WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: After sustained efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Senate unanimously passed S.327, the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act, legislation to make all veterans with service-connected disabilities eligible for a free, lifetime entry to United States national parks and other federal lands. "This bill makes our most treasured, beautiful place  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: After sustained efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Senate unanimously passed S.327, the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act, legislation to make all veterans with service-connected disabilities eligible for a free, lifetime entry to United States national parks and other federal lands. "This bill makes our most treasured, beautiful places--in Montana and across the country--freely available to our country'  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester urged the U.S. Department of Treasury to add flexibility to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for seasonal employers relying on the critical program to stay afloat. In a letter to Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration chief Jovita Carranza, Tester wrote that many seasonal employers applied for and received PPP loans using off-season employment numbers, which ar  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) introduced legislation to continue the telehealth policies implemented by the Trump Administration and through the CARES Act, while advancing access to emerging technology for seniors especially in rural areas. "Many Montanans live in frontier and rural areas where access to doctors, particularly specialists, is a big challenge. Using technology to connect patients wit  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) yesterday introduced a bill to increase access to broadband. "As we have found amid the COVID-19 crisis, it's more critical than ever that Montanans across our state have access to fast, reliable broadband. By creating a standard fee, local service providers and the federal government will be able to work together to bring broadband and wireless services to underserved  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) recognized Linda Rost of Baker with his Spirit of Montana commendation for her commitment to education, her exceptional, engaging science instruction, and her lasting impact on students. Linda teaches biology, AP biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and science research at Baker High School. Teaching is Linda's passion, and Montana is better for it. She says it'  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) urged Amtrak's president and CEO to reconsider cuts in service along the Hi-Line. "Reliable access to rail service is important for communities along the Hi-Line," Gianforte wrote in a letter to Flynn. "Not only is passenger rail an economic driver for the state, it is also an affordable travel alternative. Reduced service threatens the connectivity of Montana's rural   more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that the Montana Department of Justice will receive a $1 million grant as part of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Anti-Methamphetamine Program under the Department of Justice. This program provides funding to law enforcement to aid them in slowing the purchasing and distribution of meth that is ravaging Montana communities and families. "This funding will   more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill that will address the challenges stemming from the Cottonwood decision that created a new standard for re-consultation on Forest Plans when 'new information' is made available. The bill will improve the health of forests, advance wildlife and restoration projects, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and support timber jobs. "Even the Obama Administration agr  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill that would make Major League Baseball (MLB) teams ineligible to participate or benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program or emergency lending programs within the CARES Act if MLB moves forward with eliminating Montana's minor league baseball teams. "Montana's minor league baseball teams are an important part of our community and bring joy to many Montana famili  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bipartisan bill that will provide economic opportunities for Montana's outfitters and guides impacted by COVID-19 and related travel restrictions. The bipartisan "Trail Stewardship for Economic Recovery Act" will provide funding for outfitters & guides to conduct trail maintenance projects on Forest Service lands. "Montana's outfitters and guides have seen a drastic de  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a bipartisan letter to the President of Amtrak opposing their plans to terminate one out of every five employees, putting thousands out of work, and reducing the hours of operation of the National Network long distance trains. Daines stressed the need to protect these jobs and the local economy they support on the Hi-Line. "We are deeply concerned by the downsizing plan outlin  more

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is distributing $834,158 to Montana universities to help increase the healthcare workforce in rural and underserved communities. "I'm glad to have helped secure this funding which is critical to ensuring our rural and underserved communities are ta  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue asking him to consider four areas for regulatory and programmatic reform in the meat processing industry. "When high-capacity processing facilities experienced outbreaks amongst employees, operations were forced to shut-off or slow down production, leaving the rancher with livestock they could   more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee urging quick consideration and passage of his bipartisan St. Mary's Reinvestment Act which would help to repair the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works system. "The St. Mary Milk River project has been coined the life-line of the Hi-Line, supplying up to 90% of water for the Milk River Basin during a  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $150,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' (CSKT) pandemic response efforts. "This pandemic has been hard on Indian Country, and the federal government has an obligation to make sure Montana's Tribal Communities have the resources they need to keep folks safe," said Tester. "These funds will   more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $3,131,136 for Ravalli Head Start for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. "The coronavirus pandemic has upended life as we know it across our state and the disruption has been particularly difficult on the most vulnerable Montanans--low-income families and their children," said Tester. "These Head Start funds are a lifeline to Montana families in the Bitterroot, providi  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $3,470,228 in Federal Aviation Administration funds for the Helena Regional Airport for the repair and reconstruction of airport aprons. "In Montana, air travel is key to keeping folks connected and supporting critical industries like tourism," said Tester. "This funding is a much-needed investment in our transportation infrastructure, and will make flying in and out of Hel  more

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced more than $4.1 million for Montana Head Start programs. This funding includes $3,588,989 for Head Start in Billings and $541,211 in Early Head Start funding for AWARE in Butte. "The coronavirus pandemic has upended life as we know it across our state, and the disruption has been particularly difficult on the most vulnerable Montanans--low-income families and their children,"   more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester delivered a $1 million U.S. Department of Justice grant to help communities combat meth use and trafficking in Montana. The Community-Oriented Policing Service (COPS) Anti-Meth Task Force funding will help stem the flow of meth and other dangerous drugs into Montana communities and help local officials prevent the manufacture of dangerous drugs in across the state. "Meth use is a seri  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: In response to Amtrak's recent announcement that it may cut jobs and reduce service in rural areas amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester led a group of Senators representing rural America in expressing dismay at the proposal--which will disproportionately hurt remote communities--and demanding that the railroad commit to a timeline for resuming full, long distance passenger service. "  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: In his ongoing fight to ensure every Montanan has broadband access whether they're in Billings or Bynum, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is demanding that Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai work to ensure that the agency is closing the digital divide that disadvantages rural areas and expanding telehealth services without blatantly wasting taxpayer dollars. During a recent Senate Commerce Commi  more

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced he has secured nearly $1 million to help Montanans train for and secure a job in health care. Tester announced the funds, which are available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will benefit students at the University of Montana and Montana State University. UM will receive $438,278 for a program that   more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is urging the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to provide timely service of record retrievals for veterans in Montana and across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the ongoing national health crisis, veterans nationwide have been experiencing increasi  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: At a U.S. Senate Hearing, the Trump administration expressed support for U.S. Senator Steve Daines' bipartisan bill, the "Montana Water Rights Protection Act," which permanently settles the century-long Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) water dispute. At the hearing, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Tim Petty discussed the benefits of the bill which will create more than 6,000 jobs  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The Senate Indian Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Timothy R. Petty, assistant secretary for water and science at the Interior Department, at a hearing on the Montana Water Rights Protection Act (S. 3019) on June 24: My name is Tim Petty, and I am the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior (Department). I am pleased to appear before you today to provide the Department's position on S. 3019, the Montana Water Rights P  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators for Idaho Mike Crapo and Jim Risch introduced legislation to remove a roadblock to responsible forest management efforts on federal lands. The bill, which was led by U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana), will provide a legislative fix to the misguided Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. United States Forest Service (Cottonwood) lawsuit which has tied up forest management projects. If enacted,   more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act to expand wartime benefits to veterans who served in the Vietnam War and have been ineligible for assistance because of differences between the war era dates at the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Currently, DoD recognizes the Vietnam War era as November 1, 1955 t  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: A resolution backed by U.S. Senator Jon Tester unanimously passed the Senate this week, designating the month of June as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27th as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. "Many of our nation's veterans suffer from invisible wounds of war such as post-traumatic stress as a result of  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act to expand wartime benefits to veterans who served in the Vietnam War and have been ineligible for assistance because of differences between the war era dates at the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)  more