Transparency Archives - Senator Steve Daines

Daines Named a Leading Bipartisan, Transparent Senator

March 19, 2019

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today was recognized by the Lugar Center as a leading bipartisan senator in the U.S. Senate. Daines was also named a finalist by the Congressional Management Foundation for top U.S. Senator in transparency, accountability, and innovation. “Delivering results for hardworking Montanans is what I was elected to do,”Daines said. “I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get important Montana priorities signed into law.” The Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Pulibc Policy recognized Daines this week in its Bipartisan Index as having one of the

Daines Calls on FCC to Clarify Broadband Definition

January 22, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today led five of his Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify their inconsistent and arbitrary definitions of broadband, which could detrimentally impact rural Montanans. The letter is also signed by Roger Wicker (MS), Roy Blunt (MO), Deb Fischer (NE), Ron Johnson (WI) and Cory Gardner (CO). The senators expressed their concerns that: The FCC’s arbitrary 25/3 Mbps benchmark speed does not reflect what most Americans consider broadband The use of this benchmark discourages providers from offering speeds at or above the benchmark The definition contradicts the broadband definition used in

Daines: It’s Past Time to ‘Audit the Fed’

January 12, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today expressed his disappointment following the Senate’s failure to advance to debate on the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015, widely known as “Audit the Fed.” Daines is an original co-sponsor of S. 2232, which eliminates restrictions on Government Accountability Office audits of the Federal Reserve and mandates that the Federal Reserve’s credit facilities, securities purchases, and quantitative easing activities be subject to congressional oversight. “We must ensure that the Federal Reserve is transparent and accountable to the American people,” Daines stated. “Americans deserve answers about how our government creates its monetary policy, not the current status quo of making

Daines Slams FCC Rebuff of Montana Small Businesses

December 16, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines slammed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for failing to permanently protect Montana small businesses from burdensome regulations found in the FCC’s 317-page “net neutrality” rules. Earlier today, the FCC rebuffed Daines’ request to provide small Internet service providers with a permanent exemption from their new so-called “enhanced transparency requirements,” which requires Internet service providers to disclose an excess of information about their network performance. The FCC offered a one-year extension of the exemption, which disregards numerous Congressional requests and the recommendation of the Obama administration’s Small Business Administration to provide a permanent exemption of the

Daines’ Bill to Protect Pilots Passes Senate Commerce Committee

December 9, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today hailed the bipartisan passage of his measure to protect and expand protections for Montana pilots. Daines’ bill, S. 571 the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR 2) passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today on a large bipartisan vote. It increases protections for recreational and volunteer pilots by expanding the 3rd class medical exemption for recreational pilots and broadening the protections provided in the original Pilot’s Bill of Rights signed into law in 2012. “I am proud to see the Committee rally around bipartisan legislation that prioritizes our robust aviation industry and

Daines, Capito, King Call on FCC to Increase Transparency, Enforcement for Rural Broadband Funding

November 18, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Angus King (I-ME) today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider strict enforcement measures and increase transparency for the recently announced Connect America Fund funding. The FCC recently announced more than $1.5 billion in annual funding as part of the second phase of the Connect America Fund to expand and support broadband service in rural areas. “We believe strict enforcement measures, coupled with transparency around how, where, and when the funds are used are necessary to ensure the integrity of the [Connect America Fund] program and the success

Daines Introduces Legislation to Roll Back Red Tape for Small Businesses

November 16, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to protect Montana small businesses from burdensome regulations found in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 317-page “net neutrality” rules. The Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2015 would make permanent a temporary exemption from the FCC’s new so-called “enhanced transparency requirements,” which would require Internet service providers to disclose an excess of information about their network performance, some of which may require hiring an engineer. Daines’ bill makes the temporary exemption permanent so that small businesses don’t have to comply with unnecessary and burdensome regulations that would cost small businesses time and money. “Burdensome

Daines Helps Reintroduce “Audit the Fed”

November 5, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today helped reintroduce the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015, widely known as “Audit the Fed.” The bill eliminates restrictions on Government Accountability Office audits of the Federal Reserve and mandates that the Federal Reserve’s credit facilities, securities purchases, and quantitative easing activities be subject to congressional oversight. “The Federal Reserve System was established one hundred years ago with the intent of managing our country’s money supply for greater financial stability. We need to conduct a serious review of our nation’s monetary policy with a view of returning to normalcy,” Daines stated. “We must have an open and

Daines Calls for Montanans’ Feedback on Trans Pacific Partnership

November 5, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today posted the complete text of the newly released Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and is encouraging Montanans to read the trade agreement and provide him with feedback. The bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority legislation passed earlier this year was an important first step in establishing clear guidelines that enforce transparency, maintain Congress’ important role in the process and ensure Montanans’ voices are heard in all trade negotiations. The full text of the Trans Pacific Partnership is available here. The text will be available for several months before Congress considers it for a vote. “I’m pleased that the

Daines Helps Introduce Bill to Rein in Regulatory Authority

October 26, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines has introduced legislation to rein in out of control executive agencies that interpret laws inappropriately to grant themselves more regulatory authority than Congress intended. The Regulatory Authority Clarification Act would allow Congress to provide additional clarification on what regulatory authority has or hasn’t been granted by passing concurrent resolutions. “Montanans know far too well the cost of Washington’s top-down, unchecked ability to issue broad and burdensome regulations,” Daines stated. “This legislation is a good step towards reducing the costly red-tape that hinders the growth and stability of hardworking Montana businesses. It’s far past time

Tag: Transparency