Senator Steve Daines addressed several policy issues affecting Montana in a series of posts on September 4, 2025.
In his first post, Daines highlighted the challenges facing hydropower in Montana, stating, “Hydropower is one of the largest sources of energy in MT, but it can take YEARS for existing dams to get relicensed. We need to speed up the process so we can keep growing MT’s renewable resources.” (September 4, 2025). Hydropower remains a significant contributor to Montana’s electricity generation and is considered an important renewable resource within the state.
Later that day, Daines commented on medication abortion safety: “The science is clear: the abortion pill is not safe for women. Nearly 11% of women who use mifepristone experience a serious adverse side effect- 22 times higher than what’s on the FDA label.” (September 4, 2025). Mifepristone has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2000 for use in medication abortions; its safety profile has been subject to ongoing debate among policymakers and medical professionals.
In another post later that afternoon, Daines focused on healthcare workforce issues: “DOs provide millions of ppl in MT with quality care, but often face unnecessary barriers when applying to residency programs. I intro’d a bill today that will increase transparency into Medicare-funded residency programs & help expand access for DOs.” (September 4, 2025). Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) are licensed physicians who practice across all specialties and settings; efforts to improve their access to residency training have gained attention as part of broader strategies to address physician shortages nationwide.
