Daines Pushes Biden Admin to Commit to Keeping Montana Mines Open
Bull Mountains, Rosebud, Spring Creek Mines Set to Close Because Admin Dragging Feet on Environmental Reviews U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing pushed President Biden’s Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) on the delayed environmental reviews for three Montana coal mines Watch Daines’ full remarks and questioning HERE. “Deputy Director Owens, the Office of Surface Mining is required by a court order to complete environmental reviews for three major Montana coal mines. For all three mines, OSM set deadlines for the completion of the environmental reviews and in each
Daines, Lankford Introduce Bill to Streamline Ability to Hire Wildland Firefighters
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the “Direct Hire to Fight Fires Act” that would provide the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI) permanent Direct Hire Authority to streamline the hiring process for skilled personnel in the firefighting or firefighting support capacity. The bill also directs the Forest Service and DOI to identify policies and propose changes to reduce the time and complexity of hiring wildland firefighters and support personnel. “Year after year, our Montana communities are devastated by wildfires and our brave firefighters’ response to these fires protects lives and our public
Daines Introduces Bill to Honor Montana’s Last Pearl Harbor Survivor
Bill will rename Butte VA Clinic after Charlie Dowd U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bill that would designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie A. Dowd VA Clinic. Charlie Dowd passed away in March 2023 and was Montana’s last survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Dowd was an advocate for his fellow veterans and dedicated to preserving the memory of the events of World War II and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Dowd was an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and spoke for
Daines Calls Attention to Fentanyl Crisis Wreaking Havoc on Montana Tribes
At Senate Hearing, Fort Peck Councilman Shares Testimony of Losing Loved One to Fentanyl U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing about the fentanyl coming across the open southern border and harming Montana tribes. Watch and download Daines’ opening remarks HERE. “The ongoing fentanyl crisis is devastating. It’s destroying communities, families, and Montana’s tribal communities are ground zero for this destruction. “The Montana State Crime Lab has reported a 1,000 percent increase in fentanyl-related overdoses since 2017, and Native Americans are suffering the highest overdose death rate by a massive margin—it’s not even close. In Montana, Native Americans are
Daines Bills to Bolster Mental Health Workforce One Step Closer to Becoming Law
Two of Daines’ Bills Passed Out of the Senate Finance Committee with Bipartisan Support U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke at a Senate Finance Committee meeting about the importance of mental health services, especially in rural states like Montana. The committee passed the “Better Act” with bipartisan support which included Daines’ bipartisan “Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act” and the “More Behavioral Health Providers Act.” The legislation Daines helped pass today specifically targets lack of access in several ways, including bolstering telehealth services, addressing coverage gaps, and strengthening the mental and behavioral health workforce. Watch Daines’ remarks HERE. “In
Daines Calls out Senate Democrats and Trial Lawyers for Blocking Veterans’ Benefits
“This is a Scandal in Plain Sight” WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Veterans Day approaches, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called out Senate Democrats and their trial lawyer allies for blocking veterans’ benefits, specifically for Marines who were exposed to chemicals at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Senate Democrats continue to block Daines’ “Protect Camp Lejeune VETS Act,” which would close a loophole that allows trial lawyers to charge veterans 40 percent or more to process veterans’ claims. Current law will cost taxpayers $200 billion and leave Marine veterans without benefits. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “I’m not a Marine, but I’m the
Daines Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize and Reform Key Surveillance Law, Secure Protections for Montanans’ Rights
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped introduce the “Government Surveillance Reform Act” to establish new safeguards for government surveillance and accountability for abuse, reauthorize and reform FISA section 702, and establish protections for Montanans whose private information is collected under other intelligence authorities. “Americans have a constitutional right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures that is nonnegotiable,” said Daines. “As the federal government is increasingly sticking it’s nose into Americans’ private conversations and records, we must put an end to illegitimate searches and protect this fundamental right.” The bill’s reforms include: A one-page summary of the bill is HERE.
Daines Sounds Alarm on Possible Terror Threats in the U.S.
“Think what’s happened in the Middle East can’t happen here? Think again.” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference where he highlighted the increased risk of terror attacks on U.S. soil partly due to the wide-open southern border that has seen a spike in illegal crossings from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism. To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. “The idea of a potential terror attack occurring in the United States is no longer just a what if — it is a when. With a war in the Middle East emboldening violent extremists and a wide-open
At Senate Hearing, Daines Slams Biden Anti-Energy Policies for Killing Montana Jobs, Hurting Rural Communities
Calls Out Administration for Radical Rules That Would Shut Down Colstrip Power Plant U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing slammed the Biden administration for their anti-energy policies that are hurting America’s national security and devastating Montana jobs. Daines called attention to Biden administration rules that would force Colstrip Power Plant to close and asked a Biden official about Montana’s grid reliability. Watch Daines’ full remarks HERE. Senator Daines on the Biden administration’s attack on made-in-America energy: Watch Daines’ opening remarks HERE. Senator Daines: Chairman, thank you. Ranking Member Brasso, thank you as well. Since taking