Daines Demands Accountability For Failures of VA Health Record System
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael Missal concerning the systematic failures of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. “My office has explored an increasingly high number of systematic failures at the rollout sites of the EHRM program. There are rampant complications from frequent software failures to incomplete or incorrect patient records that derail access to care and leave afflicted veterans without the resources they need and deserve. Disturbingly, I have received reports from VA staff who indicate that they have no hope that
Daines, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Empower Parents, Teachers
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a group of his colleagues in introducing the “Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act” or the “A-PLUS Act” to give local leaders and parents more say over how their tax dollars are spent on education. “Education tax dollars belong closer to Montana classrooms–not in the hands of D.C. bureaucrats,” Daines said. “Montana parents and teachers know what Montana students need best. Congress should empower state and local leaders to have more of a say in the classroom and allow Montanans to better utilize their tax dollars spent on education.” “I have worked to add
Daines Protects Critical American Energy Reserves
Legislation Would Prohibit Biden Administration from Further Draining Strategic Petroleum Reserve U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped introduce a bill to prohibit the Biden administration from further draining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for reasons other than a severe energy supply interruption until the administration releases a plan to increase oil and gas production on federal lands and waters. “Since Day One, Biden and the Democrats have been determined to shut down Made in Montana and Made in America energy – from cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline, to tacking a $25 billion tax on American-made energy, to draining the strategic petroleum reserve,” Daines said. “Enough is enough. My
Daines Slams President Biden’s Border Crisis at First Senate Leadership Press Conference
“Montana is a northern border state with a southern border crisis” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined his first Republican Senate Leadership press conference where he slammed President Biden and Senate Democrats for ignoring the crisis at the southern border and discussed how it is devastating Montana communities. “Montana is a northern border state with a southern border crisis. Fentanyl is destroying our communities, creating lawlessness, and record levels of crime and record levels of fatal overdoses in Montana. This fentanyl is coming directly from the Mexican cartels. Sadly, the Biden administration is not doing anything to control
Daines Demands Biden Administration Investigate Link Between Rare Cancer and Service at Malmstrom
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called on the Biden administration to immediately expand the investigation into the possible link between the nine military officers who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after serving at Malmstrom Air Force Base. “I write to stress the importance of the ongoing investigation into the possible increased likelihood of cancer for missileers at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. I urge the Department of Defense to re-examine previous studies and expand the current investigation, which is monitoring and screening current and former missileers. It must be a priority to ensure that our nuclear readiness is sufficient and
Daines: No Balanced Budget, No Pay for Congress
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today re-introduced the “Balanced Budget Accountability Act” to hold Congress accountable and require a balanced budget or members won’t get paid. This legislation would help address our public debt crisis, and is the first bill Daines introduces each Congress. “Congress is here to serve–not to be served. If Congress can’t do its job and pass a balanced budget, members shouldn’t get paid,” Daines said. “As our national debt soars and inflation continues to hammer Montana families, it’s past time we bring accountability to Washington, and my “Balanced Budget Accountability Act” will do just that.” Read
Daines Demands Biden Admin Address Rural Montana Nursing Home Staffing Shortages, Improve Care for Montana Seniors
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a group of bipartisan senators to express concerns with the Biden administration’s plans to issue one-size-fits-all staffing mandates for Montana nursing homes. Daines and the group of senators are urging the Administration to address the severe workforce shortages facing rural Montana and ensure Montana seniors have access to quality, long-term care. “We fear a one-size-fits-all staffing mandate would undermine access to care for patients, particularly in rural communities. Instead, we urge you to work with Congress and rural stakeholders on tailored solutions that address the severe workforce challenges in our states’ underserved
Daines to Introduce Bills Protecting Unborn Children, Vulnerable Mothers
Announces bills ahead of 50th annual March for Life U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today announced he will reintroduce two bills to protect babies with Down syndrome from abortion and protect vulnerable mothers and their unborn children from chemical abortions on college campuses. Daines, founder of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, is introducing the bills to help mark the 50th anniversary of the March for Life in Washington, D.C. “Every life is created with God-given dignity and potential—no matter how small or how many chromosomes they may have,” Daines said.“We are making great strides to build a culture of life in America but
Daines Calls on Biden Admin to Address Housing Issues for Wildland Firefighters
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a group of bipartisan senators calling on the Biden administration to provide information on the availability and cost of federal firefighter housing. In many states, including Montana, housing issues are a key barrier to firefighter recruitment and retention. “On November 17, 2022, the Government Accountability Office published a report on the barriers to wildland firefighter recruitment and retention, and one of the primary barriers identified by the report was the cost associated with a remote duty station, including the costs for federal housing. This finding confirms the anecdotes we have heard from