WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release on May 10, 2023: Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Campus Free Speech Restoration Act, a bill that protects the First Amendment rights of students at public universities from unconstitutional speech codes and so-called free speech zones. The legislation also requires private colleges and universities to honestly disclose their policies on free expression and obligates private institutions to  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release on May 10, 2023: Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) joined Sens. Steve Daines (R-Montana), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) in introducing legislation to stop the Department of Defense (DOD) from using taxpayer funds or taxpayer-funded facilities from hosting drag queen performances. The bill follows recent reports that Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls,  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a group of his Republican colleagues in introducing a bill to stop the Department of Defense (DOD) from using taxpayer funds or taxpayer-funded facilities from hosting drag queen performances. The bill follows recent reports that Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, hosted a "Drag Story Time" targeted at children at the base library. In addition, Daines sent ano  more

WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on May 10, 2023: U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to bolster hydropower production in Montana, Washington, and throughout the United States. The "Community and Hydropower Improvement Act" would streamline the permitting process, increase tribal engagement and oversight, expedite low impact projects, promote healthy habitat and  more

WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 11, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, led a hearing today questioning Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley on whether the President's 2024 Budget proposal provides the Department of Defense all of the tools needed to defend our national security. Tester made an impassioned plea for Congress to avo  more

WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on May 11, 2023: The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2023, with Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley providing testimony on his bipartisan legislation with Montana's U.S. Senator Steve Daines. The SAFE Banking Act would ensure legal cannabis businesses finally receive access to critical banking and financial services. In Merkley's testimony, he hig  more

WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) issued the following statement after the passage of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. "President Biden's open border policies have created nothing short of a national security and humanitarian crisis at our southern border," said Rep. Rosendale. "With Title 42 expiring, we must put strong policies in place to stop the invasion of illegal immigrants - the Secure the Bord  more

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Headwaters Economics Executive Director Patty Hernandez involving a hybrid hearing on May 2, 2023, entitled "Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program: Improving Community Resilience": * * * I'm the Executive Director of Headwaters Economics, an independent nonprofit organization based in Montana./1 We work on community development, primarily with government partners   more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: To ensure continuous support for the nation's veterans, caregivers, and their families, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are introducing bipartisan legislation to extend essential Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and authorities currently set to expire May 11th. The Senators' Critic  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 12, 2023: As part of his continued push to bring a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub to Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) today announced Montana is now eligible to apply for the first Regional Tech Hub selection window, which opened today and runs through August 15. This funding will be awarded by the Department of Commerce and will come from the Senator's bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.   more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As part of his continued efforts to secure America's borders and combat the flow of fentanyl to Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced his support for bipartisan legislation that will allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain a similar authority to that used under Title 42 to immediately expel certain migrants who attempt to enter the U.S. or illegally cross the border. Tester's bipartisa  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 10, 2023: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today pressed top Indian Health Service and Interior Department officials on steps to address the public safety and public health crises facing Tribal communities. During the hearing, Tester grilled Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland on funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and emphasized the need to increase the number BIA law enforcement offi  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Following the catastrophic 2022 floods in southern Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured nearly $40 million in Federal Disaster Relief funding for the Custer Gallatin National Forest to repair roads, recreation-related facilitates, trails, trail bridges, and watershed-related locations. Of the nearly $40 million in funding for Custer Gallatin National Forest, $16.9 million is supplemental disaster funding s  more

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As part of his continued efforts to protect Montanans' freedom and privacy and counter foreign adversaries who want to undermine America's position as the world's leading economic power, U.S. Senator Jon Tester will lead a week of Senate action to counter China through a series of public and classified briefings and Senate hearings. "Montanans and folks all across this country value their freedom and privacy.   more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, issued the following news release: A bipartisan group led by Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Mary Peltola (D-AK) and eight of their colleagues introduced the bipartisan Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act. The goal of the legislation is to increase public access to National Parks and Forests and improve collaboration between Federal agencies and gateway communities. This is companion bill to legislation introduced by Senators S  more