WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - New guidance cuts red tape, provides clarity for hemp producers and financial institutions * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced today that federally insured credit unions may now provide financial services to legally operating hemp businesses and farmers under a new guidance published by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). This decision comes after months of efforts by Tester to redu  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Want Assurances No Price-Fixing or Market Manipulation Took Place Following Fire at Kansas Beef Processing Plant * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging a swift, thorough and transparent investigation into the impact of the fire that occurred at a Tyson Food beef processing plant in H  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Presents highest legislative honor, talks tariffs, farm consolidation with Senator * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today was honored by the Montana Farmers Union for his leadership on issues facing family farmers in rural America. The group presented Tester, the Senate's only working farmer, with its Golden Triangle Award - their highest legislative honor. "It's a great honor to represent Montana's   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on limitations the Department of Homeland Security identified in its estimates of the unlawfully resident population. The report (GAO-19-640R) is titled "Department of Homeland Security: Review of Report on Agency Estimates of Foreign Nationals Unlawfully Residing in the U.S.". The report was sent to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, chairman, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, ranking member of the Senate Appro  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today grilled U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin during a Senate Banking Committee hearing over the Trump Administration's plan to address the ongoing affordable housing crisis and whether it would provide relief for communities in Montana and across rural America: "I don't want to talk about housing in San Francisco or LA or Denver or New York City or Atlanta or Miami or Houston.  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - U.S. Court of Appeals demands VA reimburse billions of dollars to veterans whose emergency care was only partially covered by other insurance * * * Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) and House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) applauded this week's federal court ruling   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte today led a bipartisan effort to aid cattle producers and live-cattle haulers who face a crisis because of an August fire. Gianforte sent a letter to Raymond P. Martinez, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), requesting an emergency declaration and suspension of the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations for live-cattle haulers. "It is important   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte recognized Matthew and Kirstin Lundgren of Billings with his Spirit of Montana commendation for their dedication to community, efforts to build successful nonprofits, and commitment to prepare children to succeed. Matt and Kristen have impacted many lives in their community, helping to equip individuals and nonprofit organizations with the tools they need to thrive. Gianforte'  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte this morning spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to remember the victims and honor the heroes of September 11th. "Today, we remember. Today, we pray. Today, we honor Americans of every background who, in the aftermath of that fateful day, united under our flag, bound together by a sense of unflappable courage, duty, and patriotism," Gianforte said. Gianfort  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte today urged committee leaders to include federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe in a larger, must-pass bill. Gianforte asked leaders of the House Armed Services Committee to include his bill, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act, H.R. 297, in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. "The Little Shell people have waited long enough.   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following floor remarks in memory of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks: "Today, Montanans, and Americans across our country are taking time to reflect upon the horrific acts of 9/11. "Today, we take time to remember the thousands of lives lost on that horrible day. "We remember the daughters who lost their mothers, the sons who lost their fathers, loved ones and friends, and the communities that were broken by these   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator urges Seaman Apprentice William Fields & 73 others to be added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester is continuing his push to honor a Great Falls Vietnam veteran who died during the sinking of the USS Frank E. Evans 50 years ago. Tester joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of members urging the Sen  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator urges Seaman Apprentice William Fields & 73 others to be added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester is continuing his push to honor a Great Falls Vietnam veteran who died during the sinking of the USS Frank E. Evans 50 years ago. Tester joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of members urging the Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee to incl  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following statement in recognition of the 18th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: "Like all Americans, I will never forget the dread and grief I felt on that horrific day. But while the attacks were meant to destroy us, they ultimately proved our nation's strength and resilience. "As we pause to remember those we lost, let's also reflect on the lessons we learned in the days and weeks after September 11th that b  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Inspector General report in May concluded staff turnover at small airports could contribute to security weaknesses * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today pressed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Acting Deputy Administrator Patricia F.S. Cogswell on what the Administration is doing to increase pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and other TSA staff at small airports in Montana a  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Tester led charge to reauthorize critical grant programs for Montana firefighters * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced a $1,887,740 Department of Homeland Security grant to the Missoula Rural Fire District that will help the district hire 10 new firefighters. "Montanans know that fires are burning hotter and lo  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Trump Administration rolls out another controversial dark money rule that allows special interest groups to hide their donors * * * As the Internal Revenue Service today rolls out a new rule to allow special interest groups to hide their donors, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, who has led the charge to shine a light on dark money in politics, penned a letter to the Trump Administration urging the proposal  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator confirms nominee tasked with providing leadership for veterans across the country * * * Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jon Tester today voted to confirm James Byrne, President Trump's nominee to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "It's our job to ensure that VA lead  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator confirms nominee tasked with providing leadership for veterans across the country * * * Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jon Tester today voted to confirm James Byrne, President Trump's nominee to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "It's our job to ensure that VA leadership is fully committed to serving our nation's veterans," Ranking Me  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - U.S. Court of Appeals demands VA reimburse billions of dollars to veterans whose emergency care was only partially covered by other insurance * * * Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) and House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) applauded this week's federal court ruling in Wolfe v. Wilkie, which found the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - $9,282,000 to help prepare for, mitigate catastrophic flooding * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced more than $9 million has been awarded to help Montana floodplain managers map and prepare for potential flooding each spring. Tester secured the $9,282,000 through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration and will help mak  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured millions for Montana's defense installations and national security research programs, as well as upgrades to Montana's water infrastructure as part of the bipartisan 2020 Defense Appropriations and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Acts. "Few things I do here in Washington are as important as ensuring that Montanans are safe and secure - both from global threat  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Early Head Start - Child Care Partnerships help ensure parents who work at all hours can access childcare * * * As part of his ongoing efforts to expand access to childcare and early childhood education across Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $1,030,510 for Early Head Start--Child Care Partnerships in the Fort Belknap Indian Community. "Just because some parents don't have the luxu  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan bill to raise veterans' disability compensation, accommodate for cost-of-living adjustment heads to President's desk Nearly 23,000 Montana veterans received disability compensation last year * * * U.S. Senators Jon Tester, (D-Mont.), and Johnny Isakson, (R-Ga.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, today led the Senate's passage of the Veterans' Compe  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan bill to raise veterans' disability compensation, accommodate for cost-of-living adjustment heads to President's desk; Nearly 23,000 Montana veterans received disability compensation last year * * * U.S. Senators Jon Tester, (D-Mont.), and Johnny Isakson, (R-Ga.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Committee on V  more