Press Releases

Daines Statement on BBER Study on Timber Sale Litigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research’s (BBER) study examining the costs and impacts associated with litigation of U.S. Forest Service timber sales in the Northern Region. “This eye-opening study confirms what we long suspected: Litigation against commonsense timber projects is having far-reaching, damaging impacts on Montana jobs, access to recreation and our environment,” Daines stated. “It is unacceptable that mills in Montana have to go far outside of our state to get logs, largely because 40 to 50 percent of the timber sale volume

Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Big Sky Students and Teacher

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today recognized the hard work of Ms. Jennifer Zirbel and her class at Lone Peak High School in Big Sky. Ms. Zirbel’s class competed in the Capitol Hill Challenge for the 12th annual Stock Market Game. 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’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by

Daines: Court Ruling Bulk Phone Collection Illegal is Welcome News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today welcomed a federal court ruling that the National Security Agency’s (NSA) bulk telephone metadata collection program is illegal and reaffirmed his commitment to ending the federal government’s mass collection of Montanans’ personal information. The New York-based 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously ruled today that the NSA does not have the legal authority to widely collect Americans’ bulk telephony metadata. “Montanans have long known that the federal government’s mass collection of our personal data is an unacceptable overreach of power and today’s court ruling confirms it,” Daines stated. “It’s long past time

Daines, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Consumers Correct Errors on Credit Reports

A report by the Federal Trade Commission found that millions of consumer credit reports contain mistakes and errors, often leading to less favorable loan terms or denial of credit; Resolving these errors can take a long time and many consumers have incorrect information on their credit reports as they go through the dispute process The FIX Credit Reporting Errors Act would require credit reporting agencies to forward any documents the consumer has provided as evidence in their dispute to parties seeking their credit score Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today introduced bipartisan legislation

Daines Salutes Montana Small Businesses on Senate Floor

Senator Steve Daines today saluted Montana small businesses in recognition of National Small Business Week. During remarks made today on the Senate floor, Daines highlighted the important role that Montana small businesses hold in supporting Montana’s economy and creating good-paying Montana jobs. Daines also outlined many of the challenges facing Montana’s small businesses, and called for reforms that reduce Washington’s regulatory overreach, simplify the nation’s tax code and repeals and replaces Obamacare and its job-killing mandates. Below are key excerpts from Daines’ floor speech: “During ‘National Small Business Week,’ we recognize all of the hardworking Montana men and women who

Daines: Increased Forest Management Vital to Reducing Threat of Wildfire in Montana

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today emphasized the importance of proper management of Montana’s National Forests to reduce the costly threat of devastating wildfires in Montana.  During today’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the federal government’s role in wildfire management, the impact of fires on communities and potential improvements to be made in fire operations, Daines called on Congress to find long-term solutions for funding wildfire suppression.  “I’ve spent a lot of time traveling across Montana hearing from conservation groups, sportsmen groups and the timber industry, and I think we’ve got great, broad spectrum agreement that we have to change

Daines Announces Hiring of Six Montana Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has hired six Montana veterans to work in Daines’ state offices and serve Montana’s veterans and military communities. “The best way to serve Montana’s veterans is to hire those who have been in their shoes,” Daines stated. “I’m excited to have a strong group of Montana veterans working in our offices, ready and prepared to help Montana’s veterans and military families receive the services they deserve and ensure that their voices are heard in Washington.” Denny Lenoir serves as Director of Veterans Affairs and will oversee all veterans’ outreach and services work conducted by Daines’ office. Before

Daines Launches New Initiative to Recognize Outstanding Montanans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced a new effort to recognize Montanans who exemplify the Treasure State’s strong legacy of community spirit and leadership.   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. “In Montana, we have some of the most compassionate, hardworking and dedicated folks in the nation,” Daines stated. “The ‘Montanan of the Week’ initiative will work to give much deserved recognition to Montanans who do extraordinary things each and every day. I’m excited for

Daines Slams EPA Administrator on Job-Killing Coal Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today slammed Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy for pushing forward new EPA carbon regulations without fully consulting affected states and tribes or addressing the plan’s detrimental impacts on coal production and jobs in Montana. During today’s Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Daines emphasized Montanans’ concerns that the EPA’s proposed “Clean Power Plan”  could shutter the state’s coal-fired power plants and hinder Montana tribes’ and the state’s abilities to develop their coal resources. Daines also pressed McCarthy on the EPA’s failure to take into account how allowing State Implementation Plans under