Tag: Veterans

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today supported and the Senate passed, the VA MISSION Act, which will overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs and fix many of the shortcomings in the VA Choice Program. “Under the Choice Program, our veterans did not receive the healthcare they deserved,” said Daines. “The bipartisan VA MISSION Act will follow through on the promises that were made to our Veterans.” This week, Daines took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to join him in supporting the VA Mission Act. Watch video HERE. Download video HERE. The bipartisan MISSION Act will

U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Greg Gianforte’s legislation to designate three Department of Veterans Affairs facilities passed the U.S. House of Representatives and will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. This legislation recognizes the commitment to duty and personal courage of three Montanans by naming VA facilities in Missoula and Billings in their honor. The Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Missoula will be designated in honor of David J. Thatcher, the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Billings will be designated in honor of Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow (Dakaak

Legislation provides grave liners at no cost for veterans buried at national park cemeteries   U.S. SENATE – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bill, the Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act. His legislation requires the U.S. Department of the Interior to provide outer burial receptacles – also known as grave liners – for veterans buried in cemeteries under the control of the National Park Service. Daines is Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on National Parks. Daines’ bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent and now heads to the U.S. House of

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today presented a collection of 50 veterans’ interviews who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines to be preserved in Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project (VHP). To watch a video of Senator Daines’ remarks, clickHERE.   “The sacrifices and heroism of Montana’s veterans must not be lost with the passage of time,” said Daines. “Our future generations must recognize and appreciate what our men and women in uniform did to keep America safe and free.”   Background: The U.S. Congress created VHP in 2000 to preserve and make available personal interviews

U.S. SENATE— U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today announced that their legislation to designate three Department of Veterans Affairs facilities passed the Senate.  This legislation recognizes the commitment to duty and personal courage of three Montanans by naming VA facilities in Missoula and Billings in their honor.    The Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Missoula will be designated in honor of David J. Thatcher, the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Billings will be designated in honor of Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow (Dakaak Baako) and the Community Based Specialty Clinic located in Billings will be designated in honor of Benjamin

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured numerous provisions in the FY 2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to increase Montana veterans’ access to timely care for injuries they sustained while serving our nation.  These provisions will reduce delays for new facility construction, expanding mental health treatment options and expanding access to veterans in rural areas.    “Montana’s veterans have suffered under the status quo for too long,” Daines stated. “We are beginning to make real progress for Montana’s veterans and I look forward to continuing to make progress for them.”   Daines offered an amendment to the bill,

U.S. SENATE — Ahead of Memorial Day, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester introduced legislation to recognize the commitment to duty and personal courage of three Montanans by introducing a bill to designate three Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in their honor.  The Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Missoula will be designated in honor of David J. Thatcher, the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Billings will be designated in honor Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow (Dakaak Baako) and the Community Based Specialty Clinic located in Billings will be designated in honor of Benjamin Charles Steele. The designations have the full support

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies urging them to support robust funding for State Veterans Homes that help provide long-term care to our nation’s veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or construct new facilities to serve aging veteran populations. For fiscal year 2017, only 10 of the 57 highest priority projects were funded, resulting in a backlog of facilities requiring upgrades or

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT)  and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and today reintroduced the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, legislation to ensure that thousands of Navy veterans, known as “Blue Water” veterans, are able to receive the disability and health care benefits they earned after exposure to Agent Orange while fighting in the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam to remove jungle foliage. This toxic chemical had devastating health effects on millions serving in Vietnam. In 1991, Congress passed a law requiring the Department of

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after meeting with President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin.  “When it comes to veterans and healthcare – a promise made must be a promise kept,” Daines stated. “That’s why it’s critical we ensure that our veterans have access to the healthcare they need, especially in rural areas.  I believe that Dr. Shulkin will work with me to meet the needs of all Montana veterans.”  In a letter to Shulkin on January 25, Daines underscored his commitment to working with Shulkin to improve access