url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/30/daines-commends-designation-of-marc-fogel-as-wrongfully-detained-demands-immediate-release/,"Daines Commends Designation of Marc Fogel as “Wrongfully Detained,” Demands Immediate Release",2024-12-30,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Fogel, A Schoolteacher, Has Montana Ties

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today commended the U.S. State Department for finally heeding his calls to designate U.S. citizen Marc Fogel as “wrongfully detained” by the Russian government and renewed his demand for Fogel to be immediately released. Fogel has family in Montana and is currently serving a 12-year sentence of hard labor in a Russian prison for possession of marijuana.

“Marc Fogel just spent his fourth Christmas serving an unjust 14-year sentence of hard labor in a Russian prison because he was ‘convicted’ of outrageous drug trafficking charges,” said Daines. “The State Department finally acknowledged what we have always known: that Marc’s arrest was politically motivated and President Biden should have immediately designated him as wrongfully detained in 2021. He should be released immediately.”

Background:

Daines will serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the 119th Congress, which will be sworn in Friday.

The designation of “wrongfully detained” means Fogel’s case will now be transferred to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department.

Senator Daines introduced a bipartisan resolution demanding Russia release Fogel.

Daines also called for Fogel’s release on the Senate floor in July 2023.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/30/daines-helps-montanans-recover-nearly-5-million-dollars-from-federal-government-in-2024/,Daines Helps Montanans Recover Nearly $5 Million Dollars From Federal Government in 2024,2024-12-30,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Staff Closed Hundreds of Cases, Attended Over 2,000 Meetings in Montana

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that his staff helped return nearly $5 million from the federal government to Montanans in 2024 and closed hundreds of cases.

“Addressing the needs of Montanans is one of the greatest honors of my life and one of the reasons I ran for office. I’m proud of our dedicated team, whose commitment to constituents has paid off quite literally. We’ll always put Montanans first and fight for our great state,” said Daines.

In 2024, Daines’ office recovered $4,983,420 from the federal government to send back to Montanans. Over 90 percent of that money was recovered from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Specifically, Montanans received the following from federal agencies:

$4,687,576 from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

$220,764 from the Social Security Administration (SSA)

$38,974 from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)

$29,106 from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

$4,348 from Veterans Affairs (VA)

$1,372 from Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

$1,280 from United States Postal Service (USPS)

In addition to recovering money for hardworking Montanans, Daines’ office worked on nearly 1,000 casework messages from constituents and closed 534 cases, including nearly a quarter of veterans-related cases. Daines’ staff also attended over 2,000 meetings and events in Montana on behalf of Senator Daines in 2024.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/22/daines-lands-critical-committee-assignments-for-119th-congress/,Daines Lands Critical Committee Assignments for 119th Congress,2024-12-22,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced his committee assignments for the 119th Congress. Daines will serve on the U.S. Senate Committees on Finance, Foreign Relations, Energy and Natural Resources, and Indian Affairs.

“It’s an honor to serve Montanans in the U.S. Senate and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on these crucial committees to fight for our Montana way of life. President Trump received a mandate from the American people, and with these committee assignments I’ll be working to enact the President’s agenda to unleash American energy, cut taxes, open overseas markets for Montana farmers and ranchers, improve America’s relationships abroad, bring down costs for hardworking families, secure the southern border and stem the flow of deadly drugs,” Daines said.

U.S. Senate Committee on Finance: The Committee has jurisdiction over policies relating to taxation and revenue measures; customs and ports of entry and delivery; trade agreements; tariffs; transportation of dutiable goods; health programs under the Social Security Act including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families; and Social Security.

U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: The Committee is instrumental in developing and influencing United States foreign policy. The committee has considered, debated, and reported important treaties and legislation and holds jurisdiction over all diplomatic nominations. Through these powers, the committee has helped shape foreign policy of broad significance, in matters of war and peace and international relations.

U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: The Committee has jurisdiction over energy resources and development, including regulation, conservation, strategic petroleum reserves and appliance standards; nuclear energy; forest management; public lands and their renewable resources; surface mining, federal coal, oil, and gas, other mineral leasing; territories and insular possessions; and water resources.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/21/thanks-president-trump-for-eliminating-wasteful-spending-in-monstrous-bill/,"Daines Secures Pay for Troops Over the Holidays, Farm Bill Extension, Funding to Repair St. Mary’s",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Thanks President Trump for Eliminating Wasteful Spending in Monstrous Bill

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted on the Continuing Resolution to keep the government funded through March 14, 2025.

Download Daines’ video statement HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/20/three-daines-outdoors-bills-pass-u-s-senate-head-to-presidents-desk/,"Three Daines Outdoors Bills Pass U.S. Senate, Head to President’s Desk",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed several of his bipartisan outdoors bills, which will now head to the President’s desk. The bills support gateway communities, address challenges facing national parks and public lands, streamline the process for issuing special recreation permits for accessing public lands, and address housing needs in rural communities.

“I’m proud to see my bipartisan bills pass the U.S. Senate and head to the president’s desk to be signed into law. This package includes major wins for Montana’s beautiful public lands and I’ll always keep fighting for more ways to protect our outdoor way of life,” said Daines.

The following Daines bills were included in the larger “EXPLORE Act”:

“Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act”

Daines’ bipartisan “Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act” supports gateway communities and addresses challenges facing national parks and public lands like increased visitation and housing shortages, boosting visitation at lesser-known parks and recreation areas and requires a digital version of the America the Beautiful annual pass.

The bill was cosponsored by Senator Angus King in the Senate and led by Representatives Ryan Zinke and Mary Peltola in the House. Read the press release from its introduction in February 2023 HERE.

When the bill passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in May 2023,Daines said, “Montanans know how important our gateway communities are, and supporting the areas around our beautiful national parks and public lands is critical to Montana’s economy. I’ll keep working to get this bill across the finish line.”

“SOAR Act”

Daines’ bipartisan “Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act” streamlines the process for issuing special recreation permits for accessing public lands. Because Montana has a checkerboard land ownership pattern, and each federal land agency has a separet permitting process, guides and outfitters often have to go through multiple departments and permitting processes all for one trip. The “SOAR Act” helps increase access to public lands and support small businesses.

“Forest Flexible Housing Partnerships Act”

Daines’ bipartisan “Forest Flexible Housing Partnerships Act” reauthorizes a program that allows the Forest Service to lease existing underutilized administrative sites to address housing needs of rural communities.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinkes-national-parks-and-public-access-bill-heads-presidents-desk,Congressman Zinke’s National Parks and Public Access Bill Heads to the President's Desk,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that the Senate has passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive, bicameral legislation package that includes Zinke’s bipartisan Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act introduced with Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola in May 2023. The bill passed the House in April and will now go to the President’s desk for his signature.

“The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act just passed by the Senate brings federal and local stakeholders to the table to collaborate on access and opportunities,” said Rep. Zinke. “The bill solves the longtime issue of unrealized potential in capturing real-time data on trail density and encouraging visitation to nearby, less traveled trails. If hikers see a trail is crowded and have the option to hike a different route that is low traffic, that helps alleviate congestion and resource strain and also allows land managers to welcome more members of the public without restricting access to parks. It’s a win-win. I am looking forward to this bill being signed into law before peak park season next year.”

The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act increases public access to National Parks and Forests and improves collaboration between Federal agencies and gateway communities. This is a companion bill to legislation introduced by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Angus King (I-ME) in February 2023. Details of the bill are below.

The Bill:

Createsa digital America the Beautiful National Parks and public lands pass so visitors can seamlessly access public lands.

Establishes a pilot program to provide visitation data for recreation lands and at high congestion promote visitation to nearby lesser known, lesser visited recreation sites.

Requires the public land management agencies to collaborate with local stakeholders to address gateway communities’ economic needs, particularly housing shortages, and infrastructural deficiencies, related to increasing visitation.

Requires the NPS to consult local communities before restricting access to parks.

Zinke delivered a speech on the House Floor in support of the EXPLORE Act, watch an excerpt here.

Read the full text of the bill here

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/19/daines-takes-to-senate-floor-to-pass-bill-to-save-montana-mining-jobs/,Daines Takes to Senate Floor to Pass Bill to Save Montana Mining Jobs,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Senate Democrats Blocked Daines’ Bill

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today took to the Senate floor to pass his “Crow Revenue Act” which would protect 100 Montana jobs, fix long-standing inholdings on the Crow Reservation, provide revenue to the Crow Tribe and help ensure the Bull Mountains Mine continues to operate. Senate Democrats blocked Daines’ bill from passing.

Watch Daines’ remarks on the Senate floor HERE.

“With only days left in the 118th Congress I come to the floor to fight for my rural Montana communities.

“My…Crow Revenue Act, is a win-win-win for Montana and one that cannot wait any longer.

“The bill is simple. It swaps minerals between the Crow Tribe, the Federal Government, and the Hope family and ensures that both the Crow Tribe and Musselshell County will continue to receive much-needed revenue from mineral development.

“And let me be clear, if my bill does not pass and get signed into law this year, there will be dramatic consequences for Montana communities.

“If we do not act, 100 high-paying mining jobs will likely be lost in Roundup. These are real jobs supporting real families. And this is after 700 jobs were just lost at the Stillwater mine in Columbus. Montana cannot afford another layoff of hardworking miners.

“Further, both Musselshell County and the Crow Tribe will see cuts in their revenues leading to less services for the communities. The ‘Crow Revenue Act’ is the long-term fix to a real problem happening in my state. It has the strong support of community leaders, county commissioners, the Governor, local elected officials, and the Crow Tribe.

“I ask that all my colleagues stand with me and support our rural and tribal communities.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/18/daines-bill-to-prevent-loss-of-cell-service-strengthen-national-security-passes-senate/,"Daines Bill to Prevent Loss of Cell Service, Strengthen National Security Passes Senate",2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) along with Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) announced that their bill to fully fund the “Rip and Replace” program has passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is expected to be signed into law.

This bill will ensure providers in rural areas have the resources they need to implement the congressional directive to replace Chinese manufactured infrastructure in our telecommunications industry, helping protect Americans from espionage and service blackouts.

Download Daines’ video statement HERE.

“I am glad to see this commonsense legislation included in the NDAA. This Chinese equipment poses a significant national security threat to the United States and by fully funding the Rip and Replace program, we can combat this threat while ensuring that millions of rural Americans maintain access to cellular and broadband services,” said Daines.

“Chinese-manufactured equipment used to build out our broadband networks pose a serious threat to our national security and the privacy of the people of Wyoming,” said Lummis. “The NDAA fully funds Rip and Replace, ensuring small wireless and broadband carriers throughout Wyoming will not be saddled with millions of dollars in costs that could result in service blackouts and companies closing down. Poor connectivity continues to be one of Wyoming’s biggest challenges and now more than ever, we have the ability to not only ensure even the most rural corners of the Cowboy State have reliable broadband access but also protect this critical resource from foreign adversaries.”

“This legislation was long overdue. Allowing the use of Chinese-manufactured equipment has undermined our citizens’ privacy and threatened our national security,” Wicker said. “The funding will keep communities online, and it is great news for our critical digital infrastructure.”

“As our chief adversary, China and the CCP should have zero access to our critical telecommunications infrastructure and the data of millions of Americans. This legislation is common sense, especially as we enter a period of fierce economic and military competition with Beijing,” said Schmitt.

Background:

The Rip and Replace program was created in 2020 to remove Chinese components from our wireless communications systems. The Rip and Replace fund needs an additional $3 billion in order to finish its mission. The continued use of Chinese telecommunications equipment is a major national security concern especially in areas that serve military bases. The “Supporting National Security with Spectrum Act” fully funds the Rip and Replace program by requiring the Federal Communications Commission to re-auction certain spectrum licenses that were recently returned to the Commission.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/18/daines-hails-passage-of-bill-to-support-montana-hydropower-projects/,Daines Hails Passage of Bill to Support Montana Hydropower Projects,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Bill Extends Hydropower Licenses

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today praised Senate passage of his bill, S.3373, to allow for the extension FERC hydropower projects licensed before March of 2020 for an additional four years. As projects in Montana and throughout the United States struggle to meet deadlines due to supply chain shortages, Daines’ bill will give the needed time to start construction and increase energy production in the United States.

“Montanans know that an all-of-the-above energy portfolio is best, and that includes hydropower. Supporting Montana hydropower projects is essential to our energy security, helps create Montana jobs and keeps costs low for Montana families, and I’m glad to see my bill to ensure these projects can be completed pass the U.S. Senate,” said Daines.

Click HERE to view a video Daines released about the Flathead Electric Co-op and the importance of hydropower.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/18/daines-secures-major-montana-wins-in-ndaa/,Daines Secures Major Montana Wins in NDAA,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Bill Includes Pay Raise for Troops, Travel Reimbursement for National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers, Support for the Mission at Malmstrom, Funding for Tech Hubs, Rip and Replace Program

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that several of his legislative priorities passed out of the Senate in the “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA), including a pay raise for troops, Daines’ effort to reimburse Reserve and National Guard troops for travel expenses, critical funding for the mission at Malmstrom, construction authorizations for the Montana National Guard, and additional funds for Daines’ bill to support Tech Hubs and Daines’ bill to fully fund the “Rip and Replace” program. The NDAA will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Download Daines’ video statement HERE.

“Our Montana servicemembers have stepped up to serve our state and our country, and the NDAA is a chance to support those in uniform and bolster our national security. With the effects of Bidenflation still burdening families, I’m proud to secure a 14 and a half percent pay raise for junior enlisted men and women and a 4 and a half percent increase for the entire military. I’m also glad to see my efforts to reimburse our Reserve and National Guard members for travel expenses they incur on their way to and from drill included in the bill. This year’s NDAA is good for Montana, good for our servicemembers and good for our national security,”said Daines.

Montana wins in the NDAA:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/18/daines-slams-held-v-montana-ruling/,Daines Slams Held v. Montana Ruling,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today on the Montana Supreme Court’s ruling in Held v. Montana:

“Today’s ruling by the Montana Supreme Court is egregious. The Court is once again legislating from the bench. This decision will gut Governor Gianforte’s made-in-Montana energy policy, crush energy production and stifle economic development in Montana,”said Daines.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/17/daines-kim-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-pension-benefits-for-veteran-families/,"Daines, Kim Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Pension Benefits for Veteran Families",2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) today introduced a bill to prohibit the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) from retroactively collecting pre-approved pension benefits from a veterans’ family following the death of the beneficiary.

“Our veterans have served our country at the highest level and deserve our full support. Their families should not be concerned about VA collections calls in their time of grieving because of the VA’s bureaucracy. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to improve the pension benefits payments process and ensure that our veteran families are not encumbered with prorated benefits programs,” said Daines.

“Our nation’s promise to have veterans’ backs must extend to their families, who for their own service and sacrifices, deserve the full support of a grateful nation. I am proud to bring this legislation forward as my first bill introduced as a U.S. Senator to reaffirm our support for our military community and make sure no other military family has to carry these financial burdens while mourning their loved one,” said Kim.

Read the bill text HERE.

Background:

The bill ensures that veterans receive their accrued pension benefit in the event of a month of death claim, or if payment for the month of the death has been issued. Under this bill, if a veteran with a pension under an existing rating or decision dies, the effective date of discontinuances of compensation is the last day of the month in which such death occurs. This will prevent the VA from coming to collect pension benefits that were approved before the death but paid out afterwards due to processing delays at the VA Pension Management Center.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-co-leads-bipartisan-legislation-address-housing-costs-and-train-0,Zinke Co-leads Bipartisan Legislation to Address Housing Costs and Train Skilled Workers,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced legislation along with Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani, Washington Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, and North Carolina Congressman Don Davis to address the housing workforce shortage in an effort to increase housing supply and lower costs. The Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act would create a new grant program through the Department of Labor, to train and support the skilled laborers required for the construction of homes. The funds will go to trade schools, community colleges, and other eligible programs, as well as outreach programs partnered with local businesses. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Jackie Rosen of Nevada.

Housing costs hit an all-time high in 2024. Overreaching regulation, supply and worker shortage, and a lack of critical infrastructure contribute to rising costs that perpetuate America’s housing crisis, leaving millions of Americans without access to safe and affordable homes. Montana specifically was recently ranked as the least affordable housing market in America by the National Association of Realtors.

“Owning a home is a part of the American dream that has become out of reach for too many in our country and especially in Montana,” said Congressman Zinke. “Skilled labor shortages are affecting every industry. In the housing market, it is leading to fewer homes being built, which drives up the cost of the homes already on the market. This legislation will support programs that train much-needed laborers which will benefit both the students who will learn skills that can earn them a stable income and the economy. I want to thank Congressman Ciscomani, Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, and Congressman Davis for their work on this important legislation.”

“In southern Arizona, and across the United States, there is a critical need for additional housing,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “However, the current shortage of skilled workers is driving construction costs higher and causing project delays, limiting supply and leading to even higher home prices. This bill will expand access to construction training programs at community colleges, junior colleges, and trade schools to bolster the workforce of skilled construction workers, support high-demand, well-paying jobs for students, and increase the supply of housing units in order to make housing more affordable for everyone.”

“By investing in construction education and related skills training programs, Congress can create a robust talent pipeline,” said Congressman Don Davis. “We must leave no stone unturned as we develop the workforce of tomorrow.”

“With the residential construction industry suffering a severe labor shortage that is delaying home building projects and raising housing costs, we commend Rep. Ryan Zinke for taking a leading role to make housing more affordable for Montanans and all Americans,” said Eugene Graf, CEO of Bozeman based E.G. Construction, former President of the Montana Building Industry Association, and National Association of Home Builders member. “The bipartisan CONSTRUCTS Act championed by Rep. Zinke will provide meaningful investments in our nation’s education system to encourage students to pursue careers in the residential construction trades. This legislation is an important step to make housing more affordable for citizens of Montana and across the nation.”

“NAHB commends Reps. Juan Ciscomani, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Ryan Zinke and Don Davis for introducing the CONSTRUCTS Act, companion legislation to the Senate bill introduced earlier this year,” said Carl Harris, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. “With the housing industry facing a severe labor shortage that is exacerbating the housing affordability crisis through higher home building costs and construction delays, the bipartisan and bicameral CONSTRUCTS Act will strengthen America’s workforce pipeline by creating a new grant program to fund residential housing construction education and skills training programs at our nation’s community college and trade schools.”

Background:

Congressman Zinke has been proposing legislation, as well as fighting regulation and bureaucracy over housing issues since coming back to Congress in 2022. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Zinke included a pilot program to address rapidly inflating rental costs in rural communities in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Act for Fiscal Year 2025. Earlier this year he cosponsored The HELPER Act, which would establish a new home loan program to assist police officers, first responders, teachers and other public servants in buying their first homes. Zinke also protected over $3 million dollars in Montana affordable housing funds that were scheduled to be clawed back by the Department of Housing and Urban Development by grilling Secretary Adrianne Todman in an Appropriations hearing and working relentlessly until the funds were returned.

***",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/16/daines-announces-service-academy-nominees-3/,Daines Announces Service Academy Nominees,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today officially nominated six Montana students applying for enrollment into U.S. military academies.

“Montana has a long legacy of service, and it’s one of my greatest honors to nominate the next generation of servicemembers for enrollment into our nation’s great military academies. These young Montanans have earned remarkable grades, exhibited leadership skills and have a passion for giving back to their country, and I wish them the best as they embark on the next step toward their bright future of service,” said Daines.

A congressional nomination is a critical step in the process for Montanans seeking admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.

Students interested in applying for a nomination from the Senator were required to submit an extensive application that documents their academic, civic and athletic abilities, as well as their commitment to military service. An academy selection board assembled by Daines reviewed the applications and conducted interviews of the applicants. Click HERE for more information on Daines’ student resources.

Below is the list of Daines’ principal academy nominations:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/09/daines-thanks-senator-tester-for-years-of-service-to-montana/,Daines Thanks Senator Tester for Years of Service to Montana,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement thanking Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) for his service to Montana.

“I’d like to thank Senator Tester for his 25 years of public service to the people of Montana. Jon’s career is an illustration of what makes America so special. Big Sandy is a small town of less than a thousand people in northern Montana, and it was there that Senator Tester got his start on the Big Sandy School Board. He was elected to the Montana Senate in 1998, became Montana Senate president and then ran and won his seat in the U.S. Senate in 2006.

“I’m sure Jon has lost count of the number of very early cold and dark Montana mornings he left Big Sandy to get to Great Falls to catch his plane to D.C., but this is just one of the sacrifices folks don’t often see. Jon did that commute for 18 years.

“There was never any doubt that Jon worked hard every day to represent the people of the state we both love to call home. And while it’s no secret Jon and I didn’t see eye to eye on many issues, we worked together on a number of important Montana priorities and agree that the people we represent make coming to work here every day worth it. Jon, thank you for your decades of dedicated service to the Treasure State.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/12/05/daines-smith-introduce-bill-to-combat-drug-trafficking-in-tribal-communities/,"Daines, Smith Introduce Bill to Combat Drug Trafficking in Tribal Communities",2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today announced the bipartisan “Protection for Reservation Occupants Against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today (PROTECT) Act” to combat drug trafficking in tribal communities. The “PROTECT Act” would expand the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) program to allow tribal nations to prosecute non-Native offenders for drug crimes and gun crimes in furtherance of STCJ covered crimes. The “PROTECT Act” would also allow tribal courts to execute warrants for electronic material to better combat drug traffickers and other criminals.

“As deadly drugs like fentanyl and opioids flow across our open southern border, states like Montana are bearing the burden. Drug traffickers continue to exploit our tribal communities, so I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to protect our Native American tribes and keep our communities safe, both in Montana and across the country,”said Daines.

“For years, Tribal leaders in Minnesota have raised the alarm that drug traffickers are exploiting complex legal jurisdiction on Tribal land, making Native communities some of the most harmed by the opioid and fentanyl epidemics,” said Smith.“The PROTECT Act would help Tribes fight back against these drug traffickers. This proposal is bipartisan and common sense, and it respects and upholds Tribes’ inherent sovereignty and right to protect their people.”

Statements of Support:

“This is great and an important step forward in public safety in Indian country.” – Justin Gray Hawk Sr., Tribal Chairman, Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes

“The opioid and fentanyl epidemic is harming all citizens in Washington State. Our reservations are no different. Our Tribal lands are being targeted by organized crime because of the jurisdictional complexities and other vulnerabilities. The PROTECT Act of 2024 restores Tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians for drug trafficking within our reservation boundaries, helping protect not only the residents on our reservation, but all Washingtonians.” – Teri Gobin, Tulalip Tribes Chairwoman.

“The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians passed ATNI Resolution 24-05 in support of the PROTECT Act of 2024, a bill that strengthens tribal criminal justice systems to help combat the opioid-fentanyl epidemic that is devastating our tribal communities. We urge Congress to move swiftly on this bill.”— The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

“Expanding the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction to include crimes related to drugs and guns is an important step in promoting the safety of tribal members and strengthening tribal sovereignty. We thank Senators Smith and Daines for taking action to provide Indian Country with additional tools needed to keep our communities healthy and safe.” –Virgil Wind, Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

“This bill is an important step in helping us protect our community. We applaud Sen. Smith’s continued leadership and efforts to strengthen tribal sovereignty. We need to be able to protect our own community from the predatory drug dealers that are wreaking havoc on our families. The future of the Red Lake Nation relies on it.” – Darrell Seki, Chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians

Background:

For decades, drug traffickers have exploited the complexity of the criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country, which has contributed to American Indians and Alaska Natives being two and a half times more likely to become victims of violent crime and more likely to die of an overdose than other demographic groups.

The PROTECT Act would expand the STCJ program to allow tribal nations to prosecute non-Native offenders for drug crimes and gun crimes committed in furtherance of drug trafficking and other STCJ crimes. It would also grant tribal courts parity with state courts to execute warrants for electronic material and allow offenders prosecuted under STCJ to be incarcerated through the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/11/01/daines-calls-out-biden-harris-administration-for-destroying-commonsense-immigration-policies/,Daines Calls Out Biden-Harris Administration for Destroying Commonsense Immigration Policies,2024-11-01,2024,2024-11,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, together with his colleagues, sent a letter calling out President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for not only causing the national security crisis at the southern border on day one, but fueling it throughout their entire Administration by destructive executive orders.

“Instead of addressing the flow of illegal immigration and illicit drugs across our borders, your administration has turned its back on those who wish to immigrate here legally and welcomed illegal aliens with open arms. Instead of directing resources to securing our borders and processing legal immigrant applications, your administration has crippled our immigration enforcement capabilities and prioritized amnesty applications,” wrote the senators. “The administration has one job—to enforce the law of the land. Instead of detaining and deporting illegal aliens, your administration has shown a blatant disregard for the rule of law and national security.”

Read the full letter HERE.

Daines is a strong advocate for the border wall, Title 42 and the Remain in Mexico policy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/31/daines-presses-postal-service-for-answers-regarding-trouble-with-absentee-ballots-in-montana/,Daines Presses Postal Service for Answers Regarding Trouble With Absentee Ballots in Montana,2024-10-31,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Cites Complaints by Montanans and Presses Postmaster General to Address Issues Immediately

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter today to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing his concern about trouble with absentee ballots in Montana and asked the Postal Service to address the situation immediately. Daines cited numerous complaints from constituents across the state who have yet to receive their ballots as well as ballots that sat in postal facilities hundreds of miles away from their destination for several days.

“The right to vote is a cornerstone of American democracy and every eligible Montanan and

American must have access to the polls. Many rural Montanans may live many miles from the

nearest polling location or may face inclement weather and treacherous roads on Election Day.

While I appreciate the efforts of local clerks and carriers who are working longer hours to help

process the increased mail load at this important time, I urge you to resolve the issues my

constituents raised so they can exercise their Constitutional right to vote in this

consequential election,” Daines wrote in the letter.

Read the full letter HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/30/daines-calls-out-biden-harris-doj-for-silence-following-evidence-of-illegal-aliens-registering-to-vote/,Daines Calls Out Biden-Harris’ DOJ for Silence Following Evidence of Illegal Aliens Registering to Vote,2024-10-30,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined several colleagues in demanding answers from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) efforts after reports of thousands of cases of illegal aliens registering to vote have emerged.

“We are deeply concerned by reports of non-citizens registering to vote and voting in federal elections,” the Members of Congress wrote. “As of today, there has been no response from you or your Department regarding the inquiry on July 12, 2024, seeking information on efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce laws prohibiting non-citizen voting. Given that the 2024 Presidential Election is in less than 34 days, your Department’s inaction and refusal to provide any information regarding its efforts to promote public trust and confidence in our elections is especially alarming,” wrote the senators.

“Clearly, there is a non-negligible amount of voter participation by non-citizens in federal elections, which is not only a serious threat to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process they represent, but also has the potential to reduce Americans’ trust and confidence in election results,” they continued.

The members of Congress, once again, requested the following information:

1. Please provide the number of aliens who have been charged, tried, or convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 611since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.

2. Please provide the number of aliens who been charged, tried, or convicted under 52 U.S.C. § 20511 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.

3. Please provide the number of aliens who have been prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 911 since 2021, including the status of each case.

4. Please provide the number of referrals received from other government officials or the public in reference to the statutes cited in questions 1 through 3.

5. How does the Department of Justice investigate allegations received of non-citizen voting or voter registration?

6. What affirmative steps have the Department of Justice taken to detect, prevent, and deter illegal aliens and other non-citizens from registering and voting in federal elections?

7. What affirmative steps have the Department taken to obtain relevant information from the Department of Homeland Security on aliens who have registered or voted in elections?

8. What steps have been taken by U.S. Attorneys and the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division, which is responsible for prosecuting election crimes and assisting U.S. Attorneys in prosecuting election crimes, to obtain jury-related information that indicates aliens have unlawfully registered to vote?

9. As the 2024 election nears, what steps will the Department take to detect, investigate, and prosecute non-citizens who violate 18 U.S.C. § 911, 52 U.S.C. § 20511, or 18 U.S.C. § 611 by voting or registering to vote in the 2024 election?

10. What steps have the Department taken to contact Virginia and Texas election officials to obtain information and the voter registration and voter history files on each of the aliens removed from the voter rolls who were unlawfully registered and voting in those states?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-announces-over-31-million-dollars-transportation-grants,Congressman Zinke Announces over $31 Million dollars in Transportation Grants for Bridge and Airport Projects Across Western Montana,2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced the allocation of over $28.4 million in funding for bridge replacement in Bigfork, Montana. The new bridge will have an expanded deck width, be built on a redundant girder system, and use geogrid reinforcement to improve seismic resiliency. Sportsman Bridge was constructed in 1955 and currently does not meet standards for traffic volume in the area.

The Congressman also announced two grants for airports in Kalispell and Missoula. The Missoula Montana Airport will be using the $875,000 for a revenue guarantee and associated marketing plan to recruit, initiate, and support year-round service to Chicago, expanding service to the airport. Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell will be using the $2.5 million in funds to expand terminals and modernize gates and ticket areas, hold rooms, checkpoint lanes, utilities upgrades, and building envelope upgrades to improve efficiency, capacity, and accessibility.

“Montana has been ignored for decades on our infrastructure. When counties don’t have working bridges, roads, airports, or sewer systems, they can’t promote growth in their economies,” said Congressman Zinke. “I am happy to be able to announce that with these grants we were able to get the Federal Government to pay attention to the needs of Montana.”

Grant details are below:

Recipient: Montana Department of Transportation

Amount: $28,462,652

Purpose: The project will replace the existing two-lane bridge with a more resilient two-lane bridge to maintain and improve access over the Flathead River in northwest Montana on Montana Highway 82 in Flathead County. Constructed in 1955, the existing bridge exhibits poor deck condition and its deck width does not meet current standards for accommodating future traffic volume growth. The structure also ranks high as a candidate for seismic retrofit as it is a two-girder non-redundant bridge that lies between two faults of the Mission Fault System. The new bridge will have an expanded deck width, be built on a redundant girder system, and use geogrid reinforcement to improve seismic resiliency. An additional 1.7 feet of freeboard and embankment protectors to route deck drainage will improve climate resiliency. Wider shoulders will allow drivers to pull out of travel lanes in emergency situations, allowing emergency responders to avoid vehicles parked on the shoulder.

Recipient: Glacier Park International Airport

Amount: $2,500,000

Purpose: This award funds a portion of the terminal expansion and modernization project including gates and ticket areas, hold rooms, checkpoint lanes, utilities upgrades, and building envelope upgrades to improve efficiency, capacity, and accessibility.

Recipient: Missoula Montana Airport

Amount: $875,000

Purpose: Revenue guarantee and associated marketing plan to recruit, initiate, and support year-round service to Chicago (ORD).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/24/daines-calls-biden-harris-regulation-affecting-mining-cynical-and-desperate-attempt-to-get-votes-before-election/,Daines Calls Biden-Harris Regulation Affecting Mining “Cynical and Desperate Attempt to Get Votes Before Election”,2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“If Biden and Harris were serious about helping our miners, they would have reversed their anti-mining policies years ago.”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued new guidance for the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit (45X). Last month, following the layoff of 700 employees at Stillwater Mine, Daines called on the Treasury to reverse course on their anti-mining draft guidance and include extraction costs in the tax credit. Despite making minor changes the Department of the Treasury failed to adequately ensure all mining is allowed or put restrictions in place to ensure that Foreign Entities of Concern like China or Russia are not able to benefit from the tax credit.

Download the video statement HERE.

“The Biden-Harris administration’s pursuit of a radical environmental agenda caused 700 hard-working miners at Montana’s Stillwater mine to be laid off. This is heartbreaking. Even worse, Biden and Harris have had years to fix this problem and refused. While this announcement is a positive step, it falls short of putting American miners before foreign suppliers and has every appearance of a cynical and desperate political attempt to get votes right before the election. Montana’s mining families will see through it. If Biden and Harris were serious about helping our miners they would have reversed their anti-mining policies years ago.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/21/daines-fights-back-against-biden-harris-administrations-woke-gender-identity-guidance/,Daines Fights Back Against Biden-Harris Administration’s Woke “Gender Identity” Guidance,2024-10-21,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"New Guidance Violates Religious Protections, Endangers Women in the Workplace

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and several of his colleagues sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra challenging new radical guidance that compels speech, threatens freedom of religion and endangers women by forcing federal employees to use “preferred pronouns” and allow men in women’s spaces or risk termination.

“We write out of deep concern over Guidance you issued entitled ‘Gender Identity Non- Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants.’… According to the Guidance, failure to use the preferred names and pronouns an individual asks to be addressed with ‘contribute[s] to an unlawful hostile work environment.’ Notably, your Guidance states that the Department cannot ‘require a legal change of name or gender marker, medical certification, or other documentation.’ In other words, anyone can change their names and pronouns and compel coworkers to use that name or pronoun, or face disciplinary action,” the Senators wrote.

“Perhaps more egregious than the Guidance’s position on compelled speech related to pronoun usage is the policy on bathroom, locker room, and lactation room usage. According to the Guidance, HHS will ‘ensure there are no barriers to equally accessing restrooms, locker rooms, lactation rooms, or other personal care spaces.’…Including lactation rooms in this same Guidance is blatantly offensive—males cannot breastfeed their children, and claiming to be female does not change that reality. The only reason for including this in the Guidance is to continue to push a radical agenda in every facet of the federal workplace,” the Senators continued.

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

Daines joined Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in sending the letter.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/15/daines-introduces-bill-to-ban-handgun-rosters-protect-montanans-2a-rights/,"Daines Introduces Bill to Ban Handgun Rosters, Protect Montanans’ 2A Rights",2024-10-15,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the “Modern Firearms Safety Act,” which would prohibit states from enforcing unconstitutional handgun rosters. These rosters mandate that firearms include costly and unnecessary features like microstamping, loaded chamber indicators and magazine disconnect mechanisms. This makes it nearly impossible for manufacturers to sell new handguns.

“Our Founding Fathers were clear —the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Forcing Americans to outfit their firearms with onerous and costly features is a clear attempt to undermine the Second Amendment and law-abiding citizens’ constitutional rights, and it must stop,” said Daines.

The “Modern Firearms Safety Act” has received support from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation and National Rifle Association.

Daines joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in introducing the legislation.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/11/daines-calls-out-u-s-forest-service-for-lack-of-fire-management-transparency/,Daines Calls Out U.S. Forest Service for Lack of Fire Management Transparency,2024-10-11,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Echoes Concerns Raised by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the United States Forest Service (USFS) requesting more transparency about wildfire management strategy actions following recent concerns raised by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte. More transparency will help the public better understand how USFS plans to handle wildfires and will allow for better oversight as well.

“Montanans are tired of breathing in smoke and as Governor Gianforte points out, the Biden-Harris Forest Service failed Montanans in a number of areas. Specifically, the Forest Service is not being transparent with state partners and the public about which wildfire management strategies are being used. This includes whether fire monitoring is considered part of full suppression or if one wildfire can be split into different management strategies for different sections of the wildfire. Neither of these two alternatives are addressed in the Master Cooperative Agreement so this concern is understandable. It is important for continued firefighting efforts to address these concerns quickly and comprehensively,” said Daines.

Read the full letter HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/09/daines-joins-amicus-brief-to-overturn-unlawful-biden-harris-emissions-rule/,Daines Joins Amicus Brief to Overturn Unlawful Biden-Harris Emissions Rule,2024-10-09,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a bicameral amicus brief challenging a new rule from Biden-Harris’ Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that requires state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to measure greenhouse gas emissions on the highway system and set declining targets.

“This is just another example of the Biden-Harris administration’s executive overreach that attacks our Montana way of life and does nothing but fuel climate alarmism. This rule by the FHWA is unsustainable for rural communities in Montana and I’m proud to join my colleagues in fighting against the Biden-Harris administration’s radical climate agenda,” said Daines.

Shortly after the rule was finalized, 21 state attorneys general, including Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, filed litigation challenging the regulation. The U.S. District Court found the Biden-Harris administration rule to be illegal, but FHWA appealed the decision to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and it remains under consideration.

The brief argues Congress debated and rejected granting FHWA the authority to issue greenhouse gas performance measure rules and the FHWA then intentionally misconstrued Congressional intent to justify its improper exercise of authority. It also argues the rulemaking is not consistent with recent Supreme Court decisions paring back Executive Branch overreach, and FHWA is bypassing principles of federalism to further its own policy agenda.

Daines joined U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), in filing the brief, as well as U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO-6), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rick Crawford (R-AR-1), Chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

Click HERE to read the amicus brief.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/08/daines-slams-biden-harris-administration-for-hiding-failures-in-new-medicare-plan/,Daines Slams Biden-Harris Administration for Hiding Failures in New Medicare Plan,2024-10-08,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"CBO Confirms Election Year Will Cost Taxpayers at Least $7 Billion in 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called out the Biden-Harris administration for their new Medicare policy that will cost taxpayers billions in 2025. Recently, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis of the newly announced Biden-Harris subsidy for insurance companies intended to cover up the failures of the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).” Based on CBO estimates, this election-year stunt to artificially lower the cost of seniors’ Part D premiums will cost taxpayers at least $7 billion in 2025, including $2 billion in additional interest on our already ballooning debt. CBO also notes the underlying partisan policy changes to seniors’ prescription drug coverage could cost up to $20 billion more in 2025 than previously assumed.

“This is politics at its worst. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are trying to hide the fact that their ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ will increase Medicare premiums by having taxpayers bail them out yet again. Montanans aren’t fooled—the only accomplishments of this Administration are sky-high inflation, spiking prescription drug prices and trillions of dollars wasted in useless spending,” said Daines.

Background:

Congressional Democrats included policies in the IRA that restructured the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit at a cost of nearly $30 billion over ten years, and as a result, Medicare prescription drug plan sponsors significantly increased their plan bids and base beneficiary premiums for 2025, and reduced the number of plans offered to seniors next year. To hide these failures, the Biden-Harris administration announced a new Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration program, which will shift financial liability onto American taxpayers by applying a uniform reduction of $15 to the base beneficiary premium, establishing a year-over-year limit of $35 on how much a plan’s total Part D premium can increase, and adjusting risk corridors to shift financial liability from large insurance companies to taxpayers.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/10/03/daines-introduces-bill-to-combat-biden-harris-failed-amnesty-program/,Daines Introduces Bill to Combat Biden-Harris’ Failed Amnesty Program,2024-10-03,2024,2024-10,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined his Republican colleagues in introducing the “Visa Integrity Preservation Act,” which will halt the Biden-Harris administration’s violation of the “Immigration and Nationality Act” by ending its policy of allowing immigrants who illegally entered the U.S. or overstayed their visas to regularize their status through obtaining temporary work visas.

“Joe Biden and ‘Border Czar’ Kamala Harris have failed to secure the southern border, and Montanans are bearing the burden,” said Daines. “The ‘Visa Integrity Preservation Act’ will stop the abuse of nonimmigrant visa programs and is a step in the right direction towards holding Joe Biden and Kamala Harris accountable for the border crisis they created.”

Senators John Cornyn (R- Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Ihado), Ted Budd (R- N.C.), Dan Sullivan (R- Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Bill Hagerty (R- Tenn.), Pete Ricketts (R- Neb.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Senator Daines in introducing the legislation.

Background:

In June 2024, the Biden-Harris administration announced a new initiative to grant amnesty to over half a million illegal immigrants, waiving the consular interview requirement for nonimmigrant visas and enabling immigrants who have illegally entered the U.S. or overstayed a visa to obtain temporary work visas. The “Visa Integrity Preservation Act” would end that practice and clarify that illegal immigrants must depart the U.S. for an interview before they can receive a nonimmigrant visa.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/28/daines-statement-on-death-of-hezbollah-commander-hasan-nasrallah/,Daines Statement on Death of Hezbollah Commander Hasan Nasrallah,2024-09-28,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement regarding the death of Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah:

“Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah’s death is a victory for freedom-loving countries around the world and Israel deserves credit for the courage to deliver the justice he deserved. He was an ally and proxy of the evil Iranian regime whose bloodthirsty reign of terror not only targeted Jews but Americans, Syrians, Lebanese and many others throughout the Middle East.

“However, there remains much work to be done. Hamas still holds hostages and antisemitism is manifesting itself on our streets and college campuses. The Biden-Harris administration must reaffirm America’s commitment to stand with Israel by supplying the weapons they need to win without bureaucratic delays, demanding return of every hostage and condemning antisemitism at every opportunity instead of pushing a Hamas victory ceasefire.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/27/daines-statement-on-netanyahu-un-speech-america-must-stand-with-israel/,Daines Statement on Netanyahu UN Speech: “America Must Stand with Israel”,2024-09-27,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the United Nations:

“I commend Prime Minister Netanyahu for providing much-needed moral clarity in his speech at the UN today. He countered the reprehensible lies and evil antisemitism from yesterday’s address by the Iranian Foreign Minister with truth and issued an important challenge that not only the United States, but the entire world must heed: in this battle of good and evil, America and freedom-loving countries around the world must stand with Israel.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/26/daines-touts-widespread-support-of-crow-revenue-act/,Daines Touts Widespread Support of “Crow Revenue Act”,2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Bill Provides Critical Funding to Crow Tribe and Prevents Bull Mountains Mine from Closing

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines delivered remarks at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing, where he thanked Montana’s local communities and officials for their support of his “Crow Revenue Act” and emphasized the need for its passage. Daines also introduced Crow Chairman White Clay as a witness at the hearing where he later reiterated his support of Daines’ legislation.

Watch Daines’ remarks and questions HERE.

“The bill is a win for the Crow Tribe. It’s a win for our local communities, and most importantly, for the Crow Tribe. It’s also a win for the state. The Crow Revenue Act is going to swap private inholdings on the Crow Reservation for federal minerals near Roundup Montana. In exchange the Crow Tribe would receive a share of the revenues from these minerals developed near Roundup. Montana cannot afford to lose the jobs at the Bull Mountains Mine. Let me be clear, without the passage of the Crow Revenue Act, the Bull Mountains Mine near Roundup will begin to close down at the beginning of 2025. Let that sink in for a moment, hundreds of jobs are on the line if this committee and this Congress does not pass this bill. And after the recent announcement of 700 mining jobs being lost at the Stillwater Mine… Unfortunately, we are in this position because the Biden-Harris Administration has refused to complete the Bull Mountains Mine permit, pure and simple. Had the administration done their job and completed the needed permits in July, like they were supposed to, we wouldn’t be here talking about needing to do this bill. But they have purposefully dragged their feet so this mine will close. We’re not going to let that happen. And I urge my colleagues to join me in ensuring that these jobs and the revenue for the communities can continue on,” said Daines.

Watch Daines’ introduction of Chairman White Clay HERE.

Background:

Daines introduced the “Crow Revenue Act” in May 2024. The bill fixes long-standing inholdings on the Crow Reservation, provides revenue to the Crow Tribe, and helps ensure the Bull Mountains Mine continues to operate and provide jobs and revenue to the local community.

Click HERE for bill text and HERE for a one pager on the bill.

Letters of Support:

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte

Local Montana Senators and Representatives

Montana State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen

Crow Tribe

Signal Peak Energy

The Hope Family

City of Roundup

Musselshell County Commission

Big Horn County Commission

Yellowstone County Commission

Montana Association of Oil, Gas, & Coal Counties

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/25/daines-calls-for-permanent-tax-break-for-small-businesses/,Daines Calls for Permanent Tax Break for Small Businesses,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today was joined by The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) President Brad Close for a press conference on the importance of stopping the massive tax hike on small businesses. They, along with small business owners called for passage of Daines’ “Main Street Tax Certainty Act,” which makes the 20 percent tax deduction for small businesses permanent.

Download Daines’ remarks HERE.

“Well, thanks for coming out today. I’m just honored and thrilled to be standing here with so many small business owners from across America.

“I grew up as the son of a contractor. Mom and dad had a small home-building business in Montana. In fact, they’ve been NFIB members for many, many years. So, I saw what it takes to grow a business, to hire, to meet payroll each week, and I have a great appreciation for these business leaders behind me, which in many, many ways, is the fundamental engine that drives this economy in America.

“I am a champion for the ‘Main Street Tax Certainty Act.’ This is something we must pass, because if we do not do this next year, many of the businesses, the small businesses across America, will face about a 30 percent increase in their taxes.

“Now, high tax rates are a barrier for businesses to expand, to hire more employees and to grow their businesses. We need to make this provision in the tax code permanent.

“One of the problems in Washington, D.C., is introducing uncertainty based on expiring tax provisions, and that creates a lot of problems for businesses across America. They don’t know what D.C. is going to do.

“This is why it’s important that we make these tax provisions permanent so these small business owners behind me aren’t having to worry more about what’s going on in D.C. They have enough to worry about as it is. Let’s not add Congress to their worry list.

“Remember that if we don’t make these provisions permanent, if we allow these important provisions to expire in 2025, according to Richard Rubin, who writes tax policy for the Wall Street Journal, it’s a $4 trillion increase in taxes.

“And by the way, Rubin also pointed out in his column that if the Democrats get control of the Senate and the House and the Presidency, there’s another $2 trillion on top of these $4 trillion so the total bar tab here would be $6 trillion of tax increases facing the American people if the Democrats control Congress after the 2024 election.

“What’s important to remember, in my home state of Montana, my hometown of Bozeman, if you look at the state of Montana, 74 percent of the jobs, the employment in my state, are from small businesses. They call them these passive entities. If you look nationally, it’s 62 percent of the jobs, the private sector jobs in America, are supported by these small businesses.

“So really, the engine driving this economy, the engine driving employment, is small businesses, and it’s exactly what we’re talking about here today.

“So, if these provisions expire, you’re going to see a big tax increase, you’re going to see a reduction in economic growth, and in many cases, you’re going to see businesses have to face a very difficult challenge, maybe to let employees go, because they’ve got to pay the tax bill to the IRS.

“So, we cannot wait. We need to make these tax provisions permanent. And I’m grateful to stand with these business owners in this fight on Capitol Hill.”

Background:

The 20 percent small business deduction, section 199A, was created as a part of the 2017 tax cuts to level the playing field between small businesses and large corporations. Without Congressional action, 9 out of 10 small businesses will be hit with a massive tax hike when this deduction is set to expire at the end of 2025.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/24/daines-blasts-harris-senate-dems-radical-pro-abortion-activists-for-politicizing-womens-health/,"Daines Blasts Harris, Senate Dems, Radical Pro-Abortion Activists for Politicizing Women’s Health",2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called out the radical left for wrongly criminalizing pro-lifers after recent devastating medical tragedies from the abortion pill.

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

“Democrats and the media are complicit in using these tragedies – such as the stories out of Georgia last week – to blame Republicans and red states for attacking women’s rights and women’s health care. Yet, the irony is that these tragedies would have never occurred if the Biden Administration and the FDA had kept the safety precautions for chemical abortions – including the in-person dispensing requirement and follow-up visit with a medical provider – in place. Let me be very clear, crystal clear: Vice President Harris and the Left are engaged in a dangerous game of demagoguery. They are blaming the deaths of these women on Georgia law. That is a lie. In the cases from Georgia last week, both women experienced the same complication from chemical abortion, where the medication failed to expel all the remains of their unborn children. This is a life-threatening risk that women are not made aware of when they access this medication without guidance from medical professionals. We must approach this issue with intellectual honesty, so as to do justice to the memory of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller and prevent such deaths from ever happening again.” Daines said.

Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/24/daines-calls-out-biden-harris-failures-to-protect-unaccompanied-migrant-children/,Daines Calls Out Biden-Harris Failures to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children,2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and their bicameral Republican colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris calling out abuses in the Administration’s unaccompanied migrant children program.

The lawmakers wrote in the letter,

“As a result of your open-borders policies, overseen by Vice President Harris, who was tasked with “stemming the migration” at our border with Mexico, more than 500,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have crossed the southwest border without a parent or guardian to provide care since you took office, a massive increase when compared to previous administrations. These UACs often experience horrible sexual, physical, and emotional abuse on the journey and are victims of cartel trafficking and exploitation, a business that surged an estimated 2,500 percent from the Trump Administration to the middle of your term in 2022…

…Your Administration further stripped Customs and Border Protection officials of their ability to conduct familial DNA testing, as was implemented by the Trump Administration to verify adults’ claims that they are related to children they bring across the border. This made the smuggling and trafficking of these kids that much easier. Early into your term, your Administration also canceled protections the Trump Administration proposed to provide post-release services for all children placed with sponsors, including in-person visits and extended follow-up after placement. These protections would have helped ensure children were safe. Instead, the actions of your Administration have been disastrous and now, HHS ORR is actively attempting to cover up the results of its egregious decisions. We call upon you to put an end to that cover-up.”

Read the full letter HERE.

Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) joined Grassley and Daines in sending the letter.

Co-signers in the House include House Judiciary Chair Jin Jordan (R-Ohio), Reps. Tom McLintock (R-Ca.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Russell Fry (R-S.C.), Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) and Michael Rulli (R-Ohio).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/24/daines-slams-biden-harris-senate-democrats-on-broken-promises/,"Daines Slams Biden, Harris, Senate Democrats on Broken Promises",2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“An Administration that promised Bipartisanship and Hope Has Only Brought Destruction and Despair”

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

“So, I’ve heard about the ‘Borders Czar,’ I’ve heard about the ‘Broadband Czar,’ Kamala Harris is also the ‘Tie Breaking Czar,’ having broken more ties as Vice President in the U.S. Senate than any other Vice President our nation’s history, surpassing both John Calhoun and John Adams. And look at the wreckage left behind from these tie-breaking votes.

“Sky-high prices have driven groceries and housing costs through the roof. The wide-open southern border has allowed terrorists and dangerous criminals into our communities.

“The Biden-Harris EPA administrator accused the good people of Montana of ‘cheating the system,’ that’s their words, not mine, when it comes to our very own Colstrip power plant that provides badly needed baseload power to so many Montanans and Americans.

“Radical environmental policy, killing mining jobs, including 700 just recently in the last two weeks in Montana. The Biden-Harris appeasement of Iran led to wars and instability abroad.

“This is the record of Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris. Keep in mind they’ve been in office for 1,362 days.

“They’ve had three and a half years to fulfill their promises. An administration that promised bipartisanship, soaring rhetoric of hope­, they weren’t talking about joy back then, but hope has only brought destruction and despair.

“Senate Democrats could have stopped this. Remember, Democrat economist Larry Summers warned in the spring of 2021 not to spend more money because it would cause inflation to skyrocket.

“They didn’t listen. So here we are. Americans now battling, living paycheck to paycheck. Thanks to the Biden-Harris economy, they’re having to take dollars that should be helping the American people, instead giving free stuff to illegal immigrants.

“American miners losing jobs because of the Biden-Harris policies. And of course, we’ve got war abroad.

“The American people, I’m confident, will choose a different course six weeks from today.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/20/daines-risch-crapo-push-back-against-forest-services-red-tape-proposals/,"Daines, Risch, Crapo Push Back Against Forest Service’s Red Tape Proposals",2024-09-20,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today sent a letter to the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pushing back against a proposed amendment to the National Forest System’s 128 Forest Plans. The amendment would add unnecessary red tape guidelines on local forests and halt necessary forest management work, increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

The senators wrote in the letter, “Every fire season more acres of our western National Forests are scorched in catastrophic wildfires while needed management work is put on hold. Drought, insects, and disease continue to make our forests more vulnerable to these wildfires. Already this year 7.3 million acres have burned across the country. Addressing this crisis should be the top priority of the Forest Service.

“Instead the Forest Service has moved forward with an unprecedented proposal to amend all 128 Forest Plans at once without making it clear why these changes are needed or even that the proposed changes will address the real threats to old growth forests… Unfortunately, the proposed Amendment will take staff time away from on-the-ground work to address the wildfire threat and refocus the agency’s limited capacity on deciding if the Forest Plan needs to be updated to comply with the new standards…This is the opposite of what our forests need during this crisis. The Forest Service should be focused on expediting needed on the ground work, not putting new hurdles in place to delay hazardous fuels mitigation work. This new layer of guidelines will also open the door to additional litigation against proposed projects further slowing the process.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/19/daines-on-senate-floor-now-is-the-time-for-serious-budget-reform/,Daines on Senate Floor: “Now is the Time for Serious Budget Reform”,2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Delivers Remarks Slamming Congress’ Broken Budget Process

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks on the Senate floor calling for serious reforms to Congress’ budget process. Daines highlighted Congress’ record of ignoring the “Budget Control Act” and routine failure to enact all 12 appropriations bills by September 30th.

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

Daines’ remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Mr. President, it’s been my privilege to represent the people of Montana in Congress for more than a decade.

“I have seen Congress wrestle and struggle with many challenges during my time here. I’ve heard my constituents voice concerns, and deservedly so, about most of them.

“By far the most consistently bad habit Congress has is its failure to follow its own budget process.

“In fact, it is not an understatement to say that the budget process has completely collapsed in both chambers.

“And boy do I hear about this back home.

“Nearly everywhere I go in Montana folks tell me they are tired of Congress’ dysfunction and especially its lack of fiscal discipline.

“For a body that was elected to represent the will of the people of this country, we are doing the exact opposite.

“This is simply not what our constituents sent us here to do.

“Too many families in our country are living paycheck to paycheck. They are working multiple jobs to make ends meet.

“Most importantly, they are sacrificing to do so.

“When they elect their representatives, they expect good, responsible governing. They expect Congress to operate like they do when it comes to budgeting and spending and living within their means.

“Yet year in and year out Congress does anything but.

“Let me read you the tale of the tape.

“The last time we enacted all 12 appropriations bills by September 30 was 1997.

“That was nearly three decades ago.

“Even sadder is how Congress has ignored the Budget Act.

“The Budget Control Act became law in 1974. This law put into place the modern budget process.

“It was enacted, ironically, to give Congress more control over federal spending and the budget process. Theoretically this would give our constituents a stronger say in the how their tax dollars are spent.

“What has Congress done with that authority?

“Since the Budget Control Act became law 50 years ago, Congress has been out of control.

“Congress rarely even passes a budget resolution anymore, which is supposed to start the budget process every spring.

“That budget resolution is supposed to provide a roadmap for how we approach the appropriations process.

“Without this roadmap, Congress inevitably finds itself in a spending trainwreck.

“And our constituents by default have little say in how their tax dollars are spent.

“And that is exactly what has happened year after year.

“In the past 50 years, since the Budget Control Act was passed, Congress has only enacted all 12 appropriations bills on time four times: 1977, 1989, 1995, and 1997.

“This year, Senate Democratic leadership hasn’t brought a single appropriations bill to the floor, and we are just 12 days from the beginning of the new fiscal year.

“Continuing Resolutions that fund the government ‘at current levels’ are the norm. In fact, between 1977 and last year Congress passed 200 Continuing Resolutions. Two hundred!

“And thus, the threat of a government shutdown is always looming.

“All of this forces Congress to fund the government through what we call omnibus appropriations.

“For those watching back home that means instead of giving each appropriations bill a hearing and the scrutiny it deserves, most of the spending bills are all lumped together into one or two giant bills often thousands of pages long.

“No one has time to read the entire bill before we pass it so it’s usually full of wasteful spending on pet projects that were inserted in the dead of night.

“Since 1982, Congress has passed 36 omnibus appropriations bills. That is just short of one per year. Since that time, omnibus appropriations bills have served as the legislative vehicle for more than half of the federal government’s appropriations.

“In short, our broken budget process has created an incredible amount of uncertainty. In fact, the only thing that is certain in this whole mess is that this broken down process has exacerbated the federal government’s out-of-control spending.

“This is no way to run a household or small business, not to mention the government.

“And the American people know it.

“Why is all of this so important?

“As I mentioned, Congress does not have a revenue problem. Congress has a spending problem.

“Our failed budget process is not the only cause for the fiscal disaster facing our country but it plays a significant role.

“The last time the government had a budget surplus was 23 years ago, in 2001.

“The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says that the budget deficit for this year will be around $2 trillion.

“This is unprecedented.

“In fact, the deficit over the next decade will now total a staggering $22.1 trillion.

“Even more frightening is the fact that Medicare will be broke by 2031 and Social Security by 2034.

“By 2035 CBO estimates that debt held by the public will top $50 trillion and be the equivalent of 122 percent of GDP.

“Those are staggering numbers.

“We can no longer ignore this crisis.

“To start the long process of fixing it we need to start with serious budget reform.

“The people of Montana know I am not a creature of Washington. Nor do I care to be.

“I am not a career politician. I did not work my way up through the ranks of the state legislature. My experience is in the private sector.

“Anyone who’s been to Montana knows that while Montana is the most beautiful state in our country, the strength of our state lies with our people.

“Montanans are the hardest working folks in the country.

“They believe in an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.

“And they never hesitate to share a good dose of common sense—something that is severely lacking in Washington, D.C., today.

“Montana common sense combined with my private sector experience taught me a number of principles I think we can apply to our budget process.

“For starters, we need to hold members accountable, and performance needs to be scrutinized.

“When structural failure persists, it must be addressed.

“For that reason, if Members of Congress cannot pass all 12 appropriations bills on time they should not get paid.

“It’s that simple.

“If you don’t do your job, you don’t deserve a paycheck. Especially when the American people are the folks paying you.

“That should put an end to our government shutdowns. And let’s be honest, shutting down the government only punishes the American people.

“Put the pain on Congress and that will start to change things around here in a hurry.

“Second, Congress should address all spending, including discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

“Think about it, our discretionary spending process is utterly dysfunctional, and there are virtually no forcing mechanisms to require Congress to actually deal with the autopilot spending that accounts for nearly 70 percent of federal spending.

“And avoiding the tough challenges within mandatory spending means our national debt will just continue to soar to new incomprehensible heights, and our children and grandchildren will be without the safety net support they are counting on for their retirement years.

“This will require bipartisan cooperation to save these programs for future generations.

“And speaking of bipartisanship, the reforms we make must work in both unified and divided government.

“Right now it is impossible to pass a bicameral budget during divided government. And this just leads to the unwanted, behind-closed-doors mad dash as the expiration date for the latest continuing resolution approaches.

“Which leads to my final and perhaps most important point.

“Any reforms to our broken budget and spending process must be bipartisan.

“There will always be disagreement on how taxpayer dollars should be spent but we should be able to agree on a workable, durable process to make those decisions.

“To that end, we need to build on the good work of my friend and former colleague, the late Senator Mike Enzi from Wyoming.

“During more than two decades serving in the Senate, Mike worked tirelessly on this issue. Many of his proposals deserve a strong look if Congress is to find a solution.

“I believe two in particular deserve attention.

“The first would reorient the budget resolution to a two-year cycle. This would allow Congress more time to not only develop but also enforce the budget.

“I also believe Senator Enzi’s proposal to create a new special reconciliation process that could only be used for reducing the deficit also warrants consideration.

“There are many others. I know a number of my colleagues have weighed in on this issue as well. I welcome their ideas.

“And so the question I pose today to members on both sides of the aisle is this: ‘When are we going to get serious?’

“How many more times are we going to kick the can down the road? How many more shutdowns? How high must our deficits and debt climb before we say enough is enough?

“Mr. President, I submit today that we reached that point long ago.

“It is past time to bring the common sense of my constituents to bear on the nation’s budget process.

“Now is the time for serious budget reform.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/17/daines-biden-harris-energy-policies-destroying-our-montana-way-of-life/,Daines: “Biden-Harris Energy Policies Destroying Our Montana Way of Life”,2024-09-17,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

“I do find it a bit humorous when you hear Kamala Harris talk about ‘on day one’ to translate three and a half plus years. That’s over 1,300 day ones that she’s had so far.

“But I’ll tell you what she has been doing. This Administration’s policies are harming our Montana way of life.

“Let me give an example. Just last week, we got the terrible news that the Stillwater mine is laying off 700 miners. The mine is just south of Big Timber in Columbus, Montana. It’s a very important strategic mine for our country, because it produces palladium and platinum. Now these are really good paying jobs. These mining jobs are in the six-figure range, plus a very healthy and generous benefits package. These mines produce platinum and palladium. They’re used in cars and catalytic converters to reduce the pollution that comes out of the exhaust, as well as electronics. And instead of getting palladium from Montana mines, Biden and Harris are allowing Russia to flood the market. That is why the layoffs occurred. The Russians are flooding the U.S. markets. There are very few producers of palladium in the world. They drove the price down and forced the mine to have to lay off about half the workforce, 700 miners.

“And adding insult to injury, Vladimir Putin uses that money to fund his war in Ukraine. So these are the consequences of this Administration’s obsession with radical environmentalism, otherwise known as the Green Dream, and now we’re bearing the brunt of these policies.

“Here’s another example. I can tell you; Montanans are tired of breathing smoke during fire season. Last week, there was a kid’s sporting event in Boulder, Montana, canceled due to smoke from wildfires. This is a result of Montanans and many out west of not being able to get in and thin and manage their forests. Proper thinning is a way to reduce the risk of wildfires. And why is that? I’ll tell you why. The Ninth Circuit Court, one of the most liberal in the country, buries our forest managers in litigation and doesn’t allow them to manage the forests. They’re spending all their time with lawyers and litigation instead of getting the loggers into our forests to thin them. They’ve tied up 300 million board feet of timber in Montana in litigation. That’s just in Montana alone. That’s enough to build nearly 25,000 homes. The Biden-Harris EPA…You know what we call the EPA out in Montana? ‘The employment prevention agency.’

“They’ve launched a war on Montana’s Colstrip. They’ve launched a war with EV mandates. This is the biggest war on made-in-American energy we’ve seen, certainly in my lifetime. So the American people must reverse this course seven weeks from today, 49 days away. We’ll have an election, and we’ve got to let the American people speak loud and clear they want to change the direction of this country and remove Joe Biden and Kamala Harris from office.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/13/daines-demands-changes-to-biden-harris-admin-on-policy-that-hurts-montana-mines/,Daines Demands Changes to Biden-Harris Admin on Policy that Hurts Montana Mines,2024-09-13,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury urging Secretary Yellen to include extraction costs in the final regulations for the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit (45X) to ease pressures the mining industry is facing due to Russian interference. The letter comes after previous demands from the Senator went unanswered and in response to news that Montana’s Stillwater Mine was forced to lay off 700 employees due to the Biden-Harris administration’s decision to allow imports of critical minerals from Russia.

Daines wrote in the letter: “With the recent announcement that the nation’s only platinum and palladium producer, Stillwater mine in Montana, is laying off 700 employees, I write regarding input on the final regulations pertaining to the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit (“45X”) for the domestic production of critical minerals. Unfortunately, in Treasury’s draft guidance, extraction costs are excluded from the credit. This very specific and unnecessary omission in the guidance comes at a cost for Montana’s and the nation’s mining jobs and must be corrected. As such, I request that Treasury issue guidance for the 45X credit to include extraction costs immediately.

“Earlier this year I submitted questions for the record for a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing held on January 11th, asking for Treasury’s rationale in precluding the credit, further underscoring the matter. I have not received a response to my questions, nearly eight months later. This delay and lack of transparency is unacceptable. It is becoming more and more clear that President Biden and Vice-President Harris are doing everything in their power to discourage and even prohibit energy and mining production in the United States and Montana. The omission of extraction in the 45X credit is just the latest in a long line of absurd economic actions from this Administration. Mining plays the largest role in producing these critical minerals, so the exclusion of extraction costs is not only puzzling, it negates the purpose of the credit itself.”

Background:

In addition to today’s letter, Daines introduced legislation that would ban the import of critical minerals from Russia. Read the bill text HERE and download his video statement HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/12/daines-slams-biden-harris-tax-hikes-on-small-businesses-montana-familiesu-s-senate-u-s-senator-steve-daines-today-at-a-senate-finance-committee-hearing-slammed-president-biden-a/,"Daines Slams Biden-Harris Tax Hikes on Small Businesses, Montana Families",2024-09-12,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Finance Committee hearing slammed President Biden and Vice President Harris for waging a tax war on main street businesses and families already living paycheck to paycheck. Daines called out Vice President Harris’ plan to repeal the 20 percent deduction for small and family-owned small businesses. Daines is working to make this deduction permanent.Daines Slams Biden-Harris Tax Hikes on Small Businesses, Montana Families

Watch Daines’ opening remarks HERE.

“Despite their rhetoric, Vice President Harris and the Democrats are launching a war on our main street businesses and Americans who are already living paycheck to paycheck. In fact, Wall Street Journal earlier this year called this the $6 trillion election because we’re looking at a $6 trillion tax hike if President Biden’s Vice President, Kamala Harris and Democrats have their way. From the Vice President’s tie-breaking vote imposing invasive 1099-K requirements, supersizing the IRS and her call to repeal the pass-through deduction, her record is crystal clear,” Daines said.

Daines also pressed Jeff Brabant, NFIB Vice President of Federal Government Relations, on how the Biden-Harris tax hikes will affect small businesses.

Watch HERE.

Mr. Brabant said, “It would be difficult for them. A recent survey shows 66 percent would increase prices, and about 44 percent would delay, postpone, or cancel planned capital investments in their small businesses.”

Background:

Daines is fighting to make the 20 percent pass-through business tax deduction permanent. His bill, the “Main Street Tax Certainty Act,” will support Montana small businesses, help create jobs and strengthen our economy. Without congressional action the tax deduction will expire at the end of 2025.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/12/in-wake-of-stillwater-mine-layoffs-daines-introduces-bill-to-ban-import-of-critical-minerals-from-russia-support-montana-jobs/,"In Wake of Stillwater Mine Layoffs, Daines Introduces Bill to Ban Import of Critical Minerals from Russia, Support Montana Jobs",2024-09-12,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Failed to Protect Montana Jobs”

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bill to ban the import of essential minerals from Russia such as platinum, palladium and copper. Daines introduced the legislation in response to the announcement by Montana’s Stillwater Mine that it is laying off 700 employees. The layoffs can be attributed to the Biden-Harris administration allowing imports of critical minerals from Russia rather than relying on Montana mines to provide critical minerals to American markets. In addition, the import of Russian minerals is actively funding Russia’s war against Ukraine. Montana is home to the only platinum and palladium mine in the United States and a top producer of copper.

“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris failed to protect Montana jobs. Rather than relying on our own Montana mines to provide palladium, the Biden-Harris administration is allowing critical mineral imports from Russia, which is costing Montana jobs and funding Russia’s unjust war against Ukraine,” said Daines. “There is no reason the United States should be importing critical minerals that we can find right here at home. Montana is rich in minerals, and we need to be supporting American mines and American jobs, not Russia’s.”

Read bill text HERE.

Background:

The bill would prohibit the import of the following minerals until Russia ends hostilities with Ukraine:

Braggite

Copper

Nickel

Palladium

Platinum

Rhodium

Ruthenium

Zinc

Palladium prices have fallen from $2208.40 to $1004.00 since January 25, 2021.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/11/daines-statement-on-anniversary-of-september-11th-terror-attacks/,Daines Statement on Anniversary of September 11th Terror Attacks,2024-09-11,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement on the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks:

“Today we remember those who lost their lives in the worst terror attack ever experienced on American soil. We honor their families as well as the brave first responders who ran into the face of danger to protect their fellow Americans.

“September 11, 2001, also reminds us that a nation united in the face of tragedy can overcome the worst form of evil. May we never forget the lives lost as well as the courage and sacrifice displayed by our fellow Americans.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/10/daines-joins-house-and-senate-leadership-in-presenting-congressional-gold-medal-to-families-of-13-service-members-killed-at-abbey-gate-in-afghanistan/,Daines Joins House and Senate Leadership in Presenting Congressional Gold Medal to Families of 13 Service Members Killed at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan,2024-09-10,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Daines Bill Posthumously Awards Congressional Gold Medal to Fallen Service Members

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda that honored the 13 American service members who were killed in the terrorist attack at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Daines introduced the bill to honor these brave men and women with the Congressional Gold Medal and today their families were presented with the medal. Read Senator Daines’ remarks at the ceremony below.

Download photos here and watch Daines’ full remarks here.

Daines’ remarks as prepared for delivery:

Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, members of the Cabinet, honored guests and most of all, to our Gold Star families of the 13 fallen, thank you for being here. We are honored by your presence.

I’m U.S. Senator Steve Daines from Montana.

I am a husband, a father, and a grandfather.

I am also the son of a U.S. Marine.

In raising me, my dad taught me the motto of the Marine Corps: “Semper Fi.”

Always Faithful.

He also taught me the values of service and sacrifice to our great country.

The values my Marine Corps dad instilled in me were my motivation to honor the memories of those who served.

Those values are what inspired me to introduce the legislation awarding Congress’ highest honor to the 13 brave servicemembers who sacrificed for our country on August 26, 2021, at Abbey Gate.

I remember that day well. It was a beautiful summer day in Montana.

My wife and I were in my pickup, traveling across the western part of our state headed to an event when the news broke on the radio.

My immediate response was to call my dad.

My father is 85 and my mom is 82, and they both live in Montana.

So I called my dad’s cell phone. My dad is a tough Marine, but he didn’t pick up the phone. My mom did.

I said, “Mom, have you heard the news of what happened in Afghanistan?”

My mom said, “We heard it. Your dad’s heard it.”

I said, “Can I talk to Dad?”

She said, “He can’t talk right now.”

To the families here today, the loved ones you lost at Abbey Gate represent the values of service and sacrifice to a cause bigger than themselves.

I know each of you each played an important role in instilling those values in your sons and daughters.

And for that reason they represent the best of our country.

And because of the important role you played in their lives, you represent those values too.

And therefore each one of you represent the best of our country as well.

As we stand here today, it is impossible for me to understand the pain of your loss. I’ve never had to go through what you are going through.

But I do know when pain runs so deep, words are often inadequate.

With that in mind, I will speak to the rest of the audience here today: My fellow members of Congress, others who are guests and those who may be watching:

It was their duty to serve.

It is our duty to remember.

In proclaiming the first Memorial Day in 1868, General John Logan wrote:

“Let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved;

“let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us

“a sacred charge upon the Nation’s gratitude — the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.”

It is our duty to remember the service, the sacrifice and the faithfulness of the 13 brave men and women who fell that day but it is also our duty to remember their loved ones as well.

Because in remembering and honoring the memory of the fallen, we provide their families comfort.

Today is an important step on that journey.

The 13 who fell will join such distinguished heroes as George Washington, Winston Churchill, Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan in receiving the Congressional Gold Medal.

On behalf of a grateful nation, we thank your sons and daughters for their service.

And we thank you for the values and character you instilled in them that led them to give the last full measure of devotion.

It led them into harm’s way for the cause of freedom and the country they loved.

There is no higher calling.

There is no greater service.

There is no greater sacrifice.

Thank you for being here today. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

Background:

On August 26, 2021, during the final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal, a ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked the Hamid Karzai International Airport, tragically leaving 13 U.S. service members dead.

The following service members made the ultimate sacrifice that day. Their bravery and courage will never be forgotten.

Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover

Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo

Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee

Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez

Marine Cpl. Daegan Page

Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez

Marine Lance Cpl. David Espinoza

Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz

Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum

Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola

Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui

Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton Soviak

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss

Daines introduced the bill to honor the servicemembers in September 2021 after the deadly attack. Read the legislation here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/10/daines-kamala-harris-is-still-the-radical-out-of-touch-california-liberal-she-has-always-been/,Daines: “Kamala Harris is Still the Radical Out of Touch California Liberal She Has Always Been”,2024-09-10,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“She has the Bernie Sanders seal of approval for being progressive”

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference highlighting Vice President Kamala Harris’ radical policies.

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

“There’s a good reason why we haven’t seen Kamala Harris out campaigning in some of these key battleground states like Montana and Ohio, because Kamala Harris is the most liberal candidate running for president the Democrat Party has ever nominated.

“Don’t take my word for it. The Washington Post’s Philip Bump said on August 13, 2020, and I quote:

“‘In 2017, Harris was the eighth-most-liberal U.S. senator. In 2018, fourth. As she prepared a 2020 presidential run, she became the most liberal — joining Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), all of whom also ran.’”

“Kamala Harris is also the least electable of 10 possible Democrat nominees.

“And don’t take my word for it, that was the New York Times that talked about that this summer.

“She is unelectable because her positions are radical:

“She called border wall a waste of taxpayer money.

“She called to ban fracking.

“She called to defund the police.

“She cosponsored legislation to mandate electric vehicles.

“She tried to change positions but the American people are onto her.

“As the New York Times poll from this weekend shows, that shine is wearing off.

“The American people are smart. They know Kamala Harris is not only a liberal, she’s disingenuous because she’s tried to change her positions.

“Don’t take my word for it. When asked about Kamala Harris’ flip flops, Bernie Sanders said Kamala Harris is ‘doing what she thinks is right to win the election.’

“Bernie also said that same time: ‘I do consider her a progressive.’ She has the Bernie Sanders seal of approval for being progressive.

“So if you like San Francisco politics, you’re going to love Kamala Harris. In other words, Kamala Harris is still the radical out of touch California liberal she has always been.

“The American people know it and will right this ship in 55 days.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/09/09/new-study-confirms-senator-daines-rep-smucker-small-business-tax-deduction-supports-millions-of-american-jobs-spurs-economy/,"New Study Confirms Senator Daines, Rep. Smucker Small Business Tax Deduction Supports Millions of American Jobs, Spurs Economy",2024-09-09,2024,2024-09,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Congressman Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11) today shared a new study from Ernst and Young (EY) highlighting the economic activity supported by their small and family-owned business tax deduction. The Section 199A deduction provides a 20 percent deduction for pass-through businesses, allowing these businesses to reinvest their hard-earned capital, increase wages and hire more employees. The new study found that 2.6 million jobs and $325 billion of GDP are supported by the deduction. Daines and Smucker introduced the “Main Street Tax Certainty Act” to make this 20 percent pass-through business tax deduction permanent.

“It’s no surprise that when we provide our small businesses with much-needed tax relief, they not only thrive, but they help the whole economy grow. It’s time this tax deduction is made permanent so that Montana small and family-owned businesses can continue to create jobs, serve their communities and spur economic activity,” Senator Daines said.

“This report underscores what I have heard directly from small and family-owned businesses in my community and across the nation. Section 199A allows main street businesses to grow, create jobs, and invest in their community. Making Section 199A permanent will prevent a massive tax hike and provide small business owners and their employees the certainty they need to thrive,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and lead sponsor of the “Main Street Tax Certainty Act” in the House.

“Making the Section 199A small and family business deduction permanent is essential to blocking a massive tax increase on Main Street businesses while ensuring they remain competitive with the lower rate applied to larger, public corporations. This study makes clear that 199A supports millions of jobs located in thousands of communities around the country. Without it, those communities would have fewer jobs, lower wages, and smaller economies. The Daines/Smucker Main Street Certainty Act needs to be part of any tax package considered by Congress next year,” said Brian Reardon, President of the S Corporation Association.

Read the study HERE.

Background:

Pass-through businesses represent 95 percent of all businesses and employ approximately 62 percent of American workers. The “Main Street Tax Certainty Act” would help grow the economy and provide much needed certainty for small business job creators by making permanent the 20 percent pass-through deduction. Absent congressional action, these businesses will face a massive tax hike and will likely be forced to reduce wages or eliminate jobs.

The 2017 “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” created Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows pass-through businesses to deduct up to 20 percent of qualifying income. The deduction is currently slated to expire at the end of 2025. Making this deduction permanent ensures that millions of Main Street businesses continue to maintain tax parity with large corporations.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-secures-victory-veterans-va-scraps-plan-gut-air-ambulance-service,"Zinke secures victory for veterans, VA scraps plan to gut air ambulance service in Montana",2024-09-09,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Ceding to Congressman Ryan Zinke’s relentless oversight and demands, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has delayed implementation of their proposed rule that would essentially eliminate any availability for affordable air and ground ambulance services for veterans. In 2020 the VA proposed cutting the reimbursement rate for ground and air ambulance services by as much as 90%, using market data from 1998 for air ambulance services and 2002 for ground ambulance services. Had it gone into effect as proposed, the new rule would have caused drastic cuts and make it financially impossible for air ambulances to operate. In Montana, similar cuts have gone into effect in rural counties, causing Granite County to lose ambulance service altogether.

Zinke has used his position on the MILCON-VA subcommittee on Appropriations to delay implementation of this rule for nearly two years. His efforts include leading multiple oversight letters to VA Secretary Denis McDonough seeking a delay in the effective date of the rule, introducing legislation to combat the rule, introducing an amendment to the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill and testifying before the Rules Committee to protect veterans’ access to life flights and a variety of ambulance services, all leading to the delay of the initial enactment originally meant to go into effect in February of 2024.

The VA’s further delay until 2029 will allow a new appraisal of market data and will heavily mitigate the disastrous effects of the original rule.

Even without this delay, Zinke-drafted language included in the House-passed FY25 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill would have defunded reimbursement changes set to take effect in 2025.

Zinke statement:

“In rural areas, healthcare is hard to access, we need to be expanding options for veterans, not limiting them.” Zinke said. “This delay in the enactment will allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to update the outdated data and keep lifesaving air and ground ambulance services available for Montanans. I am glad the VA came to its senses on this one and stopped a rule that would have been disastrous for veterans.”

Statements of Support:

“The Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) applauds the Congressional efforts of Rep. Zinke, SVAC Chairman Tester, HVAC Chairman Bost, SVAC Ranking Member Moran, and others in delaying the effective day of the rule until February 2029,” Jewish War Veterans National Executive Director Ken Greenberg said. “JWV has led the fight in the VSO community on the VA’s proposed rule (RIN 2900-AP89, Change in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation) that cuts the VA reimbursement rate for emergency air medical services to below the costs of the services themselves. For the last two years, JWV has been vocal that “as published, the rule would put more than 2.7 million rural veterans in our country who are enrolled in the VHA, and 4.8 million rural veterans overall, at risk of losing life-saving emergency air transportation.”

“From the very start of the VA’s ill-fated effort to effectively deny rural American veterans timely access to air ambulance services – by imposing untenably low reimbursement rates on those air ambulance service providers – Rep. Zinke’s been at the forefront of protecting Montana’s and America’s veterans’ access to timely air ambulance services,” The National Defense Committee said. “This welcome announcement by the VA to delay implementation of this poorly designed regulation would not have happened but for the aggressive Congressional oversight by Rep. Zinke, Rep. Bost of Illinois, and others to force the VA to backdown. National Defense Committee looks forward to working with Rep. Zinke to get the VA to refine this inherently faulty proposal, and we thank him for his steadfast commitment.”

Background:

On February 16, 2023, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published in the Federal Register a final rule to amend its beneficiary travel regulations to establish a new payment methodology for special modes of transportation available through the VA beneficiary travel program. The preamble of that final rule stated the effective date was February 16, 2024.

While Rep. Zinke opposed the VA rule from its finalization in February, there was the promise of negotiated contracts with VA to exempt vendors from reimbursement on the CMS schedule.

In a March 2023 budget hearing, VA Secretary Denis McDonough promised Rep. Zinke that he would work with him on ensuring fair, negotiated contracts.

In June of 2023, Rep. Zinke led a letter to Secretary McDonough, alongside 12 Members of Congress, asking basic questions about the rule and asking for a delay in the effective date.

The next month, it was discovered that non-VA directed 911 emergency air and ground ambulance transports would automatically be reimbursed on the CMS schedule because they are ineligible to be negotiated via contract due to lack of VA statutory authority.

In response, Rep. Zinke introduced a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that would defund the rule change. While Rep. Zinke testified in support of the amendment, it was not ruled in order by the House Rules Committee.

On July 28th, Rep. Zinke led a bipartisan group of thirty Members of Congress in another letter to Secretary McDonough asking him to delay the effective date of the finalized VA rule until Congress passes legislation authorizing the VA to contract emergency ambulance services. That letter has also gone unanswered, despite multiple follow-ups by staff.

VA published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2023, a final rule to delay the effective date for the rule from February 16, 2024, to February 16, 2025.

This rulemaking further delays the effective date of February 16, 2025, to February 16, 2029.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/08/27/daines-leads-colleagues-in-calling-out-bidens-va-for-mismanagement-failing-to-serve-american-veterans/,"Daines Leads Colleagues in Calling Out Biden’s VA for Mismanagement, Failing to Serve American Veterans",2024-08-27,2024,2024-08,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines led his colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) expressing strong disappointment of the VA’s mismanagement and failure to effectively serve American veterans, specifically the unacceptable budget shortfall stemming its failure to correctly implement the “PACT Act.”

Daines wrote in the letter: “There are numerous examples of ignoring Congressional intent, but perhaps the most illustrative is the implementation of the PACT Act. In January 2023, the VA announced it would begin processing PACT Act benefits claims for all veterans and survivors, completely ignoring statutory requirements that benefits be phased in over an 8-year period. What resulted was a $15 billion combined budget shortfall that you only recently notified Congress about. As mentioned previously, this shortfall is the largest for the VA under any administration and flies in the face of the FY25 budget request that this administration requested barely four months ago. Your active disregard for the law directly impacts veterans and threatens to put their promised benefits for exposure to toxic substances while serving their country at risk.

“Sadly, while the blame for this manufactured crisis rests at your feet, it is the American veteran—men and women united across generations by their willingness and desire to answer the call to service with an understanding that their government would be there for them when the time comes—who suffers most from your failures.”

Senators Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) joined Daines in signing the letter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/08/26/daines-to-join-senate-and-house-leadership-in-presenting-congressional-gold-medal-honoring-the-13-service-members-killed-at-abbey-gate/,Daines to Join Senate and House Leadership in Presenting Congressional Gold Medal Honoring the 13 Service Members Killed at Abbey Gate,2024-08-26,2024,2024-08,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Daines Introduced Bill to Honor Memory of Fallen Service Members

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, on the third anniversary of the terrorist attack at the Kabul Airport, joined House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in announcing that Congress will honor the 13 American service members killed in the attack by presenting their families the Congressional Gold Medal. The ceremony will take place in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. ET and Senator Daines will deliver remarks.

“Our country owes the 13 brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago a debt of gratitude we will never be able to repay,” said Daines. “These heroes dedicated their lives to serving our nation and protecting our security and freedoms both at home and abroad. With this Congressional Gold Medal, we memorialize their ultimate sacrifice and honor their memory.”

Background:

On August 26, 2021, during the final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal, a ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked the Hamid Karzai International Airport, tragically leaving 13 U.S. service members dead.

The following service members made the ultimate sacrifice that day and will be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal on September 10, 2024. Their bravery and courage will never be forgotten.

Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover

Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo

Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee

Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez

Marine Cpl. Daegan Page

Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez

Marine Lance Cpl. David Espinoza

Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz

Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum

Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola

Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui

Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton Soviak

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss

The Congressional Gold Medal will be awarded posthumously on September 10, 2024. The ceremony will take place in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Read the exclusive story about the ceremony in the Washington Reporter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/08/23/daines-urges-biden-administration-to-withdraw-costly-burdensome-mandate-on-montana-firefighters-sheriffs/,"Daines Urges Biden Administration to Withdraw Costly, Burdensome Mandate on Montana Firefighters, Sheriffs",2024-08-23,2024,2024-08,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) calling for the withdrawal of its Emergency Response Standard rule which would impose more than $14,000 in unfunded mandates on volunteer fire departments in Montana. Daines emphasized the immediate negative impacts this rule will have on fire and rescue operations in Montana.

Daines wrote in the letter: “Montana’s vast rural and forested landscape provides unique challenges for the small volunteer and career fire departments who serve on the frontlines every day, and especially during wildfire season. These departments, despite facing an ever-growing list of challenges, always answer the call to keep Montanans and their property safe. Unfortunately, the more than $14,000 a year in unfunded mandates imposed as a result of this proposed rule is a burden too heavy to bear for many of them. If this rule is implemented, the critical services these departments provide to their communities may be lost as a result with no one left to fill the gap.”

Read the full letter here.

The Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association support Daines’ effort.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/08/02/daines-introduces-bill-to-boost-montana-science-tech-jobs-2/,"Daines Introduces Bill to Boost Montana Science, Tech Jobs",2024-08-02,2024,2024-08,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the bipartisan “DOE Quantum Energy Act of 2024” to promote quantum research, development, and jobs in Montana. The bill renews and expands Daines’ “National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018” to ensure that the United States remains the world’s leader in technology and energy security.

“Our National Quantum Initiative Program is essential in maintaining our position as global leaders in science and technology, and also supports hundreds of Montana jobs,” said Daines. “I’m glad to work with my colleagues on renewing this bipartisan legislation that will accelerate quantum research, increase our national security, and bolster the economy both in Montana and across the nation.”

Statements of Support:

“The National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act of 2018 initially enabled America to take the lead in the global quantum race, but this act has expired. It is essential to reauthorize the NQI to maintain America’s leadership in quantum technology. The DOE Quantum Leadership Act, proposed by Senator Durbin and Senator Daines, is crucial at this pivotal moment in the global quantum race as quantum technology approaches true end-use applications. The Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance wholeheartedly supports the DOE Leadership Act and believes that action is needed now.” – Jason Yager, Executive Director of the Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance

“The Montana Chamber of Commerce appreciates the bipartisan efforts to further American quantum technologies with the introduction of the Department of Energy (DOE) Quantum Leadership Act. With the widespread impacts of quantum technology across industries, this investment is essential to further quantum research, solidify American quantum companies as world leaders, and tackle complex workforce and commercialization issues within the quantum industry. The bill’s focus on public-private partnerships and emphasis on small to medium quantum businesses will allow all states, including Montana, to benefit from this investment and will build on the good work we’re doing here with the Headwaters Tech Hub.” – Montana Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd O’Hair

Background:

The “DOE Quantum Leadership Act” would reauthorize research and development projects through 2029 and was introduced with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL).

Read the text of the bill HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/08/01/daines-introduces-bill-to-boost-montana-science-tech-jobs/,"Daines Introduces Bill to Boost Montana Science, Tech Jobs",2024-08-01,2024,2024-08,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the bipartisan “DOE Quantum Energy Act of 2024” to promote quantum research, development, and jobs in Montana. The bill renews and expands Daines’ “National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018” to ensure that the United States remains the world’s leader in technology and energy security.

“Our National Quantum Initiative Program is essential in maintaining our position as global leaders in science and technology, and also supports hundreds of Montana jobs,” said Daines. “I’m glad to work with my colleagues on renewing this bipartisan legislation that will accelerate quantum research, increase our national security, and bolster the economy both in Montana and across the nation.”

Statements of Support:

“The National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act of 2018 initially enabled America to take the lead in the global quantum race, but this act has expired. It is essential to reauthorize the NQI to maintain America’s leadership in quantum technology. The DOE Quantum Leadership Act, proposed by Senator Durbin and Senator Daines, is crucial at this pivotal moment in the global quantum race as quantum technology approaches true end-use applications. The Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance wholeheartedly supports the DOE Leadership Act and believes that action is needed now.” – Jason Yager, Executive Director of the Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance

“The Montana Chamber of Commerce appreciates the bipartisan efforts to further American quantum technologies with the introduction of the Department of Energy (DOE) Quantum Leadership Act. With the widespread impacts of quantum technology across industries, this investment is essential to further quantum research, solidify American quantum companies as world leaders, and tackle complex workforce and commercialization issues within the quantum industry. The bill’s focus on public-private partnerships and emphasis on small to medium quantum businesses will allow all states, including Montana, to benefit from this investment and will build on the good work we’re doing here with the Headwaters Tech Hub.” – Montana Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd O’Hair

Background:

The “DOE Quantum Leadership Act” would reauthorize research and development projects through 2029 and was introduced with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/08/01/daines-statement-on-prisoner-swap-with-russia/,Daines Statement on Prisoner Swap with Russia,2024-08-01,2024,2024-08,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Swap Does Not Include Marc Fogel

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the below statement following the news that the United States and Russia reached a deal to free several Americans being held prisoner in Russia. Marc Fogel, an American who has been wrongfully detained since August 2021, was not among the Americans included in the deal.

“I’m relieved to see innocent Americans finally coming home after years of unjust imprisonment at the hands of the Kremlin, but while we celebrate the return of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and the other prisoners, we must remember that Marc Fogel is still wrongfully detained. For three years now, Marc has been held in a Russian prison and endured unthinkable treatment. The United States must continue to do everything it can to bring Marc home and reunite him with his loved ones.”

Background:

In June, a resolution demanding Russia release wrongfully detained Marc Fogel passed the U.S. Senate. Senator Daines introduced the bipartisan resolution in July 2023. Read the full text of the bill HERE.

Senator Daines sent a letter with former U.S. ambassador to Russia Mike McFaul to Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on the State Department to deem Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained and prioritize securing his release from Russia in June 2023. Read the full letter HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/08/01/daines-statement-on-sham-tax-vote/,Daines Statement on Sham Tax Vote,2024-08-01,2024,2024-08,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement regarding the vote on the tax bill in the Senate:

“It’s impossible to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ spending blowout that led to recordinflation and then claim to support tax relief this close to an election and expect the American people to take you seriously. This is a cynical show vote that has no chance of becoming law. The American people will see through this charade and will hold Senate Democrats accountable in November.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/31/daines-amendment-to-reduce-frivolous-lawsuits-on-forestry-projects-passes-committee/,Daines’ Amendment to Reduce Frivolous Lawsuits on Forestry Projects Passes Committee,2024-07-31,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Package also contains Daines-led provisions to increase hydropower development

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the passage of his forestry amendment to the “Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024” by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The amendment ensures that forestry projects under the “Healthy Forests Restoration Act” are given expedited review, ensuring that forest projects will not be delayed by frivolous lawsuits. Also included were provisions to extend hydropower licenses and study market barriers to hydropower development.

“Forestry permitting reform is permitting reform. Far too often, projects to reduce hazardous fuels and restore forest health are tied up in frivolous litigation, which halts essential on-the-ground work,” Daines said. “My amendment ensures that Montana forestry projects are entitled to accelerated review and is a necessary step towards protecting our western forests from catastrophic wildfires.”

The “Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024” was introduced by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.). The bill strengthens American energy security by accelerating the permitting process for energy and mineral projects of all types, including forestry and hydropower.

Read the text of Senator Daines’ forestry amendment HERE.

See more of Senator Daines’ forestry work HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T22:32:16Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/31/daines-condemns-olympic-committee-for-mocking-christianity/,Daines Condemns Olympic Committee for Mocking Christianity,2024-07-31,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“The Games should celebrate the athletes, not denigrate anyone’s faith”

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined his colleagues in sending a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) condemning the disrespectful depiction of the Last Supper during the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The letter also called on the IOC to make formal changes in the Olympic Charter to ensure that no religions are the subject of mockery in opening or closing ceremonies again.

“We write in response to the vulgar mockery of the Christian faith on display at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The Games should unite people of every country, race, and creed. There is no place for anti-Christian bigotry at an event designed to bring the world together. The Games should celebrate the athletes, not denigrate anyone’s faith. We urge you to take immediate action by amending Rule 55 of the Olympic Charter to ensure that no faiths are the subject of mockery as part of the opening or closing ceremonies ever again,” the senators wrote in the letter.

Senator Daines joined Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in sending the letter.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T22:32:16Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/31/daines-on-biden-harris-plea-deal-for-9-11-terrorists-reprehensible-abdication-of-responsibility-to-protect-and-defend-the-constitution/,Daines on Biden-Harris Plea Deal for 9-11 Terrorists: “Reprehensible Abdication of Responsibility to Protect and Defend the Constitution”,2024-07-31,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“Kamala Harris and Joe Biden made America weaker today and the American people should be outraged.”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement regarding the Biden-Harris administration’s plea deal with 9-11 terrorists:

“Striking a plea deal with terrorists, including 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed, is a reprehensible abdication of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden’s responsibility to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and it dishonors the memory of every single victim of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. It should go without saying that America should never negotiate with terrorists, including terrorists in American custody. Kamala Harris and Joe Biden made America weaker today and the American people should be outraged.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T22:32:16Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/30/daines-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-young-montanans-privacy-online-passes-u-s-senate/,Daines’ Bipartisan Bill to Protect Young Montanans’ Privacy Online Passes U.S. Senate,2024-07-30,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded passage of a bipartisan package that will safeguard minors using online platforms, provide parental control tools and create disclosure requirements for platforms on the harms potentially faced by users. Daines helped introduce the “Kids Online Safety Act,” and has been working on this issue since he first introduced the bipartisan “Safeguarding American Families from Exposure by Keeping Information and Data Secure (SAFE KIDS) Act” in 2015.

Download a video statement HERE.

“As the father of four and grandfather of six, I’m glad to see the Senate pass my bill to ensure that our children’s privacy and safety is protected as technology and social media platforms rapidly evolve. We must put power back in the hands parents and ensure they and their children have the tools they need to keep safe while online,” Daines said.

The “Kids Online Safety Act” will require onlineplatforms to enable the strongest privacy settings by default, force platforms to prevent and mitigate specific dangers to minors, provide parents and educators new controls to help protect children, and require independent audits and research into social media companies.

Daines first introduced the “SAFE KIDS Act” in 2015, and he spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of the bill in 2018.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/30/daines-if-you-like-san-francisco-politics-youll-love-kamala-harris/,"Daines: “If You Like San Francisco Politics, You’ll Love Kamala Harris”",2024-07-30,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Slams Harris for Her Failures at the Southern Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference slamming Kamala Harris for her failures as Joe Biden’s “Border Czar.”

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

“If you like San Francisco politics, you’ve got to love Kamala Harris. Going back to March 24, 2021, Joe Biden appointed Kamala Harris the ‘Borders Czar.’ In fact, here’s the transcript of what Joe Biden said that day about his newly minted Border Czar Kamala Harris:

“‘I can think of nobody who is better qualified to do this. She is leading the effort. She knows what she is doing.’

“Well, clearly, she did not know what she was doing. And enabled by Senate Democrats, we’ve seen the border go from bad to worse. It’s gone from a crisis to a catastrophe. Now 10 million illegal border crossings and counting. Undocumented immigrants from countries on the State Department’s terror watchlist. Undocumented immigrants on the FBI terror watchlist continues to grow. An illegal who was released into the United States shot a San Antonio police officer with a long rifle this past weekend.

“We should expect nothing less because Kamala Harris has said numerous times, by the way, despite trying to scrub the record, she said, ‘An undocumented immigrant is not a criminal.’ Anybody who doubts that? Take a look at her tweets when she was serving with us in the U.S. Senate. There’s a reason why she was ranked the most liberal U.S. Senator during her time in the Senate. By the way they’re trying to scrub that. That was on GovTrack. They’re trying to get that removed digitally.

“But you know, it gets worse. You remember that famous interview with NBC’s Lester Holt, he pointed out to Biden’s Border Czar Kamala Harris in an interview that she had not been to the border after she claimed she had. Do you remember her response? She was a bit flustered and said, ‘And I haven’t been to Europe.’ So I brought along a little chart here. Washington D.C. to London is about seven hours. To get from here to McAllen, TX, about three hours. I understand she’s headed to Houston. I might suggest a trip down to McAllen, TX, and check out the southern border.

“You know, there’s a big difference though, between Europe and our southern border. Because Joe Biden’s border crisis is Kamala Harris’ failure. And the American people are going to hold this Administration and the Senate Democrats accountable this fall for their failures at the southern border.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/29/bill-would-prohibit-dhs-from-paroling-known-suspected-terrorists-special-interest-aliens/,Daines Leads Colleagues in Introducing the “SAFER at the Border Act”,2024-07-29,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Bill would prohibit DHS from paroling Known/Suspected Terrorists, Special Interest Aliens

U.S. Senator Steve Daines led the introduction of the “Safeguarding Americans From Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act” that would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from paroling migrants who are designated as Known and Suspected Terrorists or Special Interest Aliens. Under President Biden, over 1 million illegal migrants, some of whom have been later arrested for potential ties to terrorist organizations have been paroled into the country.

“Joe Biden and Senate Democrats’ refusal to secure the southern border has resulted in the loss of American lives, and as long as migrants with criminal records and potential terrorist ties are being let into the country, our national security is at risk. This bill will help protect our nation against the very real and serious consequences of Joe Biden’s open southern border,” Daines said.

The “SAFER at the Border Act” would:

Prohibit DHS from paroling any alien who is a refugee or who has been designated a Known and Suspected Terrorist (KST)/Special Interest Alien (SIA) into the United States.

Give States standing in federal court to sue DHS if their failure to adhere to the parole prohibition requirements causes harm to the State or its residents.

An SIA is a non-citizen who, based on an analysis of travel patterns and other available information, potentially poses a national security risk to the United States or its interests.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (Texas), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) joined Daines in introducing the bill.

Statements of Support:

“Border security is national security and our open southern border has significantly increased our Nation’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks. An unprecedented number of terrorists, special interest aliens, and cartel members have exploited the Biden Administration’s failed border strategy and been released into American communities. We must reverse course from these disastrous policies, secure our border, and stop these national security and public safety threats from entering our Nation. The Safeguarding Americans from Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act empowers the Department of Homeland Security to protect American families.” – Chad Wolf, former acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Executive Director of the America First Policy Institute.

“Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we have seen a record number of terror watchlist encounters at our southern border. Some known terror suspects have even been released into American communities. Reportedly, at least one Tajik with ISIS ties made use of the unlawful Biden-Harris CBP One app and mass-parole program. Industrial scale abuse of emergency parole authority without the consent of Congress is bad enough, but using it to bring bad actors into the homeland is inexcusable, preventable, and terrifying. We cannot afford to wait until some horrific attack happens on U.S. soil. Heritage Action supports this legislation and applauds Sen. Daines for working to protect Americans from the Biden-Harris border crisis.” – Ryan Walker, Executive Vice President, Heritage Action

“The public is right to be outraged by the Biden Administration’s release of millions of illegal aliens into the interior of the United States, which includes the systematic abuse of parole authority to grant many of those illegal aliens work authorization. What is even more stunning, however, is the fact that this Administration has allowed special interest aliens (SIAs) and known and suspected terrorist aliens (KSTs) to enter and benefit from that abuse. This has to stop before it is too late. The Immigration Accountability Project applauds Senator Daines for his effort to help bring sanity and security back to the immigration system.” – Grant Newman, Director of Government Relations, Immigration Accountability Project

“As a result of the Biden Administration’s catch-and-release policies and abuse of parole, dangerous aliens are more likely than ever before to slip through the cracks. Suspected terrorists are being encountered at our borders in record numbers, special interest aliens are flooding into the country, and this administration is asleep at the wheel, putting the interests of illegal aliens over protecting our national security. Limiting the DHS Secretary from paroling aliens designated as terrorists, suspected terrorists, or special interest aliens is a commonsense step, and so too is ensuring that state officials have the right to hold the federal government accountable for failing to detain and remove illegal aliens. FAIR applauds Senator Daines for putting forward this crucial bill to help end the Biden Administration’s abuse of our immigration laws and ensure the safety of American citizens.” – Joe Chatham, Director of Government Relations, FAIR

The bill is endorsed by the Immigration Accountability Project (IAP), the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Heritage Action, and NumbersUSA.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/29/daines-statement-on-hezbollahs-attack-on-israel/,Daines Statement on Hezbollah’s Attack on Israel,2024-07-29,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“I condemn Hezbollah’s latest attack on Israel over the weekend and urge President Biden and Vice President Harris to do the same”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today regarding Hezbollah’s attack on Israel this weekend:

“I condemn Hezbollah’s latest attack on Israel over the weekend and urge President Biden and Vice President Harris to do the same. Since October 8, Hezbollah has fired more than 6,000 rockets and missiles at Israel. Make no mistake: Hezbollah, like Hamas, is an Iranian proxy whose goal is total destruction of America’s biggest ally in the Middle East.

“Now is the time for moral clarity, not criticizing Israel’s prosecution of its self-defense in Gaza or calling for a two-state solution as Vice President Harris did last week. The best way the United States can help Israel and prevent wider war in the Middle East is to send Israel the aid it needs immediately, enforce oil sanctions on Iran and rally our allies to Israel’s side.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/26/daines-calls-on-bureau-of-indian-affairs-to-address-concerns-with-montana-detention-facilities/,Daines Calls on Bureau of Indian Affairs to Address Concerns with Montana Detention Facilities,2024-07-26,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) expressing concern about reports that Montana’s BIA detention facilities are turning away detainees and requesting information about the facilities’ contract status and operating bed space. The letter also draws attention to the BIA’s current practice of sending tribal members from Montana to out-of-state detention facilities.

“Recently, leadership from the Fort Belknap Indian Community indicated that the BIA has only been accepting individuals into custody who commit ‘serious offenses.’ This poses a significant public safety risk as those who arrested for offenses not deemed as ‘serious’ are released back into the community or kept into protective custody until they no longer pose a threat to the public or law enforcement officers.

…I am also concerned with the BIA’s current practice of contracting with out-of-state detention facilities to house tribal members from Montana. I have received reports of detainees from Montana being transported to a facility in Oklahoma, a distance of over one thousand miles, due to facility constraints across multiple reservations in Montana,” Daines wrote.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/26/daines-calls-out-army-for-labeling-pro-life-orgs-terrorist-groups-2/,Daines Calls out Army for Labeling Pro-Life Orgs “Terrorist Groups”,2024-07-26,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a group of Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth demanding answers after an Army anti-terrorism training depicted pro-life Americans as terrorists.

“The American public expects the Department of Defense and its personnel to defend the homeland from actual terrorists, not Americans who seek protections for children in the womb. Labeling pro-life organizations as threats challenges servicemembers’ moral obligation to defend and protect even the smallest among us,” wrote the Senators. “In fact, around half of all Americans identify as pro-life. It is no wonder that the Army is struggling to recruit young men and women to join its ranks when it appears the service attacks their values and promotes a woke agenda rather than improving readiness and lethality.”

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

Supporting organizations include:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/25/daines-lankford-crapo-call-to-slash-funding-to-global-tax-body-supporting-anti-growth-tax-mandates/,"Daines, Lankford, Crapo Call to Slash Funding to Global Tax Body Supporting Anti-Growth Tax Mandates",2024-07-25,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Send Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Urging Suspension of Certain Contributions to OECD

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led Senate Finance Committee Republicans Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to send a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill prohibit any Part II funding or voluntary contributions to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). The OECD leads the anti-American global tax negotiations that will hinder American competitiveness, send U.S. taxpayer dollars to European bureaucrats, and cause American job losses, yet the U.S. unfairly pays the largest contributions.

The senators wrote in their letter, “To the extent the OECD believes its mission should include creating anti-growth tax mandates and appointing itself the global arbiter of determining worthy tax incentives—in a manner that uniquely discriminates against U.S. interests—we question why the U.S. should continue to reflexively fund special tax projects through that organization

…Per the OECD’s budget, Part II programs are funded according to the scale of contributions and are not funded by all member countries. It is our understanding that the U.S. contributions unequally drive the scale of funding. Because the OECD utilizes U.S. funding which has resulted in policies adverse to American workers and businesses, we request you include language in the FY25 State Department and Foreign Operations appropriations bill suspending any Part II funding or voluntary contributions provided to the OECD.”

Read the full letter here.

Senators Tillis (R-N.C.), Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Thune (R-S.D.), Grassley (R- Iowa), Young (R- Ind.), and Cornyn (R- Texas) joined Senators Daines, Lankford, and Crapo in sending the letter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-introduces-veteran-prescription-safety-improvement-act,Congressman Zinke introduces the Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act,2024-07-25,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced the Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act, alongside House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06).

“For far too long Washington DC has treated veterans like victims at best, and addicts at worst. Rather than continue the stigmatization of veterans, the VA should be monitoring providers, prescribers, and pharmacies to ensure their practices are not causing adverse health outcomes,” said Congressman Zinke. “This bill closes some technical loopholes and puts community care providers and contractors on the same playing field as VA-employed providers for scrutiny. I’m grateful to have the Chairman’s support in strengthening this aspect of the MISSION Act.”

“Prescription Drug Monitoring Program’s play a vitally important role in tracking controlled substance prescriptions to prevent drug abuse, overdoses, and misuse. However, current legal barriers limit the partnership between VA providers and states, and in return, prevent VA providers from accessing the data they need to track prescriptions for opioids and other medications. This hinders the ability to improve patient care, make safe medication recommendations for veterans, and ultimately save veteran lives,” said Chairman Bost. “I want to thank my colleague and fellow veteran, Rep. Zinke, for leading the Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act, to improve VA’s coordination with state PDMP agencies to keep veteran patients safe and healthy. It goes without saying that every veteran and their family should have the peace of mind in knowing that the medication recommendations they are receiving are safe, informed, and aimed at preventing prescription drug abuse and overdose.”

“The Tomah VA facility in the Third District of Wisconsin is no stranger to veterans struggling with prescription drug misuse,” said Congressman Van Orden. This is an issue that has been brushed under the rug for far too long and that stops now. I am proud to join my colleague Rep. Zinke in introducing this thoughtful legislation.”

The Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act would make several adjustments to the management of prescription data. It would expand the authority VA providers have to access states’ Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) not only when issuing prescriptions but also whenever it is clinically necessary, which would improve diagnosis and treatment.

This bill would also amend the definition of ‘covered patients’ by eliminating the exemption for those in hospice or palliative care, ensuring they are not excluded from PDMP checks. Furthermore, it would clarify that ‘licensed healthcare providers’ include both VA employees and contractors, thereby ensuring that all have the authority and protection to perform PDMP queries. Additionally, it would allow VA to disclose patient information to PDMPs as needed, supporting comprehensive use of PDMP data to enhance patient care.

Lastly, this bill would require the VA Undersecretary for Health to issue formal guidance to all licensed healthcare providers and pharmacy staff on best practices for conducting state PDMP queries and it would require an annual training on these best practices, ensuring consistent and informed use of PDMPs to enhance patient safety and care coordination.

Organizational support: American Legion, America’s Warrior Partnership, Wounded Warrior Project

Read more about the bill HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/24/daines-on-netanyahu-speech-inspiring-powerful-and-provided-moral-clarity-the-world-needed-to-hear/,"Daines on Netanyahu Speech: “Inspiring, Powerful and Provided Moral Clarity the World Needed to Hear”",2024-07-24,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress today:

“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech was inspiring, powerful and provided moral clarity the world needed to hear. The choice is clear: America and its allies must stand with Israel against the brutal Iranian regime and its terror proxies, including Hamas. Those who choose not to do so embolden Iran, the common enemy of the United States, Israel and freedom-loving countries around the world.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-secures-montana-priorities-fy25-interior-appropriations-bill,Zinke Secures Montana Priorities in FY25 Interior Appropriations Bill,2024-07-24,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Western Congressman Ryan Zinke voted in favor of H.R. 8998 - the House Department of Interior Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act . The bill passed the House by a vote of 210-205, this is the fifth appropriations bill to pass the House floor for fiscal year 2025. Zinke is a member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittee and took a leading role in crafting the funding bill.

“I told Montanans that I would use the power of the purse to get rid of bad policy and fund investments in public lands and that’s exactly what this bill does,” Congressman Ryan Zinke said. “It claws back regulations that are making gas, heating and electricity more expensive, gives local stakeholders a voice in federal land management, and finally delists the grizzly bear.”

“As a former Secretary of the Interior and a lifelong Montanan, I have a unique perspective on the Department of the Interior. I am confident that this bill allows the department to do their job but removes the woke policies placed by the Biden-Harris administration. This is a huge win for Montanans.”

Some Montana priorities in the bill include:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-natural-resources-subcommittee-advances-zinkes-indian-water-compact,House Natural Resources Subcommittee advances Zinke’s Indian water compact bills for consideration by whole committee,2024-07-23,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing on various water rights bills including Congressman Zinke’s bills H.R. 8791 “Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024” and H.R. 8953 “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2024”.

The Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024 will achieve a fair and final settlement of claims to water rights in the State of Montana for the Fort Belknap Indian Community. Senator Daines and Senator Tester have sponsored a similar bill in the Senate.

Among other things, the bill includes:

$300 million to rehabilitate the St. Mary Canal and Dodson South Canal, part of the federal Milk River Project, for non-tribal water users in northcentral Montana

$250 million for an upstream wastewater treatment facility on the Blackfeet Reservation

$416 million to rehabilitate, modernize, and expand the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project and to restore and develop irrigation systems.

The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2024 makes cost-free adjustments to the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to make sure the Tribe has the needed flexibility to complete critical energy development projects.

Among other things, the bill includes:

Providing flexibility for water projects

Bolstering energy development

No additional costs or changes to water rights

“President Stiffarm and the entire team with the FBIC has worked closely with my staff and I for over a year to make this legislation possible which meets long-overdue treaty obligations and delivers clean and reliable water to the great nation,” said Congressman Zinke. ""The settlement honors long time commitments to the tribes while also meeting the needs of Montana’s ag producers, private property owners, and other stakeholders along the hi-line. I am also grateful for the Crow Tribe for working with me and my staff as well to amend their excising Water Rights Settlement to provide much needed energy development.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/22/daines-applauds-house-passage-of-bill-to-name-butte-va-clinic-in-honor-of-charlie-dowd-montanas-last-pearl-harbor-survivor-2/,"Daines Applauds House Passage of Bill to Name Butte VA Clinic in Honor of Charlie Dowd, Montana’s Last Pearl Harbor Survivor",2024-07-22,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill to rename the VA Outpatient Clinic in Butte, MT in honor of Charlie Dowd, Montana’s last Pearl Harbor survivor, who passed away in March 2023. The bill will now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Charlie Dowd was a Montana hero who fought with outstanding bravery in World War II and dedicated his life to advocating for veterans,” said Daines. “I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing S. 2385, which will continue Charlie Dowd’s legacy as a patriot and defender of freedom by renaming the VA facility in his honor.”

Daines originally introduced the bill to rename the clinic after Charlie Dowd in November 2023.

Congressman Zinke introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives in February.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/22/daines-applauds-house-passage-of-bill-to-name-butte-va-clinic-in-honor-of-charlie-dowd-montanas-last-pearl-harbor-survivor/,"Daines Applauds House Passage of Bill to Name Butte VA Clinic in Honor of Charlie Dowd, Montana’s Last Pearl Harbor Survivor",2024-07-22,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill to rename the VA Outpatient Clinic in Butte, MT in honor of Charlie Dowd, Montana’s last Pearl Harbor survivor, who passed away in March 2023. The bill will now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Charlie Dowd was a Montana hero who fought with outstanding bravery in World War II and dedicated his life to advocating for veterans,” said Daines. “I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing S. 2385, which will continue Charlie Dowd’s legacy as a patriot and defender of freedom by renaming the VA facility in his honor.”

Daines originally introduced the bill to rename the clinic after Charlie Dowd in November 2023.

Congressman Zinke introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives in February.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/22/daines-urges-postal-service-to-reconsider-decision-to-cease-expedited-air-service-in-montana/,Daines Urges Postal Service to Reconsider Decision to Cease Expedited Air Service in Montana,2024-07-22,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy today asking him to reconsider the Postal Service’s decision to cease expedited air distribution service in Montana.

“Hundreds of thousands of customers across Montana rely on air distribution services for the timely mail delivery across vast distances…

“The USPS has a long-standing record of air distribution in Montana to deliver important parcels to rural customers across the country. Montanans who may live hundreds of miles from the nearest urban center rely on these services to receive their prescription medicines, pension payments, disability benefits, important bills and logistical support to help run their small businesses….

“I urge you to reconsider this decision and look forward to working together to find solutions to maintain consistent delivery and a robust Postal Service.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/bill-honor-montana-world-war-ii-hero-charlie-dowd-heads-presidents-desk,Bill to Honor Montana World War II Hero Charlie Dowd Heads to President's Desk for Signature,2024-07-22,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today the US House of Representatives passed Congressman Ryan Zinke's bill to rename the Butte Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic after Montana Pearl Harbor hero, U.S. Navy Radioman Charlie Dowd. The companion legislation sponsored by Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines passed the Senate in May, which means it is headed to President Biden's desk for signature. The bill passed under suspension, with unanimous consent of the House.

The community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veteran Affairs in Butte, Montana will soon be known as the ""Charlie Dowd Department of Veteran Affairs Clinic”.

Charlie Dowd enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1941 and served as a radioman at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the infamous attack on December 7, 1941, damaging 21 ships and claiming the lives of 2,400 Americans. Charlie, in a t-shirt and trousers sprinted from the barracks to the armory, where he climbed to the roof to fire at the Japanese enemy aircraft, namely low-flying torpedo bombers. Through his act of bravery and continued service in the Navy in both the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, he garnered the nickname of “Devil Dog Dowd”, by his shipmates for his unwavering willingness to volunteer for the most dangerous mission assignments.

After Charlie received an honorable discharge from the Navy along with seven Bronze Star Medals, he became a respected member of the Anaconda, Montana community. He was known for his advocacy for his fellow veterans, was dedicated to preserving the memory of the events of World War II and was an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and loved speaking for civic groups and museums across Montana. Additionally, Charlie had an active role in the community as both a sportsman and Outdoor Writer for the Anaconda Leader newspaper.

“Radioman Dowd is a true example of a man who loved his community and his country and lived every day to serve both. Listening to Dowd recount his experiences from Pearl Harbor and the South Pacific and watching him tap on the table to the Morse Code he sent as a radioman will always be one of my most meaningful visits and lasting memories,” Congressman Ryan Zinke said. “Renaming the clinic after this American and community Hero will serve as a reminder of the life of service and commitment to patriotism Charlie Dowd lived that we can all look up to. I urge President Biden to sign this bill into law immediately.”

“Charlie Dowd was a Montana hero who fought with outstanding bravery in World War II and dedicated his life to advocating for veterans,” said Senator Steve Daines. “I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing S. 2385, which will continue Charlie Dowd’s legacy as a patriot and defender of freedom by renaming the VA facility in his honor.”

“Charlie Dowd’s extraordinary courage at Pearl Harbor and exemplary service is what makes America the greatest country on earth,”said Senator Tester, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Charlie was one of Montana’s very best, and naming the new Butte VA Clinic in his honor ensures his legacy and that of the entire Greatest Generation is never forgotten. It’s a fitting honor for a clinic that serves thousands of Butte-Silver Bow veterans, and I urge the President to sign our bill into law without delay.”

Renaming the Butte VA clinic will ensure that Charlie Dowd's legacy of bravery and lifelong commitment to his country, fellow veterans, and community lives on forever.

After Dowd’s passing in March 2023, Zinke honored Dowd in the Congressional Record. Read the issue here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/21/daines-calls-for-president-biden-to-resign/,Daines Calls for President Biden to Resign,2024-07-21,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“If Joe Biden is No Longer Capable of Running for Re-election, He is No Longer Capable of Serving as President”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement calling for President Biden to resign:

“As a country, we all watched the debate and it was immediately clear there is something wrong with President Biden. Since then, several prominent Democrats have come forward with stories that suggest Joe Biden has a condition that is getting worse, not better.

“If Joe Biden is no longer capable of running for re-election, he is no longer capable of serving as President. Being President is the hardest job in the world, and I no longer have confidence that Joe Biden can effectively execute his duties as Commander-in-Chief.

“It is out of concern for our country’s national security that I am formally calling on President Biden to resign from office.

“It has also been striking that none of the Senate Democrats who served with Vice President Harris have called for her to replace President Biden. This leads me to believe they think she is unqualified to serve as Commander-in-Chief.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/17/senator-daines-signs-bipartisan-letter-to-protect-montanas-potato-crops/,Senator Daines Signs Bipartisan Letter to Protect Montana’s Potato Crops,2024-07-17,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a bipartisan group of senators urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase efforts in protecting crops from the potato wart disease.

“If potato wart should enter the United States, our farmers and the communities they support will be economically devastated,” the senators wrote in a letter. “Given that twenty percent of our potato crop—valued at over $2 billion—is exported, we cannot allow introduction of a disease that would shut off access to international markets, and also curtail domestic production and sales.”

Potato wart is a highly destructive disease that reduces crop yields and makes potatoes unmarketable. There is currently no treatment available to remove it from contaminated farmland. Senator Daines urged the USDA to take the following actions to protect crops from the potato wart:

Restrict bulk shipments into the United States to smaller-size packages

Limit large retail shipments and ensure consumers know they are for consumption rather than cultivation

Control the waste generated by processing facilities

Senator Daines joined Senators Crapo (R-Idaho), Wyden (D- Ore.), Boozman (R-Ark.), Collins (R-Mich.), Cramer (R-N.D.), Hoeven (R- N.D.),Ricketts (R-Neb.), Risch (R-Idaho), Bennett (D-Colo.), Cantwell (D-Wash.), Fetterman (D-Pa.), Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), King (I-Maine), Merkley (D-Ore.), Murray (D-Wash.), Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Tester (D-Mont) in signing the letter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:32:29Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/14/daines-statement-on-assassination-attempt-on-president-trump/,Daines Statement on Assassination Attempt on President Trump,2024-07-14,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today regarding the assassination attempt on President Trump:

“Cindy and I join with millions of Americans in relief that President Trump is still alive after an assassin attempted to take his life. We also mourn with the families of the fallen at yesterday’s rally.

“No one, from our political candidates to innocent Americans, should feel unsafe at our political rallies.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/10/daines-announces-bipartisan-central-asia-caucus/,Daines Announces Bipartisan Central Asia Caucus,2024-07-10,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) today announced the formation of the Senate Central Asia Caucus. The Caucus will focus on strengthening the United States’ relationship with allies in Central Asia, increasing trade and investment and supporting regional stability and security as Central Asia becomes increasingly vulnerable to the influence of Russia, China and Iran.

“Now more than ever it’s critical we strengthen our relationship with dependable allies in Central Asia. After spending extensive time in the region meeting with leaders and as our adversaries grow emboldened, Senator Peters and I look forward to working together to improve trade relations, boost agricultural developments, address human trafficking and migration concerns and increase national security partnerships,” Daines said.

Daines announced the formation of the Caucus at Uzbekistan Day on Capitol Hill today. Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) is joining Daines in launching the Caucus.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/10/daines-introduces-bill-to-support-montana-service-workers-eliminate-federal-tax-on-tips/,"Daines Introduces Bill to Support Montana Service Workers, Eliminate Federal Tax on Tips",2024-07-10,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill with Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to exempt tips from federal income taxation, the “No Tax on Tips Act.”

“Joe Biden’s sky-high inflation has hit hardworking Americans especially hard. Providing a much-needed tax cut for working families will help offset Biden’s high prices and get people back in the workforce,”said Daines.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

Daines recently joined Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria to discuss the bill, watch HERE.

Background:

The bill exempts “cash tips” – cash, credit and debit card charges, and checks – from federal income tax by allowing taxpayers to claim a 100 hundred percent above-the-line deduction at filing for tipped wages.

Statements of Support:

“Tipped employees are a critical part of the restaurant industry, and anything that strengthens their economic condition is a positive for them. The ‘No Tax on Tips Act’ would provide immediate tax relief for more than 2.2 million restaurant employees and their families, putting more money in their pockets at a time when we’re all feeling the squeeze of higher prices. We thank Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Steve Daines for their leadership, and look forward to working with them on this and other common-sense tax proposals that will support restaurant vitality in every community in America.” – Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, National Restaurant Association",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/10/daines-pushes-for-delisting-of-grizzly-bear-population-five-months-past-review-deadline/,Daines Pushes for Delisting of Grizzly Bear Population Five Months Past Review Deadline,2024-07-10,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"DOI Assistant Secretary Thanks MT for Stewardship of Grizzlies, States the Grizzly Bear “Has Recovered”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing pushed for the delisting of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems and called out the delay in the delisting review, despite the two grizzly populations being well over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recovery targets. Current Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks and President Biden’s nominee for Department of the Interior (DOI) Deputy Secretary, Shannon Estenoz, agreed that the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem bears have recovered.

Watch Daines’ Remarks HERE.

Daines: So last February, of course, the FWS initiated, not a 17-month status review, it’s called a 12-month status review for a reason. If they were to initiate a 17-month status review, we’d be expecting the result here this month, but it’s a 12-month status. The data is very compelling in terms of where the recovery target is, where the actual populations are… My question is: Would you help us and focus on getting this 12-month review done that should have been completed in February?

Estenoz: Senator, so, thank you, and it’s good to talk grizzlies with you again. First of all, let me acknowledge that I agree with you 100 percent. Not that my agreement matters because the facts are what they are. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population is recovered. The numbers from 2022, 965. Not only that, as I said earlier, the Northern Continental Divide population is also recovered at more than 1,100 bears. And we do have this petition in front of us that’s asking us to delist the GYE as a distinct population segment. It’s that definition that, you know, we’re working through…We’ve tried to do that before. We’ve tried to do that twice before and the courts have rejected it. So we’re working through that, we’re working through our delisting criteria. And in the meantime, I want to say, because I didn’t say it earlier when we were chatting about grizzlies, I just– I need to say for the record how grateful we are to both Montana and Wyoming for the stewardship of grizzly bears. And grizzly bears are doing well in those states because the states are taking good care of grizzly bears. And we know that. And then I also want to say for the record that we want grizzlies to be recovered and delisted. I want to say that without reservation. We want that. I want that for all of our listed species, right? A delisting is a celebration. But as I mentioned, in the ESA, the path that you use to get there also matters. It’s not just the listing decision, it’s the path you take that’s often what courts will attack. So we want to make sure we’ve got the path right.

Daines: Yeah, thank you, and agree. But there’s no reason we can’t get this 12-month study wrapped up. We’re at 17 months… you all the Interior can decide to slow roll this thing to the election, if you’d like. I think that’s a big mistake. I think it violates the integrity of this process if we don’t just commit to the 12-month review. It should have been done in February, it’s now the middle of July.

Estenoz: Yeah, Senator, I can assure you that this process is running based on what the needs of the process are. And I agree with you, you know, driving toward, you know, a decision as soon as possible.

Daines: When’s it going to be done?

Estenoz: Well… I don’t have a date for you but as I mentioned to you when we met a couple of weeks ago, this issue…it’s in the top five for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s leadership, I can tell you. Martha’s been out to Montana and Wyoming now a couple of times in the last month. So, this is a top priority and I want to stay in touch with you also in the days and weeks ahead.

Daines: I’m just a little skeptical that we’re going to see this get done before the election. I just think we need to get it done just for the sake of the bears, for the sake of the process. I hope we can dissolve the politics; we might be able to, and stay focused on the science and get this done. I realize you want to get a solid review done so it protects ourselves when we get litigated in court, but…If we gave you two years, I’m afraid you’d come back here and say we’re at 36 months and still thinking about it.

Estenoz: I appreciate that. I appreciate that Senator, you’re right and we have, you know, it’s a little bit further complicated because we have three petitions before us that are all related, you know, and so I appreciate it and as always, I will stay in contact with your office in the days and weeks to come.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinkes-proposal-fix-affordable-housing-program-advances-house,Zinke’s proposal to fix affordable housing program advances in the House,2024-07-10,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Appropriations Committee passed the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025 out of Full Committee Markup. The bill includes more than $20 million in funding for Western Montana infrastructure projects and legislative language to fix a loophole in rental housing assistance grants that has cost Montanans millions. The next step for the bill is a vote on the House floor which is scheduled for the last week of July.

Housing Crisis

To address rental housing assistance for low income residents, the bill includes a Zinke proposed pilot program to address rapidly inflating rental costs in rural communities. Specifically, this program appropriates $7,000,000 within HUD’s Community Development “Pro-Housing” account to create a program for “research on rapidly increasing rents in lower-population density, non-coastal states, and proposing promising solutions.”

The problem this aims to solve: Rental assistance funding is set on a statewide formula; however, Western Montana is currently experiencing inflated rental rates in rural, low-income communities. This is due to several factors including summer tourism season putting additional burdens on already tight rental markets for additional staff housing and seasonal residents, the lack of infrastructure to support additional housing (like water systems that Zinke is requesting funding for in this bill), and the high costs for new construction.

As seasonal rates spike, the ability for Montana Housing Authorities (MHA) to assist renters diminishes, so they are forced to bank funding in non-peak months. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), however rescinds the funds not used in off-peak times, and leaves Montana at risk. This year alone, more than $3 million has been pulled back from Montana accounts and Congressman Zinke prevented another $2.5 million in recissions. In response to this, Zinke’s office worked with MHA and HUD officials to create a pilot program that would give more flexibility to states that have rural areas experiencing a rental shortage and sky high rents compared to the rest of the state.

“The housing crisis is real, and Montanans who are already struggling with paying for basic needs can’t keep up,” Congressman Zinke said. “Montana Housing Authority contacted me about their funds being swept due to bureaucratic missteps and the lack of flexibility in the program that made it unworkable for rural America. We were able to preserve the funding and now, working together, we were able to advance this pilot program to give rural Montana more flexibility in administering the program. Families are struggling with rising costs for gas, groceries, and specifically rent. This won’t solve all the problems, but hopefully it alleviates a piece of it.”

Community Project Funding

Also included in the bill are eight of Rep. Zinke’s Community Project Funding requests to bring more than $20 million in funding directly to Montana communities.

Rep. Zinke’s requests will now come before the House Floor for a vote and then hopefully included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate, then signed by the President.

Community Project Funding Requests:

$10,000,000 for Seeley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant

$5,000,000 for Ravalli County Wastewater Treatment Plant

$820,318 for Rural Airport Reconstruction and Emergency Services Expansion

$977,500 for Repaving Marten Creek Road

$1,000,000 for Flathead County North Fork Road Guardrails

$1,000,000 for Groff Lane Bridge Replacement

$1,000,000 for Old Corvallis Road Repair

$700,000 for Troy Library and Opportunity Center

A summary of the bill is available here.

Bill text is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/09/daines-and-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-tribal-communities-travel-across-the-u-s-canada-border/,Daines and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Tribal Communities’ Travel Across the U.S.-Canada Border,2024-07-09,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced his bipartisan “Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act,” which would eliminate the 50 percent blood quantum requirement for members of federally recognized tribes when exercising their treaty-protected right to cross between the U.S. and Canada freely.

“For too long tribal members crossing Montana’s northern border have been subject to the discriminatory 50 percent blood quantum requirement that burdens Montanans and opens them up to unjust harassment. It’s time we end this outdated policy and honor Tribal sovereignty,” said Daines.

Background:

For over 70 years, federally-recognized tribes near the Canada border have been required to carry proof, obtained through the Department of the Interior (DOI), that they are at least 50 percent Native American when exercising their right to freely cross between the U.S. and Canada. The bipartisan legislation would eliminate the outdated 50 percent blood quantum requirement and allow tribal members to solely show their tribal ID to cross the U.S.-Canada border, ending the lengthy process of gathering information to secure a DOI blood quantum certificate and eliminating confusion for Customs and Border Protection and Canadian border authorities.

This legislative effort addresses issues stemming from the Jay Treaty of 1794, which was pivotal in preventing a second war with Great Britain, establishing trade policies, and setting the U.S.-Canada border inadvertently dividing Tribal lands. The treaty originally allowed Native Americans to travel freely across the border. However, the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act amendment imposed a blood quantum requirement for this right, complicating cross-border travel for many Tribal members.

The bill is supported by the St. Regis-Mohawk Tribe of New York, the Jay Treaty Border Alliance, the National Congress of American Indians, and the National Council of Urban Indian Health.

Letters of Support:

Blackfeet Nation

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/09/daines-joe-biden-kamala-harris-and-senate-democrats-have-failed-america/,"Daines: “Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Senate Democrats Have Failed America”",2024-07-09,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference slamming President Biden and Senate Democrats for rampant inflation, an open southern border that welcomes known terrorists and criminals onto American soil and for projecting weakness on the world stage and emboldening our enemies abroad.

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

“Joe Biden Kamala Harris and Senate Democrats have failed America. Don’t ask us, ask the American people.

“Remember when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office inflation was under control, the economy was strong thanks to Trump tax cuts and there were fewer government regulations.

“Since Biden took over, the Senate Democrats were able to control this chamber. “They’ve passed nearly $3 trillion in spending. They’ve also given us the highest inflation in 40 years. Now Montanans tell me they can’t afford the basics— food, gas housing.

“The border was secure when Biden and Harris took office, but they reversed Trump policies. And now we see terrorists, we see criminals, we see murderers coming across the border, and literally murdering young women in our country.

“Now remember, Vice President Harris was appointed the ‘border czar.’ Whatever happened to that? Where has she been? 10 million illegal crossings later, there’s been nothing done to end this crisis, only have made matters worse.

“On foreign policy, instead of projecting strength, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have projected weakness, a very dangerous moment in our nation’s history. Enemies are emboldened. Our allies don’t think we’ll back them up. And Senate Democrats did nothing to stop these dangerous and disastrous policies from the Biden-Harris administration.

“By the way, the Democrats don’t have a personnel problem on the ticket. They have a policy problem. The policies of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and the Senate Democrats have failed our country. And I’m confident the American people will right this ship in less than four months.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/09/daines-montanans-not-fooled-by-bidens-lies-on-sky-high-inflation/,Daines: Montanans “Not Fooled” by Biden’s Lies on Sky-High Inflation,2024-07-09,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Presses Fed Reserve Chair on Plans to Ease High Prices

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Banking hearing highlighted President Joe Biden’s failed economic policies that led to 40-year-high prices and pressed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on plans to cut interest rates.

Watch Daines’ opening remarks HERE.

“When President Biden took office inflation was at 1.4 percent. His failed policies drove us to the highest inflation we’ve seen in 40-years. I can tell you that the folks back home in Montana aren’t fooled because in every part of their lives inflation is not some type of hypothetical. They see the everyday impacts of the decades high inflation brought on by the policies of the Biden Administration facilitated by congressional Democrats. The costs of most goods and services across the economy are more expensive than they were in 2020, and that is a fact that no amount of political spin or mental gymnastics can make go away. Here are just a couple examples. Breakfast cereal, prices have increased 28 percent since January 2020. Gas prices increased 36 percent from a national average of $2.63 per gallon to $3.58 per gallon. Egg prices, egg prices have jumped to $3 per dozen in 2024, double the cost of $1.45 in February 2020.”

Daines then asked Chair Powell to commit that any decision to cut rates before the November election would be based on economic factors, not political pressure. Watch HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/09/daines-statement-on-the-passing-of-senator-jim-inhofe-of-oklahoma/,Daines Statement on the Passing of Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma,2024-07-09,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after the news of Senator Jim Inhofe’s passing.

“I’m saddened to hear of the passing of my colleague, and friend, Senator Jim Inhofe. Jim dedicated his life to service, first in the U.S. Army, then as an elected leader in local and state offices in Oklahoma and finally in the United States Senate. A staunch supporter of our U.S. service members and a strong advocate for all Oklahomans, Senator Inhofe will always be remembered as a committed public servant and a man of faith. My thoughts are with his wife Kay and the rest of the Inhofe family.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/08/daines-urges-va-to-correct-policies-affecting-veteran-access-to-care/,Daines Urges VA to Correct Policies Affecting Veteran Access to Care,2024-07-08,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a group of Republican senators in urging Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to quickly correct policy initiatives that are making it harder for veterans to receive care.

“Congress has never failed to provide VA with the resources required to fulfill its mission,” wrote the Senators. “If you believe that VA lacks the funding to provide the level of access to care that veterans deserve in VA and in the community, it is incumbent on you to reprioritize resources from non-patient care areas and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, not to unilaterally implement purported cost-savings measures that, even as an unintended consequence, decrease veteran choice and endanger veteran lives.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/02/daines-announces-landmark-funding-for-montana-headwaters-hub/,Daines Announces Landmark Funding for Montana Headwaters Hub,2024-07-02,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Daines’ “Endless Frontier Act” Helps Montana Secure more than $40 Million, Further Strengthening Montana’s Leadership in the Tech Sector

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that following passage of his bipartisan “Endless Frontier Act,” Montana secured $41 million in funding for the Montana Headwaters Hub, which is led by Accelerate Montana. The “Endless Frontier Act” is helping Montana lead the nation in tech innovation and playing a vital role in helping the United States advance innovation, research and development in the race against China.

“Montana is leading the country in tech innovation, which will help us win the race against China, create good-paying jobs here at home and further boost our economy,” said Daines. “From optics and photonics to quantum computing, I am grateful to help advance Montana’s ability to contribute even further to the important research, development, and jobs that will help strengthen our national security and help the country stay competitive globally.”

Following Daines’ work, Montana was selected out of 198 applicants to receive one of 31 new Tech Hub designations. The Headwaters Regional Technology and Innovation Hub will leverage existing companies and infrastructure in Missoula, Bozeman, and surrounding areas to develop and deploy smart photonic sensing systems and autonomous systems to address critical defense, resource management, and disaster prevention needs. Montana is already home of a leading photonics companies and this designation will further spur economic development and leading edge technologies.

Daines worked hard to ensure this bill would help Montana and programs like the MonArk Quantum Foundry at Montana State University. To learn more about how this bill will help Montana, listen to Dean of College of Letters and Science and Director of the MonArk Quantum Foundry Dr. Yves Idzerda, MonArk Quantum Foundry Associate Director and Associate Professor Nick Borys and Montana Instruments founder Luke Mauritsen below.

Watch HERE and download TV elements HERE.

Senator Daines led efforts for Montana’s Tech Hub designation and sent a letter to EDA encouraging them to pick Montana.

Daines’ “Endless Frontier Act” was signed into law as part of the “Chips and Science Act.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/07/02/daines-celebrates-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to-resolve-indian-water-rights-settlement-in-the-u-s-senate/,Daines Celebrates Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Resolve Indian Water Rights Settlement in the U.S. Senate,2024-07-02,2024,2024-07,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill to resolve the final Indian water rights settlement in Montana passed the U.S. Senate, achieving a fair settlement for Fort Belknap farmers, ranchers and Montanans on the Hi-Line and throughout the entire state.

“This is a huge win for the Tribe, farmers and ranchers and the entire state of Montana, said Daines. “As the final Indian water rights settlement in Montana, this bill will help provide clean drinking water to Montanans on the Hi-Line, invest in critical ag irrigation and help prevent costly litigation by codifying existing water rights. Especially after the catastrophic siphon failure at St. Mary’s this week, we must get this done. After years of hard work with the Fort Belknap Indian Community and local leaders on the ground, I’m glad to see this come one step closer to becoming law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/28/daines-montana-congressional-delegation-call-on-the-department-of-the-interior-and-bureau-of-reclamation-to-provide-funding-for-st-mary-catastrophe/,"Daines, Montana Congressional Delegation, Call on the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation to Provide Funding for St. Mary catastrophe",2024-06-28,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines, together with the Montana congressional delegation, sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation Camille Touton, calling for the authorization of federal funds to replace the St. Mary siphons that failed on June 17, 2024.

The letter reads in part:

“For over 100 years, the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works has augmented the Milk River Basin water supply. Originally built by the Bureau of Reclamation to provide irrigation water, this system has evolved into a multi-use project that supports municipalities, recreation, and wildlife habitats. The St. Mary Canal provides over 60% of the water supply for the Milk River Project in an average year and more than 80% during dry years. This water supports over 120,000 acres of farmland, which is crucial for the region’s agricultural productivity. Additionally, the canal supplies water to approximately 18,000 municipal users.

Without immediate remediation and replacement of the siphons, the region faces severe economic and environmental impacts. These include significant agricultural losses, negatively affecting farm incomes and employment in agriculture-related industries. The local economy, heavily dependent on a stable water supply, will suffer, impacting businesses and overall economic stability.”

Read the full letter HERE

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/28/daines-on-supreme-court-decision-overturning-chevron-victory-for-freedom-in-montana-and-around-the-country/,Daines on Supreme Court Decision Overturning Chevron: “Victory for Freedom in Montana and Around the Country”,2024-06-28,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement today regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturns the precedent set by Chevron v. The Natural Resources Defense Council.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a victory for freedom in Montana and around the country as it takes power away from unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. who do everything they can to crush our Montana way of life. This ruling will help rein in climate activists at the EPA pursuing their political agendas by using overreaching regulations to kill traditional sources of power that are so important here in Montana. I commend President Trump for appointing justices to the Supreme Court who interpreted the Constitution through an originalist lens in this case.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-daines-tester-rosendale-call-department-interior-and-bureau-reclamation,"Zinke, Daines, Tester, Rosendale call on the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation to provide funding for the St. Mary catastrophe",2024-06-28,2024,2024-06,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01), U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation Camille Touton calling for the authorization of federal funds to replace the St. Mary’s siphons that failed on June 17, 2024.

The letter reads in part:

“For over 100 years, the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works has augmented the Milk River Basin water supply. Originally built by the Bureau of Reclamation to provide irrigation water, this system has evolved into a multi-use project that supports municipalities, recreation, and wildlife habitats. The St. Mary Canal provides over 60% of the water supply for the Milk River Project in an average year and more than 80% during dry years. This water supports over 120,000 acres of farmland, which is crucial for the region's agricultural productivity. Additionally, the canal supplies water to approximately 18,000 municipal users.

Without immediate remediation and replacement of the siphons, the region faces severe economic and environmental impacts. These include significant agricultural losses, negatively affecting farm incomes and employment in agriculture-related industries. The local economy, heavily dependent on a stable water supply, will suffer, impacting businesses and overall economic stability.”

Read the full letter HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-senator-padilla-introduce-bipartisan-wildlife-movement,"Congressman Zinke, Senator Padilla introduce the bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act",2024-06-24,2024,2024-06,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT) and Democrat Congressman Don Beyer (VA) introducedThe Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the companion bill in the Senate. Zinke made the announcement at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation headquarters in Missoula, MT, where he was joined by representatives from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Boone and Crocket Club, Mule Deer Foundation and the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. In 2018, Secretary Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3362 “Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors” which committed federal and state agencies to collaborate and ensure the health and longevity of big game migration corridors and identify critical wintering habitat.

This legislation will build off Secretarial Order 3362 by codifying Zinke’s Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Grant Program. This grant will provide funding to eligible entities for conservation work in support of big game wildlife migration corridors and habitat connectivity. It will codify SO 3362 as well as the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program and USDA’s Migratory Big Game Initiative.

Big game species defined in the legislation as native species of large mammals, including deer, elk, pronghorn, wild sheep, and moose, for which State and Tribal wildlife agencies have established regulated means and methods of take- rely on migration corridors for winter and summer range habitat. These corridors can cross swaths of both public and private land with obstacles such as fencing, highways, subdivisions, and other development which can block wildlife movement and lead to drastic downturns in big game herd populations.

The bill would:

1. Create the Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Grant Program

2. Establish the State and Tribal Migration Research Program

3. Add migration corridors and seasonal habitat conservation efforts as eligible for financial assistance under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

4. Direct United States Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units to map big game corridors and movement areas

Read the full text of the bill here.

Image

More photos from the press conference can be found here.

“Wildlife follow the path that has been bred and programmed into them over generations with no understanding of the distinctions between private and public or federal and state land. That’s why collaboration and partnerships are so important when managing migratory species such as Pronghorn, big horn, and Mule Deer,” said Congressman Zinke. “It has been five years since I signed S.O. 3362 and a lot of quality conservation work has been done to promote big game habitat in that time, and now is the time to solidify the intent and purpose of the program to promote public-private partnerships in conservation and focus on migratory big game. I thank Representative Beyer, Senator Padilla, for joining me in this critical effort.”

“With one in five migratory species facing the threat of extinction, recognizing connectivity corridors can help us understand biodiversity loss and better protect the migration patterns of iconic American species, like the Pronghorn,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Our Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act would provide the necessary grants and technical assistance to enhance wildlife connectivity and enable the collection and analysis of data on wildlife movement areas. Additionally, this bill would support the U.S. Geological Service mapping efforts that track wildlife movement to accurately identify active corridors and migration patterns. I thank my colleagues and conservation leaders who worked with us to craft this important bill and urge my colleagues to support it as we seek to protect our wildlife diversity by ensuring that species can move freely across landscapes and access vital resources.”

“Wildlife across the country face additional barriers to their migration, threatening the vibrant biodiversity of our nation and putting human lives at risk,” said Senator Padilla. “From the sprawling urban wilderness of Griffith Park to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the Atlantic Flyway, protecting wildlife corridors is a crucial bipartisan priority, and I am glad to work across the aisle to better conserve, restore, and enhance habitat connectivity and migration routes across the nation.”

Statements of Support:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/21/daines-joins-colleagues-in-demanding-answers-after-release-of-suspected-isis-terrorists-at-southern-border-into-the-u-s/,Daines Joins Colleagues in Demanding Answers After Release of Suspected ISIS Terrorists at Southern Border into the U.S.,2024-06-21,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a group of Republican senators in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers after individuals with suspected ties to ISIS were apprehended at the southern border, underwent vetting and were then released into the United States.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested these individuals after one was reportedly caught on a wiretap talking about bombs.

“We write to express our grave concerns regarding reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of eight individuals from Tajikistan suspected to have terror ties to ISIS who crossed the southern border to enter the U.S. last year and this year. Reportedly, two of these individuals crossed the border in spring 2023, and one of them used the CBP One app to enter the U.S. We are deeply concerned by reports that a wiretap shows that one of the now-arrested individuals was talking about bombs and that the target of the wiretap was previously released by federal authorities at the southern border with a court date of next year. We are further concerned by reports that federal authorities vetting these individuals upon entry into the U.S. did not detect any ties to ISIS at the time and only discovered these ties “[l]ater and in recent weeks,” wrote the senators.

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

The letter was led by Senator Tedd Budd (R-N.C.) and co-signed by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Thune (S.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).

This week, Senator Daines addressed the violent crimes being committed against Americans as a result of the open southern border at a weekly Republican leadership press conference. Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/19/daines-stroke-of-genius-by-trump-to-eliminate-taxes-on-tips/,Daines: “Stroke of Genius” by Trump to Eliminate Taxes on Tips,2024-06-19,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Joins Fox Business to Announce Introduction of Bill to Stop Taxing Tips, Slam Biden’s Border Crisis

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria to discuss his bill to eliminate taxes on tips and President Biden’s border crisis.

Watch the interview HERE.

Daines on His Bill to Stop Taxing Tips:

It’s a stroke of genius by President Trump and it shows the American people how in touch he is with the challenges of the working class in our great country. This is an idea that came to President Trump from a waitress. She said, “why are they taxing my tips?” So, I plan to introduce the bill in the United States Senate. I’m part of the Finance Committee, member of that committee. We have jurisdiction over taxation. I’ll be introducing this bill that would eliminate federal taxes on tips. You think about the importance of this bill, the importance of this idea, because the working class have been hit hard with Biden’s inflation. Inflation is up over 20 percent since he took office. It just makes sense that if you think tips may be about 20 percent, why not make that tax-free as a way we can help the working class offset the damage of this Biden economy.

Daines on Economic Impact of His Bill:

First and foremost, what it does is it incentivizes people to get back to work in the economy, which generates taxable revenue. When more people are working, you actually pay more taxes overall, because you’re employed. As is always the thought when you cut taxes, as we saw what happened with the Trump tax cuts of ’17. The Left screams about it, look at the results. Tax revenues actually increased, both corporate taxes and pass-through taxes as a result of these tax cuts. And so, part of the challenge we’ll face as we go into this next Congress once President Trump’s elected is we need to make these tax cuts permanent. The Wall Street Journal called this the $6 trillion election. If President Biden is re -elected, if we don’t control the United States Senate as Republicans, there’s a $4 trillion tax increase coming in 2026 with the expiration of the Trump tax cuts, plus another $2 trillion of additional taxes that Democrats want to impose on this economy. It would be devastating. And we’ll be looking for offsets on the spending side to make these tax cuts permanent.

—

When you move the American people from being dependent on the federal government to being employed, that creates taxable revenue. By actually lowering taxes you get more people working and they start paying taxes. That is the genius behind what President Trump has proposed and it’s something that’s striking a chord. You’re seeing people all over the country now when the waiter or waitress brings a bill they’re saying “vote for Trump! No taxes on tips!” This is a great move on behalf of President Trump and again it shows how in touch he is with the challenge of working class.

Daines on Biden’s Mass Amnesty Proposal Amidst the Southern Border Crisis:

This is a mass amnesty bill. This is a recruiting tool now for the cartels because the cartels can tell folks, “Hey come to America and Joe Biden is going to give you citizenship.” This is no coincidence it’s four and a half months away from the election. The democrats are scared to death of the fact they’ve seen Hispanics now move twenty-one points in President Trump’s direction since 2020. They think this somehow will help them with the votes. Here’s the problem. Hispanic voters want to make sure that we are a nation of law and order. You come in the right way. Hispanic voters don’t want to see this massive amnesty bill. And furthermore, as you mentioned, Maria…the Joint Terrorism Tax Force, they arrested eight Tajikistan terrorists who have been radicalized by ISIS Khorasan in Los Angeles, in New York, and Philadelphia. These were Tajiks that were planning to inflict terror attacks on our soil. Look, we have sleeper cells in our country as we speak. This is a result of some 10 million illegals that have come across the southern border. Those Tajiks came across the southern border. This is far more than an immigration debate. This is about national security and protecting the homeland.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/18/daines-blasts-biden-administration-open-border-policies-for-allowing-violent-criminals-into-country/,Daines Blasts Biden Administration Open Border Policies for Allowing Violent Criminals into Country,2024-06-18,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“This is Joe Biden’s America and it’s Joe Biden’s border crisis”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference blasting President Biden and Senate Democrats for the southern border crisis that is allowing violent criminals to come into our country illegal and commit violent crimes against Americans.

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

“‘More fair, and more just.’ That’s what Joe Biden called his immigration policies that he started rolling out today.

“But today I ask, ‘Where is fairness and justice for Rachel Morin?’

“She was the Maryland mom who was raped and killed by Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez. Hernandez wasn’t just any street thug. He committed murder in El Salvador. He then came across our southern border illegally. A few weeks later, he committed a home invasion in Los Angeles. And then a few months after that, he murdered and raped Rachel Morin, a mom of five, while she was out walking on a trail in Maryland, eerily similar to Laken Riley’s murder in February.

“Laken Riley was a nursing student in Georgia who was murdered while out on a run by another illegal who was just freely roaming our streets.

“Sadly, this is Joe Biden’s America and it’s Joe Biden’s border crisis. We have terrorists, we have violent criminals coming across the southern border who are raping and murdering Americans. Where is the justice for Rachel Morin? Where is the justice for Laken Riley?

“The American people are going to right this wrong by holding Joe Biden and Senate Democrats accountable in November.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/18/daines-demands-biden-admin-withdraw-plan-to-shut-down-future-coal-production-in-eastern-montana/,Daines Demands Biden Admin Withdraw Plan to Shut Down Future Coal Production in Eastern Montana,2024-06-18,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to President Biden’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) demanding the withdrawal of the amendments to the Miles City and Buffalo new Resource Management Plans that would stop future coal leases in eastern Montana and Wyoming.

“I am strongly opposed to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed amendments to the Miles City Field Office and Buffalo Field Office Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and urge you to withdraw them. President Biden has made clear that he opposes coal mining and coal- fired energy generation regardless of the cost to rural America and electric reliability. The proposed moratorium on new federal coal leasing in Montana and Wyoming will destroy jobs in these rural states and harm our nation’s energy security,” Daines wrote.

“Since coal production is a major economic driver in Montana and Wyoming, the proposed amendments will also damage the economies in these states. BLM’s own analysis on these two proposed amendments acknowledges that ending coal leasing means foregoing thousands of potential mining jobs and a significant revenue stream to the states. This revenue from the

federal coal leases is used by the states and counties to support schools, repair roads, and provide essential services to rural communities. Losing these jobs and revenue will have a damaging effect on these states’ economies,” Daines continued.

Read Daines’ full letter HERE.

The Powder River Basin is the largest source of coal in the country, making up 45 percent of all production, which is essential for grid reliability as demand for electricity grows. Additionally, coal jobs support rural economies and bring revenue to Montana counties. In 2021, the Montana coal industry contributed 6,138 direct and indirect jobs and generated approximately $828 million in total contributions to state gross domestic product.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-responds-biden-launching-columbia-river-task-force-remove,Congressman Zinke responds to Biden launching Columbia River Task Force to remove Snake River dams,2024-06-18,2024,2024-06,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) - Today the Biden Administration announced that the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has launched the Columbia River Task Force to implement Biden’s long promised plan to remove dams on the Snake River system that supply western Montana with affordable and reliable electricity. These dams provide between 60-70% of the electricity in the Pacific Northwest. Hydropower is the most abundant, affordable, and cleanest source of energy available in Montana, heavily relied upon for baseload power.

“President Biden’s new “task force” prioritizes fish over people and once again puts radical environmental lawyers in the driver’s seat to run over rural Montana,” said Congressman Zinke. “Hydropower is the only net-zero energy we have in Montana and ripping that out to appease the zealots in Seattle and Silicon Valley is bad for the environment, bad for the economy and bad for our energy security. I’ve worked closely with Montana’s rural electric co-ops and my colleagues in Congress to introduce legislation to stop this idiotic plan from going forward and it’s well past time the Senate steps up to the plate and protects our water, electricity, and livelihoods.”

Congressman Zinke has been a champion in ensuring the Snake River Dams remain intact. Zinke has cosponsored seven bills to prevent dam removal and save clean energy in Montana.

The Abandoning Inconsistent and Rash Environmental Solutions (ACRES) Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Prohibits the breaching of federally operated dams if such breach would result in the replacement energy resource occupying additional acreage of more than 5 percent.

Bill text here.

The Breaking Irresponsible Energy and Commercial Habits (BREACH) Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Prohibits the breaching of federally operated dams if such a breach would result in an increase in carbon emission by more than 10 percent, would make the body of water impacted by the breach less navigable for commercial interests, and would result in an increase of at least 10 percent of the price of products shipped via the body of water.

Bill text here.

The Ratepayer Funding Alternative Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Directs DOE to develop fish and wildlife program funding alternatives to mitigate the cost to BPA ratepayers and report to Congress within 6 months of enactment on what alternative funding options are available.

Bill text here.

The Pinniped Predator Deterrence Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Requires and authorizes USACE to acquire technology that uses acoustic sound technology to deter pinniped predators above and below the Bonneville Dam.

Bill text here.

The QUERIES Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress an updated report on the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality.

Bill text here.

Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that hydropower is a vital component to an all-of-the-above approach to energy development which is critical to U.S. national security

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Resolution text here.

Resolution expressing disapproval of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative entered into by the Biden Administration

Cosponsors: Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: Cowlitz PUD, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Resolution text here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-legislation-fort-belknap-indian-community-water-rights,Zinke Introduces Legislation for the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement,2024-06-18,2024,2024-06,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) -Today, Congressman Zinke introduced, The Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024 to provide a solution for the settlement of water rights in the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC). The bill will achieve a fair and final settlement of claims to water rights in the State of Montana for the Fort Belknap Indian Community. Senator Daines and Senator Tester have sponsored a similar bill in the senate.

Among other things, the bill includes:

$300 million to rehabilitate the St. Mary Canal and Dodson South Canal, part of the federal Milk River Project, for non-tribal water users in northcentral Montana

$250 million for an upstream wastewater treatment facility

$416 million to rehabilitate, modernize, and expand the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project and to restore and develop irrigation systems.

“President Stiffarm and the entire team with the FBIC has worked diligently with me and my staff for over a year to make this legislation possible which meets long-overdue treaty obligations and delivers clean and reliable water to the great nation,” said Congressman Zinke. ""The settlement honors commitments to the tribes while also meeting the needs of Montana’s ag producers, private property owners, and other stakeholders along the hi-line.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/17/daines-zinke-rosendale-call-out-biden-for-frontline-job-cuts/,"Daines, Zinke, Rosendale Call Out Biden for Frontline Job Cuts",2024-06-17,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) highlighting concerns regarding the VA’s recent elimination of frontline care providers, despite the VA’s previous declaration that such positions would be protected from job cuts.

“Too many people in Washington, including some of our colleagues in the U.S. Congress with direct influence over policies impacting veterans, will make empty promises about fighting for veteran care and will use this report as an opportunity to call for more spending and more legislation that will only add to the bureaucratic nightmare at the VA. The reality is, it is the lack of proper oversight and the brazen willingness of the VA to violate congressional intent and prioritize issues that have zero impact on improving patient outcomes for veterans that has led to such disdain with the quality of VA care,” wrote Daines, Zinke and Rosendale.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-daines-rosendale-call-out-va-eliminating-essential-healthcare-workers,"Zinke, Daines, Rosendale Call Out VA for Eliminating Essential Healthcare Workers",2024-06-17,2024,2024-06,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington D.C.) – Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01), U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) highlighting the recent elimination of 10,000 frontline jobs that serve clinical needs for veterans’ healthcare, such as psychologists and clinical social workers. These eliminations directly contradict claims from the VA that frontline positions of this nature would be free from cuts.

The letter reads in part:

“Too many people in Washington, including some of our colleagues in the U.S. Congress with direct influence over policies impacting veterans, will make empty promises about fighting for veteran care and will use this report as an opportunity to call for more spending and more legislation that will only add to the bureaucratic nightmare at the VA. The reality is, it is the lack of proper oversight and the brazen willingness of the VA to violate congressional intent and prioritize issues that have zero impact on improving patient outcomes for veterans that has led to such disdain with the quality of VA care.”

Read Senator Daines Press Release HERE

Read the full letter HERE",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/14/daines-calls-on-congress-to-protect-sanctity-of-the-american-flag/,Daines Calls on Congress to Protect Sanctity of the American Flag,2024-06-14,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines in honor of Flag Day, continued his years-long fight to protect the American flag by calling on Congress to pass his constitutional amendment to criminalize its physical desecration.

“The American flag is recognized across the world as a symbol of hope and freedom, and it reminds us of the great sacrifices that American heroes have made underneath the Stars and the Stripes,” said Daines. “This year in honor of Flag Day, I’m calling on Congress to pass my constitutional amendment to prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag.”

Background:

Daines led this effort in the 115th and 116th and 117th and 118th Congresses.

In 2018, Daines commemorated national Flag Day on the floor of the U.S. Senate by highlighting his constitutional amendment to prohibit the burning of the American flag.

The American Legion of Montana supports this legislation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/13/daines-on-fox-news-americas-newsroom-our-country-is-spiraling-out-of-control-under-joe-biden/,Daines on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom: Our Country is “Spiraling Out of Control” Under Joe Biden,2024-06-13,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined Fox News’ America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino to discuss the state of our nation under President Biden’s failed leadership.

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

Daines on the State of the U.S. Under Joe Biden:

“Well, look, we are four and a half months away from the most consequential election certainly in my lifetime, if not a couple of generations. I mean, the country is spiraling out of control: the highest prices in 40 years, chaos abroad, an invasion on our southern border, some 10 million illegals, including now we’re seeing terrorists who’ve been apprehended in the last 48 hours who are plotting to hit soft sites across America. This is so important.

“And when we meet with President Trump today, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and talk about what we are going to do to put this country back on a path to greatness. It’s going to be about unleashing American energy, lowering prices, securing the border.

“These are all solvable problems, we just have to have the right leader, like President Trump. And importantly, a Republican U.S. Senate. It’s the most important thing we can give the President is a Republican-led U.S. Senate because in the Senate we uniquely have the responsibility of personnel. All the Cabinet appointments, Supreme Court nominations, that will go through the Republican Senate. That’s why we’ll be working closely together and I’m looking forward to the discussion today when he visits us.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/13/daines-slams-biden-administration-for-radical-anti-energy-agenda/,Daines Slams Biden Administration for Radical Anti-Energy Agenda,2024-06-13,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Tracy Stone-Manning Defends Admin’s Goal to End Oil, Gas, Coal Production

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing delivered remarks taking President Biden’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning to task for the Administration’s radical anti-energy policies that are harming Montana families and communities.

Watch Daines’ opening remarks HERE.

“Director Stone-Manning, I would like to talk about the last three and a half years. This is the first time you are back in front of this Committee since your nomination hearing in June 2021. Since then, actions your agency has taken or failed to take have been devastating to Montana and our rural communities that depend on federal lands for their livelihoods.

“It is no secret that the Biden Administration, the EPA, the Department of the Interior, and BLM are doing everything they can to eliminate oil, eliminate gas, eliminate coal production in the United States.

“If anybody doubts that, go to the WhiteHouse.gov website. You can see it says, ‘Stop LNG. Eliminate fossil fuels.’ At least they’re public about it.

“Let me name just a few actions that impact Montana.

“On Day One, President Biden cancels the Keystone XL Pipeline, a gut punch to so many Eastern Montana counties, a million barrels a day stopped by Joe Biden.

“Day one, Biden starts stopping oil and gas leasing on federal lands.

“Then we’ve had an onslaught of rules from the EPA. Methane rules targeting small oil and gas producers.

“The MATS and Clean Power Plan 2.0 that’s targeting the Colstrip power plant. We are now on a path, two of our four Colstrip units have been shut down. Power units, the last two now, will be shut down unless these overreaches coming from the Biden administration are stopped.

“The Department of Energy stops, they said pause, good grief, they stopped LNG export permits.

“The Office of Surface Mining slow walks coal permits in Montana in hopes the mines will be forced to close down.

“And now to the BLM. The BLM has only held two oil and gas lease sales in Montana since Biden took office. This is under your watch. You’re supposed to have at least four a year. BLM’s new public lands rule seeks to sideline oil and gas production. BLM’s new oil and gas leasing rule sets bonding requirements so high, our small producers can’t keep up.

“And just last month, the BLM announced a proposed plan to eliminate coal leasing in Montana and Wyoming.

“Wyoming is the number one coal producer. Montana has the most coal potential of any states in the United States. And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

“The Biden administration has one goal. It’s radical. It’s to end oil, gas, and coal production in the United States. And you aren’t hiding it.”

Daines pressed Stone-Manning on the Biden administration’s goal to shut down coal leasing in Eastern Montana and the effect it would have on Montana families. Watch the exchange HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://www.daines.senate.gov/2024/06/12/daines-blames-biden-open-border-policies-for-allowing-terrorists-to-come-across-southern-border/,Daines Blames Biden Open Border Policies for Allowing Terrorists to Come Across Southern Border,2024-06-12,2024,2024-06,Republican,Senate,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,daines,https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference slamming Joe Biden and Senate Democrats for the national security crisis stemming from the open southern border. This week, eight suspected ISIS terrorists were arrested in the U.S. after coming across the southern border.

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

“A few months ago, back around the February timeframe, high-level individuals from Central Asia came and saw me in my office. They warned us that there were tens of thousands of Central Asians streaming across our southern border over the course of the last year. They were concerned that some of those Central Asians had terror intent.

“And just yesterday, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested eight Tajikistan ISIS members in Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. It used to be that JFK was the entry point before Joe Biden was President. They all came from the southern border.

“This is the same group that, on March 22 of this year, attacked the Moscow concert hall, killing 145 innocents including hundreds of others and setting the place on fire. You would think that illegals coming in from Tajikistan might alarm the Biden administration after they saw what happened at the Moscow concert hall about three months ago. In fact, one of those they arrested last night had been detained and then released again at the southern border. Another one had used the Biden-designed Homeland Security-designed, CBP one app.

“The only thing more shocking than our unsecure southern border is that we haven’t had a terror attack on our soil. Yet.

“Make no mistake. It was Joe Biden who rolled back the successful Trump policies that kept this nation and our southern border much safer.

“It was Joe Biden who made the border a lot more unsecure.

“And it was Senate Democrats who enabled him for the past three and a half years.

“But rest assured it will be the American people who ultimately hold them accountable come November.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z