Daines to Lead Montana Energy 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines announced that he will be spearheading Montana Energy 2016 in Billings this upcoming spring. The summit, sponsored by Daines, the Montana Contractors’ Association, the Montana Coal Council, the Montana Petroleum Association, the Montana Chamber Foundation and KLJ, will take place in Billings, Montana on March 30 and 31, 2016. “Montana holds a vital role in securing our nation’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and it’s vital that we work together to ensure our state remains an energy leader for years to come,” Daines stated. “Montana Energy 2016 will bring together key stakeholders to help increase innovation and move Montana’s energy opportunities to
Daines Encourages Montanans to “Shop Small” on November 28
BOZEMAN, Mont. — In recognition of Small Business Saturday, Senator Steve Daines is encouraging his fellow Montanans to “shop small” and join him in highlighting the important contributions that Montana’s small businesses make to Montana’s economy year round. Daines is an original cosponsor of a bipartisan resolution to recognize November 28, 2015 as “Small Business Saturday” and to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses. S.Res. 304 unanimously passed the United States Senate. “Small businesses are the backbone of Montana’s economy,” Daines stated. “When small businesses grow, our economy grows. Our country was founded on hard work and entrepreneurship and
Daines, Zinke Work to Protect Port of Raymond Operational Hours
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Montana Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today urged U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials to reverse plans to reduce operating hours at the Port of Raymond and terminate the northeastern Montana border crossing’s 24-hour operating status. In a letter to CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske, Daines and Zinke highlighted the important role that the Port of Raymond holds for regional economic activity and the overwhelming local concern surrounding CBP’s recent decision to reduce operating hours. “Terminating the Port of Raymond’s 24-hour status would create costly route diversions and impair the flow of goods in an important economic corridor,” Daines
Tester, Daines call on Senate to fully fund critical payments to Montana counties
PILT helps 55 Montana counties pay for essential services (Montana) – Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are calling on Senate leaders to fully fund a critical tool for Montana counties. Tester and Daines urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to fully fund Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for the 2016 Fiscal Year. PILT payments are made by the Department of the Interior to 55 Montana counties with federal lands that are not taxable by local governments, but the lands’ presence creates demands for local government services, such as law enforcement and infrastructure.
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Mary Crawford of Stevensville
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In honor of National Adoption Month, Senator Steve Daines today honored Mrs. Mary Crawford, an adoptive parent from Stevensville, Montana. Mary and her husband have selflessly opened their homes and hearts to nine foster children, six of whom they have since adopted. Daines is an original cosponsor of S.Res. 315, a resolution to designate November as National Adoption Month and November 21 as National Adoption Day. The resolution passed the Senate unanimously this week. There are 415,000 children currently in the United States foster care system and 108,000 of those are waiting to be adopted. Through his “Montanan of the
Daines Announces $350,000 in Grants to Improve Rural Montana Mental Health Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On National Rural Health Day, Senator Steve Daines announced more than $350,000 in funding for rural Montana telehealth and mental health services. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants have been awarded to Western Montana Mental Health Center and St. Patrick Hospital Foundation. Daines wrote a letter of support for St. Patrick Hospital’s plan to build the Western Montana Telepsychiatry Network – a partnership between St. Patrick Hospital and rural Montana hospitals. By providing access to high-quality behavioral health professionals and services through telepsychiatry and distance learning, St. Patrick Hospital can address
Daines Helps Move Forward Key Legislation to Reauthorize LWCF, Expand Access to Public Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today helped move forward critical bipartisan solutions to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and protect and preserve Montana’s outdoors heritage. The Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this morning on a large bipartisan vote. This bill promotes and protects access to Montana’s public lands and increases recreational opportunities for hunters and anglers. Additionally, the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 would shine a light on how the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) payments are empowering obstructionists who frequently litigate forest management projects in Montana and the
Daines, Capito, King Call on FCC to Increase Transparency, Enforcement for Rural Broadband Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Angus King (I-ME) today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider strict enforcement measures and increase transparency for the recently announced Connect America Fund funding. The FCC recently announced more than $1.5 billion in annual funding as part of the second phase of the Connect America Fund to expand and support broadband service in rural areas. “We believe strict enforcement measures, coupled with transparency around how, where, and when the funds are used are necessary to ensure the integrity of the [Connect America Fund] program and the success
Daines: UM BBER Report Reaffirms Devastating Impact of Obama’s War on Affordable Energy
Announces telephone townhall to discuss alarming UM report, Daines’ efforts to block anti-coal regulations WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today called a new report on the impact of President Obama’s anti-coal regulations “devastating for Montana” and announced that he will hold a telephone townhall meeting this evening to discuss the alarming report with Montanans. The University of Montana (UM) Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) today released a study on the economic implications of implementing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan in Montana. The study shows that the EPA’s new regulations will likely lead to the full