Daines Addresses Montana’s Veterans Long-Standing Concerns
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today moved forward important reforms that increase Montana veterans’ access to healthcare services. This afternoon, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the FY 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes many of Daines’ reforms that address Montana’s veterans long-standing concerns. “I am proud to secure important priorities for Montana on behalf of those that served our nation in uniform,” Daines stated. Daines also successfully included an amendment during the committee process protects veterans’ ability to discuss with VA physicians the use of medical marijuana in states where it is legal. The amendment would
Daines Makes Important Gains for Montana Farmers and Ranchers
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured key provisions for Montana farmers and ranchers. “As a steadfast champion of our state’s number one industry, I work everyday to ensure that our farmers and ranchers are being heard and well represented,” Daines stated. “I was able to secure important provisions to sustain funding for initiatives to help farmers and ranchers with loans, help stop diseases that are encroaching our forests and expand employment opportunities for veterans in agriculture.” “The Montana Grain Growers Association thanks Sen. Daines’ for protecting the ARS Insect Research Unit in Sidney and for his efforts to secure increased funding for the
Daines, Tester Call on Congress to Stop Massive Expansion of Government Surveillance and Hacking Power
Stopping Mass Hacking Act Reverses Disastrous Changes to Warrant Procedures; Congress Must Act or Government Will Be Able to Hack Millions of Americans’ Devices with a Single Warrant, Compromising Security and Privacy U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced the Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act to protect millions of law-abiding Americans from government hacking. The Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act, S. 2952, is a bipartisan effort that prevents recently approved changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure from going into effect. The changes would allow the government to get a single warrant to hack
Daines Rallies Support for Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Representatives Chris Gibson (R-NY) and David Valadao (R-CA) to rally support for their legislation to ensure Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans are eligible to receive benefits linked to Agent Orange Exposure. Daines at the U.S. Capitol with Senate and House co-sponsors and veterans. Click here to download. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Daines introduced legislation to ensure thousands of Vietnam-era Navy veterans, known as “Blue Water” vets, who were exposed to the powerful toxin Agent Orange will be eligible to receive disability and health care benefits
Daines Leads ICBM Coalition Urging Defense Department to Expedite Security of Nuclear Weapons
U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led the bipartisan ICBM coalition urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to outline a clear plan for the security of the nuclear missiles stationed in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming following the news that the Department of Defense failed to approve the Air Forces’ request for a faster acquisition process. In a letter to DoD Secretary Ash Carter, the members expressed their concerns with DoD’s announcement to proceed with the slowest proposed route to replace the Vietnam-era UH-1Ns. “We write to express serious concerns with the absence of an appropriate and timely path to replace
Daines, Zinke Introduce Legislation to Give States & Tribes Say in Energy Development
U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today introduced bicameral legislation to protect Montana coal jobs from the Obama administration’s recent moratorium on new federal coal leases and ensure that states and tribes have a significant voice in any changes to federal coal, oil, gas royalties or leasing policy. The Certainty for States and Tribes Act, S.2938 and H.R. 5259, provides critical flexibility needed to keep Montana mines open, protect thousands of good-paying jobs and provide needed support for government and community services. “The Obama administration has completely ignored the will and well-being of Montanans and
Daines Announces Over $3 Million in Funding for Montana Health Centers
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $3,118,584.00 in funding for community health centers in Montana to provide improved continuity of care, mobile services to rural locations and increased access to affordable care. The Department of Health and Human Services will provide funding to improve community health and public healthcare services. “Montana Community Health Centers provide critical healthcare services for Montanans, increasing access close to home,” Daines stated. “Through this additional funding these health centers will further enhance their quality and reliability of care for Cascade and Glacier Counties.” Grants awarded today include: Cascade City – County Health Department: $1,494,954.00 Glacier Community Health
Daines Rural Water Projects Bill Receives Senate Hearing
Daines Presses Forest Service on Health of Watersheds and Impact of Litigation U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill that would move Montana rural water projects forward and ensure the completion of authorized projects across Montana today received its first hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The Western Water Supply and Planning Enhancement Act would help improve the efficiency of existing water supply infrastructure, ease the regulatory burden on new projects, and protect water rights that are critical to the prosperity of the Western United States. “From the crops and grazing fields of our state’s agriculture providers, water is our most valuable resource,” Daines
Montana Congressional Delegation Fights for Disaster Relief Funding
(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester, Senator Steve Daines, and Representative Ryan Zinke today called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve the State of Montana’s funding request to help rebuild communities across Montana after they were devastated by a mid-April snow storm. “The resulting damage from this storm impacted Montana’s rural communities, severely damaged local infrastructure, and left thousands of residents and commercial customers without electricity,” Tester, Daines, and Zinke wrote in a letter to the FEMA Administrator. “These communities urgently need federal resources in order to help them restore their infrastructure and way of life.” The storm occurred