WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: Continuing his efforts to ensure bank executives and federal regulators are held accountable for the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today pressed officials on their failure to "drop the hammer" on bank management during a Senate Banking Committee hearing. Tester demanded that as regulators conduct their review of what led up to the Bank's collapse, they make sure t  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines at a Senate Banking Committee hearing today demanded answers from regulators on the cause of the banking crisis, including how the San Francisco Federal Reserve was focused on climate change policy rather than the Federal Reserve's dual mandate of price stability and full employment. A transcript of Senator Daines' opening remarks following by his questioning of M  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 31, 2023: Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke questioned senior officials at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Parks Service (NPS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing. National Parks Service: Congressman Zinke pressed the Director of NPS Charles Sams on park rationing, specifically at Gl  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Western Montana Congressman and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke questioned President Biden's current Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland on her budget request for FY24 at the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee. At the hearing, Congressman Zinke grilled Secretary Haaland on the administration's policy to shut down mining in the Unite  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted in support of H.R. 1 - the Lower Energy Costs Act. This legislation was the top priority for House Republicans in the 118th Congress. The Lowering Energy Costs Act focuses on spurring responsible development of domestic energy and mineral resources, eliminating burdensome permitting requirements, creating jobs, and securing our supply chains and energy infrastruct  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following statement on March 30, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement about the 2021 "Drag Story Time" hosted at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. "The news of Malmstrom Air Force Base hosting a drag queen story hour for children is infuriating. The mission of the Department of Defense is to 'provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security.' I  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines appeared on Fox's The Story with Marth MacCallum to discuss the national security threat posed by Mexican drug cartels and the bill he helped introduce to designate them foreign terrorist organizations. Daines on his bill to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations: "Look, enough is enough. These Mexican cartels are invading our country and they're spread  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a letter to Pentagon leadership today with Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) demanding answers from the Biden administration on the "Drag Story Time" that took place at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana. * * * March 31, 2023 To: The Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, 14  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today delivered the following remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference slamming federal regulators' focus on climate change rather than the Federal Reserve's dual mandate and said that along with inflation it contributed to the banking crisis. Earlier today, at a Senate Banking Committee hearing  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following statement on March 31, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to the indictment of President Donald Trump. "Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's indictment of President Trump is politically motivated. "Indicting a former president on what is normally a misdemeanor charge in New York is an unprecedented abuse of power requiring legal gymnastics and further undermine  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following statement on March 29, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after voting to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations of Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq. The resolution passed the U.S. Senate by a bipartisan vote of 66-30 and now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives. "It is the constitutional duty of Congress to ensure that the American people have a voice when our sons an  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: Following today's Senate Banking hearing on the recent bank failures, U.S. Senator Steve Daines appeared on Fox Business' Cavuto: Coast to Coast to talk about what led to Silicon Valley Bank's failure including President Biden's inflation crisis and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's wokeness. Daines on the cause of Silicon Valley Bank's failure: "Neil, I just came from the Bank  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 29, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to block President Biden's burdensome Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) to revoke the new rule. "Today's passage of my challenge to President Biden's ridiculous Waters of the United States regulation is a victory for Montana's farmers and ranchers. The President and his army of unelected Washington  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 29, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today reintroduced a bipartisan bill that would make expanded access to telehealth services permanent. These services were used extensively during the pandemic and many Americans, especially those in rural areas, still depend on them to access care. "Telehealth helps ensure Montanans in every corner of our state have  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Following continued pressure from U.S. Senator Jon Tester leading into President Biden's recent trip to Ottawa, Canada, the Biden Administration this week announced that the two countries intend to reach an agreement in principle by this summer to reduce and mitigate the impacts of water pollution in the Kootenai watershed. Tester has been Montana's most vocal advocate for a fix to the problem, and first cal  more

GREAT FALLS, Montana, March 24 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: After meeting with leaders at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls today and discussing the Chinese spy balloon incident, U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced his plan to introduce a bill to require a gap analysis of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) capabilities. The analysis would expose any limitations that have been or have the potential to be exploited by foreign countries th  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release on March 29, 2023: U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), and Steve Daines (R-Montana) today introduced Ending the Notorious, Aggressive, and Remorseless Criminal Organizations and Syndicates (NARCOS) Act. The Ending the NARCOS legislation would designate the following Mexican cartels   more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, including a provision from Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02), the Restore Onshore Energy Production Act. This provision would require the Biden Administration immediately resume onshore oil and gas lease sales in compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act. "The Biden Administration's attack on domestic energy crippled our economy   more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- 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 two weeks ago 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 Dave Zincowicz, a retired Vietnam Veteran from Ravalli County. Dave is on a fixed income and it's difficul  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: The Senate today unanimously passed Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester's bipartisan Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2023 following a Senate floor speech from Tester urging swift passage of the must-pass legislation. This bipartisan bill would increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected dis  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 30, 2023: The Senate today unanimously passed Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester's bipartisan Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2023 following a Senate floor speech from Tester urging swift passage of the must-pass legislation. This bipartisan bill would increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and military sur  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.) are introducing bipartisan legislation to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take a more comprehensive look at the factors that best prevent veteran suicide. The Senators' Not Just a Number Act would require VA to examine veterans' benefits usage   more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and his Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee colleagues U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are spearheading a legislative push to deliver a complete overhaul of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. The Senators will be introducing comprehensive legisl  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As part of his continued efforts to support the trucking industry and ease American supply chains, U.S. Senator Jon Tester this week introduced the bipartisan Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act to create a short-term authorization of funds to increase truck parking capacity and improve existing truck parking infrastructure. Tester was joined by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Joh  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 27, 2023: Continuing his efforts to support Montana firefighters and first responders, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today re-introduced his bipartisan Fire Station Construction Grant Act, which would create a federal grant program to build, maintain, and update fire stations across the United States. "Montana firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities s  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release and letter on March 30, 2023: As part of his continued efforts to hold executives accountable for the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), U.S. Senator Jon Tester today led a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) calling for an investigation into Bank executives' stock sales ahead of the collapse. "We write regarding recent news reports of executives at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) selling mill  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following statement on March 29, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement on his vote for the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Biden Administration's Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. "As a third-generation farmer, I know firsthand how important clean water is to Montana's economy and the health of our communities. "After listening to Montana farmers, ranchers, and other stakehold  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.) are introducing bipartisan legislation to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take a more comprehensive look at the factors that best prevent veteran suicide. The Senators' Not Just a Number Act would require VA to examine veterans' benefits usage in their annual suicide prevention report, i  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: The U.S. Senate this week unanimously passed Montana U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines' resolution to declare April 1-7 National Asbestos Awareness Week. The resolution aims to raise awareness of the ongoing effects of asbestos and directs the U.S. Surgeon General to issue a warning to all Americans about the dangers of asbestos exposure. "The unfortunate truth is that too many folks in rural America  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and his Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee colleagues U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are spearheading a legislative push to deliver a complete overhaul of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. The Senators will be introducing comprehensive legislation in the coming days that would require   more