WASHINGTON, March 15 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following remarks: U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered the following remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference slamming the Biden administration for their big bank bailout and reckless financial policies that cost Montanans. "We've been watching President Biden in the Senate Democrats' very reckless financial policies and we're seeing crisis, after crisis, after crisis. And now, the chickens are co  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023, and letter: U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today joined Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05), and member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Kim Schrier, M.D. (D,   more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following remarks on March 22, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered the following remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference bashing the Biden administration for putting hardworking Montanans' life savings at the mercy of the radical Left's agenda. On Monday, President Biden vetoed bipartisan legislation intended to protect retirement savings from politicized investments based on environmental,   more

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the "Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act" to protect firefighters, communities and property in Montana and throughout the West from the devastating impacts of wildfires. The bill ensures the continued use of fire retardant to manage wildfires and protect communities and firefighters. "In recent years, Montana has suffered catastrophic wildfire seasons.  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Finance Committee hearing today questioned U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on the administration's actions to counter China's growing intellectual property abuses and the importance of a robust trade agenda to Montana and America. On the importance of trade for Montana farmers, ranchers, and small businesses: Senator Daines: "Thanks for comin  more

WASHINGTON, March 17 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following statement: * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines, member of the U.S. Senate Banking and Senate Finance Committees, today released the following statement in response to President Biden's calls for increased regulation on the banking sector. "The Biden administration has a perfect record at never letting a crisis go to waste in order to pound the private sector with more burdensome regulations. "Two things clearly accelerate  more

GREAT FALLS, Montana, March 25 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 24, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hosted a roundtable discussion with Montana ag leaders at Torgerson's LLC in Great Falls, Montana, to get their input on the upcoming farm bill. "I can't think of a better to way to end National Ag Week than meeting face to face with the Montana ag leaders who dedicate their lives to growing our food, fiber and fuel. Ag Week may only be one week a  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 24, 2023, and letter: U.S. Senator Daines joined Banking Committee Republicans, including Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC) today in demanding answers and seeking records from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco regarding their supervision of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in the leadup to its failure. Daines and his fellow Banking Committee Republicans are   more

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a group of his Republican colleagues in calling on the Biden administration to remove the onerous regulations that the U.S. Department of Commerce has placed on semiconductor funding from the bipartisan "CHIPS and Science Act." "We write to express our concerns with recently released U.S. Department of Commerce guidance for applicants seeking federal semiconductor i  more

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release and letter: Senator Daines, along with all Senate Finance Committee Republicans, called on the Biden administration to take steps to prevent adverse outcomes for Montanans who rely on Medicare Advantage (MA) following a recent proposal that includes changes to the diagnostic system for some chronic conditions, including diabetes and congestive heart failure, that could cause disruptions in care and sudden pr  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 22, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Finance Committee hearing today questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra about President Biden's FY24 budget. Secretary Becerra refused to disavow President Biden's hypocrisy for dodging $500,000 in Medicare taxes. Daines also questioned the secretary on violence against crisis pregnancy centers and churches as well as potential cu  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05), and member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08) were joined  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 24, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today addressed hundreds of Montanans at the 43rdAnnual Montana Rural Water Systems Association Technical Convention in Great Falls. In his remarks, Tester highlighted critical investments in rural water infrastructure he secured through his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the 2023 government funding packag  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, issued the following news release and letter on March 23, 2023: Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) joined every single member of Congress from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana in sending a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to help expedite a final agreement between the U.S. and Canada to modernize and strengthen the Columbia River Treaty. Excerpts from the letter: "The United States an  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: As skyrocketing inflation continues to crush Montana families, indicated by the February CPI report released this morning showing a six percent annual increase, U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the next video in a series chronicling its impact on Montanans. This week, Senator Daines is highlighting Charlie Martin, a small business owner in Ravalli County. Biden's inflation crisis is not only affecting Ch  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: The House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on Congressman Matt Rosendale's (MT-02) H.R. 1419, the Comprehensive Grizzly Bear Management Act of 2023. This legislation would direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue a final rule that would remove the Northern Continental Divide population of grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). "It was estimated that only   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: The House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on Congressman Matt Rosendale's (MT-02) H.R. 200, the Forest Information Reform (FIR) Act. This legislation would amend federal requirements to allow the U.S. Forest Service to incorporate new ESA information into its Public Lands Management projects, ending delays caused by unnecessary re-initiation of consultation. "The Cottonwoo  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release dated March 23, 2023: Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02), along with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-04), and Congressman Ken Buck (CO-02), introduced the Bipartisan Ban on Congressional Stock Ownership Act to ban Members of Congress and their spouses from owning and trading individual stocks. "We've made strides to ensure that Congress returned to an honest and properly functioning legislative body - e  more

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Congressmen Matt Rosendale (MT-02) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) introduced the USA Beef Act to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to ensure that beef labeled "Product of the U.S.A." is exclusively born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States. "American ranchers deserve a fair shake. Allowing multinational companies to utilize the 'Product of the U.S.A.' label while importing foreign meat is  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release and letter: Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05) and member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08), joined by every single me  more

WASHINGTON, March 17 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release: In a letter to U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Michael Vision, President of the Montana Pilots Association (MPA), urges senators to oppose the nomination of Phil Washington to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The letter points to  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: The Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senator Jon Tester to authorize several Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction projects in fiscal year 2023to better serve veterans, including at the Fort Harrison VA facility in Montana. The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. "I'll always fight to connect veterans with their hard-earned health care a  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: The Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senator Jon Tester to authorize several Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction projects in fiscal year 2023 to better serve veterans, including at the Fort Harrison VA facility in Montana. The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. "I'll always fight to connect   more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on March 22, 2023: * * * Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester today released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it lowered interest rates for VA Native American Direct Loans (NADL) from 6% to 2.5% to make housing more affordable for Native American veterans: "This is a step in the right direction i  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: As a part of his continued push to hire more law enforcement officers and keep Montana communities safe, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced his support for the bipartisan Recruit and Retain Act, which will boost hiring by expanding grant programs to recruit and retain officers in understaffed departments. "Keeping Montana safe is my top priority and I am proud to be working alongside o  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today pressed U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Randy Moore on the agency's decision to allow the expansion of a private resort located in the Flathead National Forest in Swan Valley. Tester criticized the Forest Service for attempting to use a categorical exclusion to approve expansion of the resort, which would allow the project to avoid conducting a thorough and public environmental   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As part of his continued push to lower health care costs and hold massive corporations accountable, U.S. Senator Jon Tester this week successfully attached a provision to close a loophole that would allow Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to charge retroactive "clawback" fees, to his PBM Transparency Act. The bipartisan bill is aimed at holding PBMs accountable and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. "Ma  more

WASHINGTON, March 18 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 16, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $1 million to address the ongoing mental health crisis in Montana through his Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Tester pushed for Montana to be selected as one of 15 states to receive this $1 million one-year Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) planning grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Ment  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he secured $117,648 in U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Community Wildfire Defense Grants from his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to mitigate wildfire risk in Treasure County. The funding awarded to the Department of Natural resources and Conservation, Treasure County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update and Modernization   more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 24, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he secured $118 million through his bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to replace the structurally deficient Yellowstone River Bridge in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park. "I'll take on anyone to defend our public lands so that they're still around for our kids and grandkids," said Tester. "That's why I'm proud to have hel  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he secured $1,589,160 in U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Community Wildfire Defense Grants from his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to mitigate wildfire risk in southwestern Montana. The funding awarded to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, North Gallatin Front Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Project will  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he secured $1,683,300 in U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Community Wildfire Defense Grants from his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to mitigate wildfire risk in Missoula County. The funding awarded to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Blackfoot Watershed Refugia will be used to increase the scale and pace of  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he secured $5,893,905 in U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Community Wildfire Defense Grants from his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to mitigate wildfire risk in Lincoln County. The funding awarded to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Lincoln County Wildland Urban Interface Communities Wildfire Risk Mitigatio  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following statement on March 22, 2023: * * * Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester today released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it lowered interest rates for VA Native American Direct Loans (NADL) from 6% to 2.5% percent to make housing more affordable for Native American veterans: "This is a step in the right direction in getting Native American veterans access to  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) today introduced their bipartisan Industrial Hemp Act to ease the burden on farmers who grow grain and fiber hemp, or "industrial hemp." The Senators' bill would exempt farmers exclusively growing industrial hemp from the burdensome background checks and costly sampling and testing protocols required for farmers growing cannabinoid h  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today joined his Republican colleagues Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) in introducing the Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act to prohibit America's foreign adversaries including Iran, North Korea, China and Russia from purchasing or leasing U.S. farmland. This bipartisan bill builds on Senator Teste  more