Tag: Technology

Daines: OPM Director Should Step Down

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today called on Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Katherine Archuleta to step down in light of recent reports that due to failures in OPM’s security, an estimated 18 million current, former and prospective federal employees were victims of a mass cyber breach. “Under Katherine Archuleta’s watch, OPM allowed one of the largest breaches of federal employees’ personal information in our nation’s history. More, Ms. Archuleta has refused to take accountability for this great failure – in turn failing the American people, whom she swore an oath to protect and defend,” Daines

Daines Applauds Passage of Critical Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today hailed the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides critical support for the nation’s military and national security. “This legislation is critical to ensuring our men and women in uniform have the funding and support they need to fulfill their missions,” Daines stated. “The NDAA prioritizes the needs of our service members while protecting the important role that Montana holds in our national defense.” Daines successfully included an amendment to the NDAA that would protect military couples from abrupt reductions in their housing allowances. Under the NDAA, current dual housing

Daines Announces First Biannual Montana High Tech Jobs Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced that he will be hosting the first biannual Montana High Tech Jobs Summit in Bozeman this fall. The Summit, sponsored by Daines, the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Montana Chamber of Commerce, will take place at Montana State University on September 13 and 14 and will feature Safra Catz, Chief Executive Officer of Oracle, among other national tech and business leaders. “Working at RightNow Technologies, I experienced firsthand the opportunity that technology gives us to grow jobs right here in Montana,” said Senator Daines. “Technology has removed geography as a constraint and

Daines Statement on Reported Chinese Cyber Attacks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to reports that Chinese hackers have accessed the private security clearance information of millions of military and intelligence personnel: “Reports that Chinese hackers have hacked into private security clearance information from our nation’s military and intelligence agencies is deeply concerning and could have devastating implications for our national security. This is the second major cyber attack on the federal government in just a week, and it is deeply troubling that the Obama administration has yet to prioritize addressing this serious problem.  These attacks reaffirm the importance of strengthening

Senators Call on Commerce, Ag Secretaries to Prioritize Broadband Access for Rural Americans

Daines, Manchin, King lead bipartisan effort to ensure high-speed broadband for rural communities WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Angus King (I-ME) today led a bipartisan effort to ensure the federal government prioritizes high-speed broadband access for rural Americans. In a bipartisan letter signed by more than a dozen Senators, the Senators pressed Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Co-Chairs of the Broadband Opportunity Council, for a detailed analysis of the various federal broadband initiatives that can be coordinated across agencies to bridge the digital divide and bring rural America into the

KULR-8: Senator Daines Teams up with Google to Bring Small Business Workshops to Bozeman, Billings

BILLINGS – Representatives from Google hosted a free technology workshop for Montana’s small business owners in Bozeman and Billings. Daines’ workshops are part of Google’s “Let’s Put Our Cities On The Map” small business events. Google experts will help small business owners create their own websites and train them on how to reach more customers and get discovered online. Daines said, “You’ll see the tourist, you’ll see members of the community looking at their phones. They’re probably doing some kind of search to find a product or a service and what we’re doing here today is helping these small businesses

Daines Partners with Google to Bring Small Business Workshops to Bozeman, Billings

Senator Steve Daines today announced that representatives from Google will host free tech workshops for Montana small business owners in Bozeman on Thursday, May 28 and Billings on Friday, May 29. Daines’ workshops are part of Google’s Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map small business events. Google experts will help small business owners create their own websites, courtesy of StartLogic. Businesses receive a customized domain name, free web hosting for one year, a local business listing on Google Maps, free tools, training and resources. Google experts are on hand to train the business owners on how to reach more

Daines Congratulates Helena Native Dr. Dava Newman on Confirmation as NASA Deputy Administrator

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Helena native Dr. Dava Newman on her confirmation as the new National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Deputy Administrator. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Newman today. Before today’s vote, Daines spoke on the Senate floor in support of Newman’s nomination. Video of Daines’ floor speech is available to watch here and download here. “Dr. Newman is a talented individual, passionate about aerospace engineering, and is generating awareness of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math opportunities in Montana’s students,” Daines stated. “Dr. Newman is an incredibly accomplished Montanan who truly exemplifies our state’s legacy of public service. I know she will lead with honor

Montanan Confirmed in Senate Commerce Committee, Now Moves to Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today congratulated Helena native Dava Newman, whose nomination for NASA Deputy Administrator was reported favorably out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.  This afternoon, the Committee unanimously approved Newman’s nomination, which will now head the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.  “Dava Newman is an incredibly accomplished Montanan who truly exemplifies our state’s legacy of public service,” Daines stated. “Dr. Newman is uniquely qualified to be NASA Deputy Administrator and I know she will execute and lead with honor and be prepared for whatever challenges may lie ahead.” Dava Newman, a native of Helena, Montana is

Daines Announces Four Montana Schools to Receive Computers Through Senate Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has helped facilitate a donation of 25 computers to four Montana public schools as part of the United State Senate’s Computers for Schools Program. Through the program, four Montana schools have received multiple HP8000 computers to enhance and encourage education and learning. Recipients include: Ashland Public School in Ashland, MT received 10 computers Hays-Lodge Pole School in Hays, MT received five computers Sidney Public School in Sidney, MT received five computers Bainville Public School in Bainville, MT received five computers “As someone who spent 12 years in the technology sector, I