Montana Congressional Delegation Congratulates Polson Student on U.S. Air Force Academy Appointment
U.S. CONGRESS – Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Representative Ryan Zinke congratulated Polson High School senior Nathan Young on his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Young was nominated to the academy by the entire Montana Congressional delegation. Young is a senior at Polson High School and the Student Government Vice President. He is also captain of his Lacrosse team and an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America. Young volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, he’s the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Huddle Leader, Chairman of Fundraising for his National Honor Society Chapter and participated in
Daines’ Resolution to Celebrate Nation’s Teachers Passes Senate
U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines this week celebrated and honored teachers by introducing a resolution to commemorate National Teacher Appreciation Week, the week of May 2, 2016. This week the resolution passed the Senate unanimously “During National Teacher Appreciation Week, and every day, I want to thank my first grade teacher Mrs. Hahn for teaching me how to read at Longfellow Elementary School in Bozeman. She truly believed in her students and gave me the confidence to succeed as a young child,” Daines stated. “Our teachers are tireless public servants who support, inspire and cultivate the next generation of Montana leaders.” Daines invites
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Elementary Students at Chester-Joplin-Inverness
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today recognized the elementary students at Chester-Joplin-Inverness for gathering 2136.5 pounds of nonperishable food for Chester’s annual Harvest 4 Hunger Campaign. The food the students collected. Click here to download. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or
Daines Statement on the Passing of Senator Conrad Burns
Daines Statement on the Passing of Senator Conrad Burns U.S. SENATE – Former United States Senator Conrad Burns passed away peacefully in his home today. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement on his passing: “Conrad Burns left a legacy as a faithful husband, father, Marine, and Senator who loved Montana and his country. He passed away with his boots on, active and engaged until the very end, and will be dearly missed. God bless you, Conrad.” Burns spent the morning having coffee with friends, sharing memories of his service as a U.S. Marine and passed away peacefully at home this afternoon from
Daines Stands Up for Montana Veterans, WWII Women Airforce Service Pilots & VA Accountability
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today stood up for Montana veterans, WWII Women Air Service Pilots who trained in Great Falls and worked to increase accountability at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Daines secured numerous provisions to address Montana veterans’ long standing concerns in Senator Johnny Isakson’s (R-GA) Veterans First Act, which was introduced earlier today. Daines’ provisions include: Veterans Choice Act Improvement Major components of Daines’ bill, the Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2016 were included in the Veterans First Act. Some of Daines’ reforms include an overall reform of the VA to help rural veterans by establishing
Daines Joins Effort to Reform Criminal Justice System
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of Senators to highlight their comprehensive criminal justice legislation that focuses efforts on violent criminals and serious drug offenders and establishes recidivism reduction programs, while granting greater sentencing flexibility for certain low-level drug offenders. The bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 narrows the scope of mandatory minimum prison sentences to focus on the most serious drug offenders and violent criminals, while broadening and establishing new outlets for individuals with minimal non-felony criminal histories that may trigger mandatory minimum sentences under current law. “Our criminal justice system needs to focus
Daines Presses Defense Secretary on Much-Needed Huey Helicopter Upgrades
U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today pressed Department of Defense Secretary Ash Carter on the timeline to upgrade Vietnam-era UH-1N helicopters to provide much-needed security for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) stationed at Malmstron Air Force Base (AFB). During this morning’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on the proposed FY 2017 U.S. Department of Defense budget, Daines worked to secure a timeline for new equipment to protect America’s nuclear missiles. “Given the increased risk for terrorism here at home, I am concerned at how low on the priority list this appears to be,” Daines stated. “The Air Force still has not decided how they’re
Daines Calls on Interior Secretary Jewell to Visit Colstrip, Crow Reservation During Upcoming Travel to Montana
U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today called on Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to tour Colstrip and the Crow Reservation during her upcoming travel to Montana. “Secretary Jewell needs to hear directly from the people impacted by Interior’s actions and come to communities like Colstrip and the Crow Reservation to see what it means for Montana families,” Daines stated. “We’ve already seen layoffs in coal communities across our state as a result of the Obama administration’s war on coal. I encourage Secretary Jewell to meet with folks in Colstrip and the Crow tribe to hear directly from them about the impact of
Daines Announces over $1 Million in Funding for Tribal Transportation Safety Projects
U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana tribes will receive more than $1 million in funding for tribal transportation safety projects. “These grants will provide Montana tribes with critical resources to improve transportation safety in their communities,” Daines states. “I look forward to seeing the tribes utilize these grants to improve highway safety for tribal members. Congratulations to these tribes on their success in this competitive grant process.” The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided approximately $450 million for the Tribal Transportation Program, with two percent (approximately $9 million) available through a competitive, discretionary program to address safety issues. Montana