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Tag: VA

Daines Fights for Tribal Needs at Three Senate Hearings

March 11, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today fought for Montana’s tribes, pressing Obama administration witnesses on the responsible stewardship of federal funds to benefit tribal housing, health services and public safety. During three different Senate Committee hearings today, Daines called on witnesses to ensure that federal dollars intended for Montana’s tribes are being properly allocated to help tribal members on Montana’s reservations, rather than being misused or creating bureaucratic waste. Daines sought to rein in exorbitant administrative costs at Indian Health Service (IHS), ensure efficient allocation of tribal housing resources and address the communications challenges facing first responders on reservations and

Daines, Tester honor Montana Medal of Honor recipients

March 11, 2015

Montana’s Senators introduce a bill to rename Armed Forces Reserve Center in Great Falls after Montana heroes (U.S. SENATE) – To honor the service of two Montana Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester have introduced legislation to rename the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Great Falls the “Captain John E. Moran and Captain William Wylie Galt Armed Forces Reserve Center.” Captain John E. Moran served in the Philippine-American War and was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1910.  He was later elected County Clerk and Recorder of Cascade County.  Captain William Wylie Galt was born

Daines, Gillibrand to Help Thousands of “Blue Water” Vietnam Vets Harmed by Agent Orange, but Ignored by Feds Due to Technicality in the Law

March 9, 2015

Current Law Requires VA To Provide Benefits For Service Members Exposed To Agent Orange On Dry Ground, But Ignores Vets Off Shore WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation to ensure thousands of Navy veterans known as “Blue Water” vets from the Vietnam War exposed to the powerful toxin Agent Orange will be eligible to receive disability and health care benefits they have earned for diseases linked to Agent Orange exposure. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam to remove jungle foliage. This

Daines: Naming of Permanent VA Montana Director Is Welcome News

February 26, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to John Ginnity being named as the new permanent director of VA Montana: “This is welcome news for Montana veterans. I’m glad to finally see a permanent director put in place at VA Montana, and I wish John the best as he assumes this role. Now that a permanent director has been named, we need to quickly take steps to address the shortages of health care providers and services facing VA Montana and implement much needed reforms to ensure Montana’s veterans receive the best care possible.” ###

Daines Fights to Defend Critical Montana Military Missions

February 25, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today called on the U.S. Air Force to prioritize the modernization of Montana’s critical military missions and take additional steps to address Montanans’ ongoing concerns regarding the proposed expansion of the Powder River Training Complex. This morning, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on the proposed FY 2016 U.S. Air Force budget. During the hearing, Daines pressed Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh for details about the Air Force’s plan to modernize the avionics of the Montana Air National Guard’s (MANG) C-130 fleet. Daines

Daines: Montana Veterans Have Waited Long Enough for New VA Montana Director

February 24, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today aired his frustration with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ ongoing failure to name a permanent director of VA Montana. Daines’ comments come in light of VA Montana naming a new acting director to replace John Ginnity, who has served as acting director since June of last year and recently reached his maximum allowable days of service in that role. Under VA rules, an acting director may serve no more than 240 days in that role. “Montana’s veterans have waited long enough. It’s time for a permanent director of VA Montana to be named,”

Daines Calls on VA to Name New Montana Director, Address Mental Health Care Challenges

February 10, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines is calling on Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald to quickly name a permanent director of VA Montana and take steps to address the mental health care challenges facing the Montana facility. In a letter sent today to McDonald, Daines stressed that the prolonged delay in naming a new director has prevented VA Montana from addressing serious challenges facing the agency – including the recruitment and retention of qualified mental health care professionals. “Among other adverse impacts, the absence of a permanent director providing clear leadership for the entire organization is an impediment to recruiting

Daines Lauds Bipartisan Passage of Bill to Address Veteran Suicide

February 3, 2015

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 Helps Introduce Bill to Ensure Veterans’ Access to Local Healthcare

January 21, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines has joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and a bipartisan coalition of Senators to introduce legislation to ensure Montana veterans have local access to the healthcare services they need. The bill, the Veterans Access to Community Care Act of 2015 (S. 207), would allow veterans to access community healthcare providers if the veteran lives more than 40 miles driving distance—rather than as the crow flies—from the closest VA medical facility that could provide the services the veteran needs. “Thousands of Montana veterans live hundreds of miles away from their closest VA healthcare facility. This bill ensures that