WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Following surges in novel coronavirus cases nationwide, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure it is well-equipped to protect employees and veterans from COVID-19. At a committee hearing yesterday, Tester questioned Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on July 2: Following surges in novel coronavirus cases nationwide, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure it is well-equipped to protect employees and veterans from COVID-19. At a committee hearing yesterday, Tester questioned Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health Dr. Steven Lieberman regarding the state of VA's sup  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced Montana counties will receive more than $35 million in Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds in 2020 to provide critical law enforcement and infrastructure priorities. "Montana counties rely on PILT funding to balance their budgets and provide critical services," Tester said. "As local government coffers take a hit during this pandemic, these funds are even more important, and  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, ranking Republican member of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on June 30 after the Supreme Court ruling in Espinoza vs. Montana Department of Revenue: "Educational choice is powerful. Students have the best chance at lifelong success if they have access to expanded opportunities at every level of education. "Sadly, state-sanctioned religious bigotry has, for more than a century, denied too many f  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: At a congressional hearing, Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) urged action on suicide prevention bills, including measures he introduced to establish and promote 9-8-8 as a national suicide hotline. "These [suicide prevention] bills were needed before the nation entered an unprecedented health and economic crisis. With hundreds of millions of Americans worried about their health and millions out of work  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) yesterday spoke on the House floor criticizing the state of Washington for its efforts to shut down exports of Montana coal. "Montana should be able to sell its coal overseas. Washington state is preventing construction of coal export terminals, effectively shutting down exports of Montana coal, and unconstitutionally interfering with interstate commerce," Gianforte sai  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) recognized Eric Miller of Jordan with his Spirit of Montana commendation for his 20-plus years of service to Garfield County as an extension agent and a mentor to the community's young people. For more than two decades, Miller has served as a Montana State University extension agent in Garfield County and director of the county's 4-H program. Miller wears many hats. He   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter requesting the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of the Inspector General investigate an incident where the remains of a Montana veteran, Donald Tyler, were lost in the mail. "While his remains were eventually returned to Mrs. Tyler and the USPS will reimburse her for the damaged urn, it is unacceptable that a federal agency misplaced the human remains of an A  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced an amendment to a major defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to repair the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works system. "I'm fighting to repair the St. Mary River project however I can," Daines said. "This is about supporting jobs and ensuring Montana farmers, ranchers, and communities on the Hi-Line have this critical water infrastructure project f  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bipartisan bill to provide the United States Postal Service (USPS) with $25 billion in funding to keep their operations afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic and procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect Postal workers. "The postal service supports Montana jobs and provides critical access to supplies like life-saving prescription drugs and medicines for Mont  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that the Federal Transit Administration will be directing $3 million to the Great Falls Transit District to support transit operating assistance and preventative maintenance during the COVID-19 health emergency. "This critical funding will help support the transportation infrastructure needs of the Great Falls community and ensure our transit system in the city has the res  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement following the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision ruling in favor of the three Montana mothers, a major win for Montana families, in the Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue case--one of the most important equal protection and religious freedom cases in recent history. "I'm very glad the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to overturn the State of Montana's di  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Steve Daines (R-Montana), and Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) held press conference to detail their opposition to making the District of Columbia a state. GRAHAM: "From a South Carolina point of view, this is not a good deal for us...This would dilute South Carolina's say in the United States Senate and it would empower the most radical agenda in modern Ameri  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, issued the following statement applauding the Supreme Court after their ruling in the case Espinoza vs. Montana Department of Revenue: The court decided that Montana's exclusion of religious schools from a tax-credit scholarship program funded by private dollar donations violates the Constitution. "I am glad to see the Supreme Court choose to uphold the Constitution and protect religious liberty and school choice. "Religious freedom is   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down a Montana ban prohibiting state aid to parochial schools: "Statutes that exclude people and institutions of faith from fully participating in civil society have a dark history grounded in rank anti-Catholic bigotry. "Today's decision is a win in our long efforts to live up to the letter and spirit of the Constitution and treat every American with equal dignity and worth."  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) faces severe declines in mail volume, U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses. The USPS provides critical services to Montana's rural communities, and Sidney is home to the longest rural postal route in the country "The fact is, pos  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As fire season gets underway, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is backing legislation to ensure the health and safety of wildland firefighters who travel the country protecting our communities during the pandemic. "Wildfires aren't taking the year off because of the pandemic, and neither are the brave women and men who travel the country protecting our communities during these natural disasters," said Tester. "These fo  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As coronavirus cases surge nationwide, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is leading the fight to make sure rural health care providers are prepared to survive the pandemic and remain ready to continue treating patients. In a bipartisan, bicameral letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Tester called for quick relief for rural health care providers struggling to keep their doors open during the ongo  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $1,005,483 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte to help reimburse the construction of a 39,903 square foot terminal building to allow the efficient movement of passengers and baggage. "Montana is a big state, and many of our communities rely on our airports to feed l  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $210,493 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for the Great Falls International Airport to construct a 14,000 square yard aircraft deicing pad. "Montana is a big state, and many of our communities rely on our airports to feed local economies and keep folks connected," said Tester. "During this uncerta  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $369,210 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for the Ekalaka Airport to reimburse costs of constructing an 8,120 square foot hangar building to assist the airport to be as self-sustaining as possible by generating revenue. "Montana is a big state, and many of our communities rely on our airports to fee  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester successfully secured his Care and Readiness Enhancement (CARE) for Reservists Act and Seeding Rural Resilience Act in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - two critical mental health bills aimed at curbing the rising rate of suicide among servicemembers and farmers. "We need to do everything we can to improve access to mental health care services for every man and woman in uni  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester successfully secured his landmark Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - a must-pass annual defense bill that the Senate will vote on later this month. Tester's bill requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide benefits for veterans suffering from disea  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester successfully secured his landmark Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - a must-pass annual defense bill that the Senate will vote on later this month. Tester's bill requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide benefits for veterans suffering from diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As the Trump Administration moves full-steam ahead to dismantle the health care law that provides coverage for millions of Americans, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today introduced a resolution with 46 colleagues putting in the official Senate record their condemnation of that "reckless" effort and demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) defend existing law in court and halt its efforts to repeal the health care pr  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release on July 1: U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. "As public schools across the country face devastating  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following joint op-ed with Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana: As two farmers from rural America who moonlight as U.S. senators, we know that many folks who live in urban centers may be unfamiliar with how meat goes from farms and ranches in Montana and Iowa to grocery stores in New York or Los Angeles. But it requires only a brief look under the hood of the beef supply chain to diagnose the grave crisis currently facing American farm  more