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U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Montana Newsletter for Sunday December 08, 2019 ( 23 items )  

Bennet Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Stop Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * - Bill Strengthens Preventative Efforts to Protect Water Infrastructure and Ecosystems from Invasive Mussels * * * Today, U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced the Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act of 2019, new legislation to slow the movement of aquatic invasive species, like zebra and quagga mussels, into Colorado, Montana, a  more

Daines Resolves Century Old Dispute, Proposes New Settlement Framework to Permanently Protect Water Rights for All Montanans
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Requires CSKT Tribe to Permanently Relinquish 97% of all Water Rights Claims Across Montana, Save Taxpayers Over $400 Million * * * After years of negotiations, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has reached an agreement with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) on a new framework for a permanent water settlement. Daines will introduce the Montana Water Rights Protectio  more

Following Tester Push, $2 Million Headed to Billings for Economic Development
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Department of Commerce grant will help spur growth, create jobs in Yellowstone County * * * Following a push by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced today the Big Sky Economic Development Authority of Billings will receive a $2 million grant to support its Rock 31 Connect Build Grow business incubator. It is expected to create 95 jobs and generate $6.6 million in private  more

House Passes Gianforte's Bipartisan Bill Cracking Down on Illegal Robocalls
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: On a vote of 417-3, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed Congressman Greg Gianforte's bipartisan bill to crack down on illegal robocalls. "Robocalls are not only a nuisance, they're a threat to honest, hardworking Montanans. Illegal robocalls seek to exploit them and steal their personal, private information and their money," Gianforte said. "It's time to put an end to the stories I hear too ofte  more

On Senate Floor, Ranking Member Tester Pays Tribute to Chairman Isakson's Service to Veterans
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Tester commends Isakson for his lifelong service, bipartisanship, and commitment to improving the lives of veterans * * * Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jon Tester (D-Mont.) took to the Senate floor yesterday to pay tribute to Chairman Johnny Isakson's (R-Ga.) 45-year political career, legislative accompli  more

On Senate Floor, Ranking Member Tester Pays Tribute to Chairman Isakson's Service to Veterans
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Tester commends Isakson for his lifelong service, bipartisanship, and commitment to improving the lives of veterans * * * Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jon Tester (D-Mont.) took to the Senate floor yesterday to pay tribute to Chairman Johnny Isakson's (R-Ga.) 45-year political career, legislative accomplishments, and their continued friendship. "The reason we're all here t  more

Rep. Gianforte Recognizes Peggy White Well Known Buffalo and Susan Kelly of Garryowen
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte recognized Peggy White Well Known Buffalo and Susan Kelly of Garryowen for their work to fight hunger in their community. Peggy and Susan created a community food bank that is a part of the Center Pole Foundation they launched in 1999. The food bank feeds more than 300 people a week, serving not only the Crow Indian Reservation but also the surrounding community. Gianforte's Spi  more

Sen. Test: 'Folks in Rural Montana Waited Years' for Wireless Investments That Never Came
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: "Folks in rural Montana waited years" for promised investments in rural wireless infrastructure that never came, U.S. Senator Jon Tester pressed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week. Tester's statement comes after Chairman Ajit Pai's announcement that the agency is shuttering a program promised to rural America and replacing it with a $9 billion investment into building 5G infrastructure--a tal  more

Sen. Tester Secures $5 Million to Boost Affordable Housing on Fort Peck Reservation
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Grant will increase safety in Indian Country * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced he secured a $5 million grant to help expand safe, affordable housing on Fort Peck. The competitive grant is awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and will benefit the Fort Peck Reservation. "Every Montanan deserves to have a place they can call home," Tester said. "This grant   more

Sen. Tester Secures Nearly $4 Million to Boost Affordable Housing on Flathead Reservation
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Grant will increase safety in Indian Country * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced he secured a $3.9 million grant to help expand safe, affordable housing on the Flathead Reservation. The competitive grant is awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and will benefit the Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority. "Every Montanan deserves to have a place they can call h  more

Sen. Tester Secures Nearly $5 Million to Boost Affordable Housing on Rocky Boy's Reservation
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Grant will increase safety in Indian Country * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced he secured a $4.9 million grant to help expand safe, affordable housing on the Rocky Boy's Reservation. The competitive grant is awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and will benefit the Chippewa Cree Tribe. "Every Montanan deserves to have a place they can call home," Tester   more

Sen. Tester Urges Timely and Confidential Mental Health Care for Servicemembers in Need
BIG SANDY, Montana, Nov. 26 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Following delays in care at the Defense Health Agency, Tester cautions Secretary Esper: "All servicemembers need to be taken seriously" * * * Following reports of delayed care, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide timely and confi  more

Sen. Tester Urges USDA to Act on Northeast Montana Wheat Crisis
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator: recent, heavy snow qualifies Northeastern Montana farmers for WHIP+ assistance * * * Following two weeks of heavy snow in Northeast Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester this week urged Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to reconsider his decision not to extend disaster assistance to the region's wheat farmers who were forced to leave their crop in the ground or were left with unsellable produ  more

Sen. Tester Welcomes Deal to Introduce CSKT Water Impact
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Water Compact is supported by Tribes, landowners, farmers, ranchers, small businesses, sportsmen, and the Montana Legislature Senator Tester first introduced the Compact in 2016 * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today welcomed bipartisan interest in introducing the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Water Compact in the United States Senate, after years of uncertainty for CSKT, landowners, an  more

Sen. Tester, Colleagues Spearhead Legislation to Improve Transportation Services for Rural Veterans
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan bill will permanently expand travel assistance programs & clarify requirements for volunteer drivers to connect more veterans to care * * * U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are spearheading bipartisan  more

Sens. Daines, Tester Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species, Protect Montana Water Recreation Economy
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced a bipartisan bill, the Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act of 2019, to stop the movement of aquatic invasive species, like zebra and quagga mussels, into Montana to protect Montana's water recreation economy. "Water is the most essential need of Montana communities, and a powerhouse for our recreation economy," Daines said. "Our bipartisan bill h  more

Sens. Tester, Collins, Casey, Daines Fight to Protect Veterans From Predatory Pension Poachers
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - The Veteran Pension Protection Act requires VA to proactively and systematically track victims, scammers, and trends of financial exploitation * * * U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced legislation this week requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs  more

Tester Nominates 34 Montanans to Military Service Academies
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator announces 2020 student nominees for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Academies * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) today announced he is nominating 34 students across Montana to the nation's most prestigious U.S. military service academies. Tester selected the 34 nominees to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S.  more

Tester Secures Nearly $700,000 for Five Montana Tribal Colleges
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Funds will go towards campus improvement projects * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced today that $663,106 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tribal College Initiative Grants have been awarded to five Tribal Colleges across Montana for much-needed campus improvement projects. "Every Montanan deserves access to a quality education, and Tribal Colleges play a critical role in making sure that  more

Tester Successfully Cuts Red Tape for Hemp Farmers, Provides Access to Banking Services
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator's efforts lead federal regulators to clarify rules for providing financial services to hemp producers * * * Following his repeated efforts to get federal regulators to cut red tape for hemp farmers, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is announcing that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) will issue a guidance allowing hemp producers to b  more

Tester to Major League Baseball: Now is Not Time for MLB to Reduce Its Role in Baseball in Rural America
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Reported Major League Baseball plan would sever ties with Minor League teams, including in Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester today sent a letter to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Robert Manfred opposing the League's proposed plan to sever ties with dozens of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) teams, including Pioneer League baseball clubs in Billings, Great Falls,   more

Tester, Collins, Casey, Daines Fight to Protect Veterans From Predatory Pension Poachers
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - The Veteran Pension Protection Act requires VA to proactively and systematically track victims, scammers, and trends of financial exploitation * * * U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced legislation this week requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to systematically track victims, scammers, and trends to proacti  more

U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes Tester's Future Act to Renew Tribal College Funding
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Bill to fund Montana Tribal Colleges and Universities--whose funding expired Sept 30th--awaits President's signature * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester's bill to bolster higher education in Indian Country passed the U.S. Senate this week with unanimous support. The Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act would provide $255 million annually in mandatory federal fun  more