. SENATE — After more than a year of work by U.S. Senator Steve Daines, today the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that the Port of Raymond will remain a 24-hour entryway into Canada.  “The announcement that the Port of Raymond will remain open 24-hours is welcome news for Montana farmers and ranchers who need to get their goods to market,” Daines stated. “I’m pleased that the CBP heard my frustration and that of Montanans and reversed their misguided decision to reduce their hours.” On March 5, 2016, Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke met with CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske,

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Andrew Sorenson on his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy located in Annapolis, Maryland. Daines called Sorenson today to inform him of the appointment and offer his congratulations. Sorenson is an Eagle Scout and entrepreneur who owns and operates his own lawn care business and has earned varsity letters in wrestling, tennis, football, indoor track and cross country.  “Andrew has shown himself to be a leader both on the field and in the classroom, and I look forward to watching him become a leader in our armed forces,” Daines stated.  Sorenson, whose family

U.S. SENATE — As the Federal Reserve is expected to increase the interest rate next week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation that would require congressional budgetary scorekeepers to account for interest costs incurred on borrowed funds needed for legislative proposals.  The Budgetary Accuracy in Scoring Interest Costs (BASIC) Act will include the cost of debt in both Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) analysis so that Congress can have the full picture of legislative costs to the American taxpayer.  “If I told you that when Congress employs gimmicks to shield you from knowing exactly how

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,