Daines, Tester introduce bill to permanently ban government from taxing Internet
(U.S. Senate) –Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today introduced a bill to permanently ban federal, state and local governments from taxing access to the Internet. The Senators’ bill, the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act, would permanently extend the current moratorium on taxing Internet access that is set to expire on October 1, 2015. Montana is one of a few states that would automatically impose a 3.75 percent tax on Internet access if the moratorium is lifted. “The Internet provides instant access to information, allows small businesses to compete in a global marketplace, and strengthens education and health care,” Tester
Daines Congratulates Billings, Helena Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Richmond Paschall and Jeremy Van Dyke on their appointments to the United States Naval Academy. Richmond Paschall, from Billings, received a nomination to the Academy from Senator Daines and was also nominated by Senator Jon Tester and former Senator John Walsh. He is a student at Billings West High School where he is the current Vice President of the student body and a member of the football and track team. Paschall is also a member of the National Honor Society and attended the Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Jeremy Van Dyke, from Helena,
Daines Demands Answers to Secure Americans’ Personally Identifiable Information
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following today’s announcement that more than 80 million Americans may have had their personally identifiable information compromised after a data breach at Anthem Health Insurance, Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) is calling on Congress to strengthen victim notifications requirements and ensure that Americans are promptly informed when their personal information may have been exposed. During this morning’s Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on consumer data breach solutions, Daines reaffirmed his commitment to expediting notification requirements and ensuring that data security standards are up to date. “Today’s headlines underscore the absolute importance of moving forward to strengthen our cybersecurity
Daines Works to Advance Interests of Montana Tribes
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today spoke out about the lack of assistance available for tribal housing loan programs and called on Congress to find solutions to make loan programs more accessible for Montana’s tribes. “If you don’t have a home, achieving other life needs is difficult. But with these high unemployment rates we see in Indian country, access to loans is very difficult. The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, I believe, is an important law to facilitate access to housing for Native American communities,” Daines stated today during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on hearing
Daines Blasts Costly EPA Wood Stove Regs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today blasted the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new regulations on wood burning stoves as a direct threat to Montanans’ access to affordable energy. This afternoon, the EPA rolled out its final regulations on residential wood heaters, pellet stoves and other wood burning stoves. The new regulations are projected to have a $45.7 million annualized compliance cost, which could lead to higher costs or decreased access to stoves for Montana consumers. “The EPA’s shortsighted regulatory overreach is once again hitting hardworking Montanans in their pocketbooks,” Daines stated. “Thousands of Montanans rely on wood burning stoves
Daines Congratulates Andrew Obst on Naval Academy Appointment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Kalispell student Andrew Obst on his appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Obst, a senior at Flathead High School in Kalispell, received a nomination to the Naval Academy from Daines last year. Obst has served as a Search and Rescue volunteer in Libby, is a member of Flathead 4-H Shooting Sports, where he was a 2014 State Champion in Small Bore Pistol, and is active in football, track and field and wrestling. “I’m proud of Andrew, a hardworking young leader, for his tremendous accomplishments and his recent appointment to the United States
Daines Lauds Bipartisan Passage of Bill to Address Veteran Suicide
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hailed the bipartisan, unanimous passage of legislation to help prevent veteran suicide and improve veterans’ access to mental healthcare services. Daines is a cosponsor of The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to improve veterans’ access to mental healthcare and suicide prevention resources and increase accountability and quality of care at VA hospitals. “The tragic epidemic of veteran suicide will continue unless we take concrete steps to improve our veterans’ access to the care they need and increase community support for those who are suffering from mental health wounds,” Daines
Daines Statement on Obama’s Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to President Obama’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2016: “It’s no coincidence that the President is releasing his budget on Groundhog Day – it’s yet another budget that never balances, bursting with massive big government spending and burdensome taxes and regulations that have become the unfortunate trademark of the Obama administration. Instead of repeating the same failed agenda that has proven to be wrong for Montana, the President should join the Senate in balancing the budget and working toward commonsense solutions that encourage economic opportunity, grow good-paying
Daines Announces Commerce Subcomittee Assignments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced that he was selected to serve on four subcommittees on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for the 114thCongress. Daines will serve on Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittees on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet; Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security; Space, Science and Competitiveness; and Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security. As the former vice president of RightNow Technologies, a Montana-based software and technology company, Daines brings a unique perspective and valuable experience to the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Daines noted that these subcommittees