Daines' liaison speaks on border wall during Pachyderm meeting

A Great Falls staffmember of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said Friday Daines supports President Donald Trump's efforts to build the southern border wall.

"The senator certainly stands behind the president and truly believes that it's something that is needed," Alison Vergeront said in a teleconference with the North Central Pachyderms. "So, I mean, we're very supportive of getting anything across the finish line to get the wall."

Vergeront was unable to attend Friday's North Central Pachyderms Club meeting at the Duck Inn Vineyard Room due to weather conditions. Instead, she spoke to the club over a conference call, answering questions and updating the Pachyderms on what is happening in Congress.

She said Daines spent Feb. 10 in McAllen, Texas, observing the U.S. Border Patrol and witnessing hundreds of people crossing illegally from Mexico.

The senator described the portion of the border he saw as poor and primitive, Vergeront said, adding that Daines, after seeing it first hand, was not surprised by the amount of illegal immigration because nothing is there to deter them from crossing the border.

Daines spoke to a few Border Patrol Agents while in Texas, she said, adding that the agents told Daines that every night they capture hundreds of illegal immigrants, some of them carrying across methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine into the U.S.

She added that the agents told Daines that the people they are able to capture is only approximately 10 percent of those that get through.

"The senator does stand with President Trump with the securing the southern border and just believes that it is just the fundamental responsibility for the government that building the wall will stop help the flood of illegal immigration and drugs that are making their way eventually to Montana," Vergeront said. "And is just really hopeful at some point we can be a little bit more involved with the Democrats as far as trying to do the best we can to protect just American families and communities."

She said Daines' committee assignments this year in the 116th Congress have changed slightly from last year. Daines is still on the Appropriations, Indian Affairs, and Energy and Natural Resources committees, she said, and now is also sitting on the Finance Committee. She said the Finance Committee will involve three subcommittees, Trade and Customs, Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure, and Health Care.

All of these are very important for the state of Montana, Vergeront said, and Daines is excited to serve the state in that capacity.

Daines is no longer serving on the Agricultural Committee, she said. She added that Daines will still be able to serve the agricultural community because the Finance Committee impacts the agricultural community through trade.

She said Daines will push for trade agreements between China, Mexico, Canada and the U.S.

Daines has also helped pass the Lands Package deal through the Senate last week, she said, which he has been working on since 2018. She said the bill passed 92 to 8.

"Definitely a huge win for Montana," Vergeront said.

The land package deal, also supported and included legislation by U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., to permanently authorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, she said, which was created in the 1960s and uses royalties from oil drilling companies to pay for citie land and easement purchases across country. She said the package also included Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act which will directly impact Montana.

Vergeront said Daines has also spoken to the Attorney General William Barr a few times, including about the Second Amendment.

"The senator fully stands behind A.G. Barr ... and is looking forward to working with him," she said.

Barr will help protect Montana's Second Amendment rights and help fight the meth epidemic in the state, she said.

With the recent federal government shutdown, she said, Daines is a sponsor of a bill called the End Government Shutdown Act, which will permanently prevent the federal government from shutting down. She said Daines does not like government shutdowns and believes they don't work.

Another piece of legislation Daines introduced says that the U.S. Congress will not be paid if there is no work being done.

She said that last Thursday, Congress voted to keep the government running. Daines, she said, sees this as "making a down payment on the future of the border wall," as well as keeping families working.

Thursday, she said, Daines was also able to get several large wins, with securing funds for drug trafficking programs and funds for setting up broadband in rural areas.

"We really value the constituents on the ground, experiences or challenges or anything like that," Vergernot said. "So I highly encourage folks to continue reaching out in whatever capacity is best."