Daines, Zinke Request Meeting With VA Secretary McDonald on Replacement for MT VA
U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today urged Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Bob McDonald to prioritize a quick and qualified replacement for outgoing VA Montana Director John Ginnity. The VA Montana went for nine months without a full-time director before Ginnity was appointed director in March of 2015. The members also requested a full congressional meeting with Secretary McDonald to ensure this replacement is timely and with a top candidate. Daines and Zinke wrote: “The failure of the VA to prioritize the hiring of these leadership positions with honorable individuals reflects a
Daines Secures Important Healthcare Resources for Montanans
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured important healthcare resources for Montanans to improve the quality and reliability of services. “Montanans deserve reliable access to quality healthcare services close to home,” Daines stated. “Through my efforts, our health care providers will be able to better serve rural communities across our state and country.” The Senate Committee on Appropriations today passed the bipartisan FY2017 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Bill. Daines secured the following resources for Montana: Air Ambulance: Secured language to require the Government Accountability Office to author a report about the costs and coverage
Daines Statement on Resignation Montana VA Director Ginnity
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after Montana VA Director John Ginnity announced his resignation. “Montana veterans deserve a leader who will ensure their needs are being met and the Montana VA has not lived up to this commitment. The Montana VA needs a strong leader who understands the mission and will not fail Montana veterans.” Daines has always fought to ensure that Montana VA leadership is serving Montana’s veterans. March 23: Daines sent a letter to the Office of Inspector General asking them to investigate misconduct as a whole at the VA – possibly from
Daines’ Amendment to Provide Security for Nuclear Sites Passes Senate
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ amendment to provide additional security for land based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) sites, like Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) today unanimously passed the United States Senate and will now be included in the National Defense Authorization Act. It was confirmed this year that the UH-1N Huey helicopter does not meet the security requirements for land based missile sites. The Air Force has known this since before 2001 and is working currently to replace the Huey’s. Daines’ amendment requires the Department of Defense to certify what security shortfalls the UH-1N has created, and how it
Daines Ensures Due Process for Veterans Erroneously Discharged
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded unanimous Senate passage of his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less than honorable discharge from the military due to negative behavior resulting from mental traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The bipartisan amendment codifies the principles of the Hagel memo, ensuring Discharge Review Boards (DRBs) give liberal consideration to petitions for changes in discharge status to honorable if the servicemember has PTSD, TBI or related conditions in connection with their military service. Additionally,
Daines Introduces Tribal Forestry Legislation
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced major legislation that will improve the health of both Indian and federal forest land. Daines’ bill, the Tribal Forestry Participation and Protection Act helps keep Indian forest land and nearby federal forest land healthy by fostering greater cooperation between tribes and the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. This legislation will empower Montana tribes and federal agencies with a new tool to expedite critical restoration projects on certain federal lands, thereby increasing active management and improving forest health. “We need commonsense forest management reform that cuts through the bureaucratic red tape, improves the health
Daines Announces over $400,000 for Rural Hospitals
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana State University was awarded $428,617 for the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center to improve services at small rural hospitals in Montana – all but one are Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). “Ensuring rural hospitals have the tools and training they need will provide a better healthcare system and better care for all Montanans,” Daines stated. There are forty-eight rural hospitals in Montana which meet the requirements for participation in the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP), forty-seven of which are CAHs. Montana is one of the
Daines Introduces Bill to Temporarily Stop Gitmo Transfers
Nearly Two Dozen Detainees Reportedly Set for Release This Summer U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to temporarily ban the transfer or release of detainees from Guantanamo Bay. The administration reportedly is set to release nearly two dozen Gitmo detainees to several different countries this summer amid efforts to close the prison before the end of the president’s term. Daines’ bill, S. 2999 would prohibit these transfers until either the end of this year or enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2017. “Terrorists captured by U.S. forces belong in Guantanamo period,” Daines stated.“President Obama is prioritizing
Daines Prioritizes National Security and Secures Air Support for Nuclear Weapons
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today worked to bolster aviation security, cybersecurity and nuclear security. The Senate Committee on Appropriations today marked up and passed the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill and Fiscal Year 2017 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. “It’s unconscionable to imagine that our nuclear warheads do not have adequate air security,” Daines stated. “With my provisions and additional funding, we will have the needed air support for our nuclear weapons until the permanent solution of an expedited procurement is complete.” Daines secured the following provisions in the Defense Appropriations Bill: Upgrading UH-1Ns: $75 million in the bill for the Air