Press Releases

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today demanded that that the federal government stop paying ransoms, to enemy states or state sponsors of terror. Following reports of the Obama administration paying a $1.7 billion settlement to Iran shortly after Iran released unjustly detained US citizens, Daines helped introduce the No Ransom Payments Act. This legislation would prohibit any future settlement payments to Iran until it returns the ransom money it received and pays the American victims of Iranian terrorism what they are owed.  Additionally, this legislation would impose sanctions on Iranians involved in the detention of US citizens and prohibits the President or U.S. officials from paying a

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $953,954.00 in funding to make needed safety improvements at the Amtrak stop in Shelby.  “Improving the safety and reliability of Montana’s rail network is critical to connecting people in our communities,” Daines stated. “Folks depend on public transportation and these funds will go a long way towards ensuring that Shelby is able to maintain their Amtrak stop.” Daines authored a letter of support for this critical project on June 9, 2016. The letter is available HERE.  This project will upgrade two pedestrian and motor vehicle crossings in Shelby, by extending the existing Amtrak platform and installing

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,050,217 in funding for 17 community health centers across Montana.   “Community health centers play a critical role in delivering quality care close to home for Montanans,” Daines stated. “This additional funding will help these centers to continue to improve primary care service delivery to our local communities.”  Grants awarded today from the Department of Health and Human Services include: Billings: Yellowstone City-County Health Department: $92,615.00 Helena: Lewis & Clark County: $46,032.00 Missoula: Missoula County: $120,395.00 Great Falls: Cascade County: $53,788.00 Billings: Montana Migrant & Seasonal Farm Workers Council, Inc.: $95,456.00 Livingston: Community Health Partners Clinic: $57,015.00 Butte: Butte-Silver Bow Primary

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats refusal to provide funding for Zika, a public health emergency and for failing to fund our troops.   For the third time this year, Senate Democrats voted against a formerly agreed to bipartisan $1.1 billion compromise in emergency funding to fight Zika – a level that Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden confirmed is the level required to meet the immediate needs of Zika response efforts.   “President Obama is directing Democrat Senators to put public health and safety of the American people aside in favor of partisan politics,” Daines

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $3,456,026.00 in funding for critical upgrades at the Yellowstone Airport located just north of West Yellowstone. “This airport serves a critical role in helping to combat the growing fires in Yellowstone National Park and this additional funding will help keep this airport operational for years to come,” Daines stated. The funding will be used to acquire safety equipment and/or fencing, construct heliport/helipad, install apron edge lights, install miscellaneous NAVAIDS, rehabilitate apron, rehabilitate taxiway and remove obstruction.  Daines secured the following provisions in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization: Airport Improvement Program (AIP) dollars which

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $853,333 in funding for the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) for the next year and a half, which strengthens Montana small manufacturers through partnerships and guidance. MMEC has worked with nearly 1,200 of the manufacturers in the state. According to the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research,  MMEC delivers an 8:1 return on investment for the citizens of the state of Montana.   “Manufacturing plays an integral role in supporting hardworking families across our state,” Daines stated. “Manufacturing jobs pay an average of 17 percent higher wages than non-manufacturing jobs and I’m proud

U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and U.S. Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA) today led a bicameral effort urging the Obama administration to rescind the July 22, 2016 guidance under the International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that declared that gunsmithing is “manufacturing” of a firearm and thus requires the gunsmith to register and pay a registration fee of $2,250. In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, the members underscore that this new guidance negatively harms hardworking small businesses and law-abiding gun owners and implore Kerry to give this his immediate attention and rescind the guidance.  “The vast

Columbia Falls, Mont.— U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the U.S. Air Force’s announcement that the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program has reached Milestone A.  “This is great news for maintaining our nation’s ‘peace through strength’ strategy at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base and the security of our nation,” Daines stated. “We must ensure our nuclear capabilities are ready for 21st century warfare. I will continue pushing to guarantee we modernize our nuclear weapons.” Daines has been actively pushing the Department of Defense to reach Milestone A.  On July 8, Daines led a bipartisan effort in urging Department of Defense Secretary Ash Carter

BOZEMAN, Mont. —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $348,357 in funding for seven Montana tribes to support their existing library operation and to maintain core library services.  “This funding will ensure that tribal libraries are up-to-date and properly serve Indian Country,” Daines stated. “The Native American Library Services Grant is important to improving libraries in Montana’s native communities.” The Native American Library Services Basic Grant is distributed in equal amounts among eligible applicants. The funds were provided to following tribes throught the Native American Library Services.              The Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Chippewa Cree Tribe,