Press Releases

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to reverse the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals disastrous Cottonwood Decision. In a memo to his colleagues, Daines underscored the critical nature of quick action to avoid further crippling of federal land management across Ninth Circuit states, and demonstrate why Congress should statutorily reverse the decision this year.  “To avoid the ‘crippling’ impacts on federal land management across Ninth Circuit states, Congress should statutorily reverse the Cottonwood decision by amending federal law to codify DOJ’s legal position in legislation enacted this year,” Daines wrote. 

BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced a new opportunity for Montanans to share their experiences on the Obamacare exchange with his office.  “Since Obamacare became the unhappy law of the land, Montanans have been hit with higher costs and fewer choices,” Daines stated. “I want to make sure Montanans feel heard and represented in Congress – that’s why I’m asking for them to share with me their story on how Obamacare has affected their lives.” Montanans who want to share their story can do so by visiting Daines’ website: https://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/share-your-story Earlier today, Daines held a roundtable in Billings with local business

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals applied their decision in Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. Forest Service to rule against a forest health restoration project near Bozeman.   “Today’s disastrous ruling against a commonsense project to reduce wildfire risk and protect Bozeman’s watershed makes it even more urgent that we enact meaningful forest reform that will remove this sort of absurd regulatory burden.”    ###

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today demanded transparency around the closure of Colstrip Units 1 and 2 to provide certainty to hardworking Montana families who rely on good-paying jobs at Colstrip.  In a letter to Paul Farr, the President and CEO of Talen Energy Corporation, Daines sought clarification if a decision had already been made to close Colstrip Units 1 and 2 at the earliest opportunity in 2017 and if the disclosure of this decision is being withheld.   Daines requested Farr to confirm that: No decision by Talen has been made to close these facilities in 2017 or any other future date;

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey informed the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary that Hillary Rodham Clinton is back under investigation.  “Hillary Rodham Clinton’s reckless conduct put our national security at risk,” Daines stated. “The citizens of our country deserve an honest and transparent investigation to hold the former Secretary accountable.”  ###

BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement upon Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcement of Dr. Kathy Berger’s appointment as permanent Director of VA Montana Health Care System.  “The appointment of a new VA Montana Director is welcome news for Montana’s veterans and I wish Dr. Berger the best,” Daines stated. “Now that our veterans have a new director I look forward to seeing a commitment and change to ensure their needs are not only being met, but that Montana’s veterans receive the best possible care.” Daines met with VA Secretary Bob McDonald on September 26, 2016 on

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement upon the completion of the Kalispell Bypass. “Downtown Kalispell is an economic engine for northwest Montana and the whole state,” Daines stated.  “This engine runs on our transportation network, allowing residents, visitors, freight and natural resources to traverse the state.  It’s great to see infrastructure growing in Kalispell.  This bypass may only add seven miles of road, but it will increase safety downtown and generate efficiency gains impacting the region.  Not only will it enable downtown Kalispell to further flourish, it will support the local and regional economy that relies on moving

U.S. CONGRESS —U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today worked to ensure equitable healthcare delivery for rural Montanans.  In a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt, Daines and Zinke seek to clarify why certain Montana zip codes are not designate as rural for ground ambulances despite meeting qualifications and having rural designations for most other Medicare programs.  There are currently 16 zip codes throughout Montana, which meet criteria, but have not been designated as rural for purposes of ground ambulance reimbursement.  “With lower population density and increased travel times, it is

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today stood up for Montanans’ right to privacy and pressed Attorney General Loretta Lynch to provide Congress with more information about a proposed expansion of government hacking and surveillance powers. In the letter to AG Lynch, Daines and Tester ask for more information about how the government would use the new hacking authority, formally known as amendments to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Unless Congress acts, these new amendments are scheduled to go into effect on December 1. “We are concerned about the full scope of the new