Press Releases

Daines: “Biden VA Continues to Fail our Veterans”

Criticizes Agency for Taking too Long to Change Leadership in Montana  U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced changes to the Montana VA Healthcare System. “Montana has one of the highest populations of veterans per capita in the United States yet the Biden administration’s VA continues to fail our heroes who have sacrificed so much for our country. The fact that it took this long for the Administration to make a much-needed leadership change in Montana shows the Biden administration is not prioritizing care for our veterans. Unfortunately, the Democrat-controlled

Daines Effort to Crack Down on Fentanyl Crisis Included in NDAA 

U.S. SENATE – U.S.Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, today announced that his “FEND Off Fentanyl Act” was officially included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senate began voting on the NDAA this week. “Enough is enough. The fentanyl that is spilling through Joe Biden’s open border and into the Treasure State is destroying our local communities,” Daines said. “I am proud that my ‘FEND Off Fentanyl Act’ was officially included in this year’s NDAA, and included my specific concerns to add transparency to President Biden’s sanctions exemptions. I am working to ensure this legislation passes the Senate and is sent to

Daines: Biden Defense Department Focus on Race and Gender Destroys American Ideals, Morale and Weakens Military Recruitment 

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced an amendment to mandate the Department of Defense (DoD) base its promotion, selection, assignment and other personnel decisions on merit and not race and gender. The Biden Defense Department advocates for using DEI criteria as a “necessity” and considers it a “force multiplier.” It also sets numerical racial quotas in its recruiting applicant pools. “Gender and race-based discrimination has no place in America and especially not in the military. For decades our military has shown the world that people of diverse backgrounds can unite around a common purpose of serving an ideal higher than themselves and protect our freedom.

Daines Slams Biden for Weakness on World Stage, Works to Strengthen NDAA

Highlights Mission of 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls To watch Daines’ remarks, click HERE. U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference highlighting the importance of pushing back on President Joe Biden’s woke agenda and using the “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA) to strengthen the United States’ national security. Senator Daines is working to include several of his priorities, including banning tax dollars from being used to host drag shows, sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals involved with the spy balloon and an analysis of North American Aerospace Defense

Daines’ Bipartisan Bill to Settle Montana’s Final Indian Water Rights Settlement One Step Closer to Becoming Law

Daines’ “Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act” passes out of committee, heads to Senate floor U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing applauded the passage of his bipartisan “Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act.” The historic bill would finalize Montana’s last Indian water rights settlement. Watch and download HERE. “This is a historic step for Montana. It is a bipartisan agreement, the Fort Belknap Water Rights Compact, the last compact for the state of Montana. We are now one step closer to getting this to the President Biden’s desk. There has been a lot

Daines Calls for Passage of Largest Bipartisan Hydropower Permitting Reform Bill in Two Decades

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee hearing, highlighted his bipartisan “Community and Hydropower Improvement Act” and called on the committee to pass his bill that would streamline the permitting and licensing process, boost hydropower in Montana and increase tribal engagement. Listen to Daines’ full remarks HERE. “The ‘Community and Hydropower Improvement Act’ streamlines permitting and licensing as well as increases tribal engagement. The bill creates an expedited licensing process for powering non-powered dams and building closed loop pumped storage. It limits the scope of environmental review and mitigation to real, on the ground and

Daines to Introduce Amendments to FY2024 NDAA to Bolster National Security, Support Montana Service Members  

Amendments Would Address Chinese Spy Balloon, Drag Shows at Military Bases and Side Effects of the COVID-19 Vaccine U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the list of amendments he plans to introduce next week as part of the “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA), including legislation to crack down on Chinese espionage, ban drag shows on U.S. military bases and launch an investigation into potential side effects of the previously mandated COVID-19 vaccine for U.S. service members.  Daines introduced a bill this week that would ensure the U.S. Department of Treasury works with the Department of Commerce to identify various institutions as restricted trade partners if they are associated with either the Chinese military

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Make Pay Raise for Wildland Firefighters Permanent 

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped introduce the bipartisan “Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act”to maintain the pay raise secured for Montana wildland firefighters in Daines’ bipartisan “Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act” that was signed into law in 2021. Daines’ “Wildland Firefighter Recognition Act” which was also signed into law in 2021 and required the Office of Personnel Management to create a job series for wildland firefighters that recognized the dangerous work they do and also helped pave the way for this critical boost in compensation. “As fire season devastates Montana communities year after year, Montana wildland firefighters put everything on the line to protect Montana families and towns. I was glad to work with my colleagues across

Daines Fights for More Public Access, Better Forest Management

Promotes bill to improve conservation of 100,000 acres of public land at Senate hearing U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, announced the introduction of his “Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act” to remove certain restrictive Wilderness Study Area (WSA) designations that can hinder land management and public access. At the hearing, Biden administration officials explained that returning the WSAs to general public land management will help mitigate wildfire risk and increase public access to public lands while keeping important protections in place. Listen to Daines’ full remarks HERE. “My ‘Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act’ will improve the ability to