Steve Daines

Believes securing the southern border is a matter of national security and supports building a border wall.

“Securing our southern border is a matter of national security. The increase in illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human smuggling is unacceptable. I will support whatever is necessary to secure our borders – including by building a border wall.”¹⁴

Opposes the Senate’s emergency supplemental funding bill, believing it does not fix the crisis.

“President Biden could have secured the border on Day One of his presidency and chose not to and the disastrous results speak for themselves. Reversing the effective policies of President Trump turned the southern border into one of the biggest national security risks in our country’s history with illegals streaming across who are on the FBI’s terror watch list as well as from countries that are designated as state sponsors of terror.”¹⁴

Believes the border was secure under President Trump and is now in utter chaos under President Biden.

“The fact is, the border was secure under President Trump. It’s not under Joe Biden and Senate Democrats, and the American people know that.”¹⁴

Supports increasing timber sales and improving forest management practices to promote healthy forests and reduce wildfire risk.

“Daines’ provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to increase timber sales and improve forest management practices.”¹⁷

Wants to end burdensome litigation that holds up important forest management projects.

“Daines also stressed the urgent need to fix the disastrous 9th Circuit Cottonwood decision and end burdensome litigation that holds up important projects.”¹⁷

Supports a unified, streamlined federal response to wildland fires through information sharing.

“If implemented, the legislation would create a unified, streamlined federal response to wildland fires with information sharing across various federal, state and academic institutions.”¹⁷

Opposes the Forest Service's National Old Growth Amendment draft environmental impact statement.

“Montanans are sick of breathing in smoke and the Forest Service heard their concerns loud and clear. Today is a victory for commonsense local management of our forests.”¹⁷

Calls for more transparency from the U.S. Forest Service regarding wildfire management strategy actions.

“More transparency will help the public better understand how USFS plans to handle wildfires and will allow for better oversight as well.”¹⁷

Opposes a costly mandate on Montana firefighters and sheriffs.

“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.”¹⁷

Supports returning restrictive Wilderness Study Area designations to general management to improve land management and public access.

“My ‘Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act’ will help protect our Montana way of life by promoting public access to public lands, improving the ability to restore wildlife habitat and reducing the risk of wildfire.”¹⁷

Encourages the U.S. Forest Service to analyze and release sawtimber levels to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

“This data is important to motivate and focus collaborative work between federal land management agencies and private forest product companies as they work to remove hazardous fuels.”¹⁷

Supports public-private partnerships to reduce fire risk and vitalize rural communities.

“Additionally, utilizing public-private partnerships can simultaneously reduce fire risk and vitalize rural communities in Montana that rely on the timber industry.”¹⁷

Opposes federal mandates and regulations, preferring local control over education decisions.

“Increasing education opportunities in Montana isn’t going to happen through another federal mandate or a one-size-fits-all regulation. We need to empower our state, our local school boards, our teachers and parents to work together to develop solutions that best fit our kids’ unique needs.”²³

Supports encouraging students' interest in STEM and trade schools to prepare for future jobs.

“We need to empower our state, our local school boards, our teachers and parents to work together to develop solutions that best fit our kids’ unique needs. As we work to grow Montana’s technology and resources jobs, we cannot underestimate the importance of encouraging our students’ interests in science, math, engineering and technology or of trade schools.”²³

Wants to ensure students have skills for good-paying jobs and remain in Montana after graduation.

“We need to ensure that our students have the skills they need to find good-paying jobs that can keep them here at home after graduation.”²³

Supports a bill to expand workforce training and career opportunities for foster youth.

“Huge news- my bill to expand workforce training and career opportunities for America’s foster youth passed the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday! One of the greatest gifts that we can give our children is the opportunity to succeed, and this bill will help set our foster youth up for success by increasing access to education and workforce training needed to build a career.”²³

Supports legislation to grow apprenticeship programs and strengthen Montana's workforce.

“The bill would provide critical grant funding to colleges that offer registered apprenticeship programs in the construction and manufacturing industries and encourage more students to pursue good paying jobs in high demand industries that are vital to bolstering Montana’s workforce.”²³

Supports providing students with information to make informed decisions about student loans.

“Montana students should have access to all the information they need in order to make a smart decision about their student loans. My bill helps improve the loan process so students have clear information about the duration of their loan, their expected monthly payment, their expected income after graduation and other important details.”²³

Supports protecting Americans from terrorism, drug trafficking, and cyber attacks while safeguarding liberties and privacy.

“I am committed to ensuring that the federal government effectively protects Americans from terrorism, drug trafficking, cyber attacks, and other crime, while safeguarding our liberties and privacy.”¹⁴

Condemns antisemitism and supports Jewish students facing acts of hatred.

“Antisemitism has no place in America, and I stand unequivocally with Jewish people from across our country and around the world.”²³