WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Following Trump's raid of defense budget for border wall, Senator stresses urgent need to secure new C-130Js and replenish funding for military equipment * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester reinforced his commitment to Montana's troops and their missions following a visit to the Montana Air National Guard's (MANG) 120th Airlift Wing in Great Falls. The Senator highlighted the urgent need to secure new C-  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester and Governor Steve Bullock requested assurances from Billings-area Indian Health Service (IHS) Director Bryce Redgrave that members of the newly federally recognized Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians have access to all IHS facilities in the face of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. "We write to urge you to take immediate steps to ensure that members of the Little Sh  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 11: * * * - Senator also urges IRS to extend tax-filing deadline for individual Montana taxpayers * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester is pushing the Trump Administration to make sure that vulnerable Montanans--in particular, seniors, folks with disabilities, and direct care providers--have access to information about test kits, proper protection, and the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-1  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: At a recent congressional hearing, Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) praised the effectiveness of Good Neighbor Authority in promoting forest health and called for more action to improve the resiliency of federal forests. Gianforte hailed efforts to boost forest management through Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), which allows the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to partner with state and local governments to   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following statement after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced that a Montanan visiting Maryland tested positive for coronavirus: "As the governor of Maryland confirms Montana's first case of coronavirus, protecting the health and safety of Montanans is my top priority. Our country is one of the best prepared in the world to keep Montanans safe from the virus. The Trump administration is using the tools Congress has provided to r  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte's bipartisan legislation to create a universal telephone number as the National Suicide Hotline took a step forward, unanimously passing the Communications and Technology Subcommittee. The legislation designates "9-8-8" as the universal telephone number for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system, which is operated through the National Suicide Pr  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bipartisan bill, the Great American Outdoors Act, which will provide full, mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address the maintenance backlog in our national parks and forests. The introduction of the legislation follows a meeting Daines held with President Trump and Leader McConnell to secure their support for the historic conservatio  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 11: U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced the Trump administration adopted his proposal to remove barriers and lower the costs of testing and treatment for the Coronavirus. Today's announcement is a direct response to Daines' letter sent to the Administration yesterday urging this action. "Montanans shouldn't be faced with barriers and high costs for Coronavirus testing and treatment," Daines said. "  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - This Follows Daines' February Visit to Malmstrom, Push for the Project * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $15,077,162 will go to the renovation of an existing 3-Bay hangar at Malmstrom Air Force Base to facilitate the storage of the new MH-139 helicopter. "This is good news for Montana and will help modernize our defense infrastructure at Malmstrom," Daines said. "We must ensur  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following statement on Malmstrom Air Force Base declaring a public health emergency due to coronavirus: U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement on Malmstrom Air Force Base declaring a public health emergency due to coronavirus. "Cindy's and my prayers are with all of those at Malmstrom and handling this situation. We've overcome many challenges and difficult times in our nation before, just like we will overcome   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following statement on Malmstrom Air Force Base declaring a public health emergency due to coronavirus: "Cindy's and my prayers are with all of those at Malmstrom and handling this situation. We've overcome many challenges and difficult times in our nation before, just like we will overcome this one. I've been in contact with several personnel on the ground including Colonel Reeves and understand they are taking all the right prec  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Plan Includes Temporary Payroll Tax Cut, Paid Leave, Suspension of Tariffs, Removal of Barriers to Testing * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines unveiled a slate of proposals and priorities he's working to advance that will help protect Montana families and their finances during the Coronavirus outbreak. Daines is working to ensure impacted families and businesses have paid leave, temporarily waive pay  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to take swift action to eliminate monetary barriers to testing for the Coronavirus disease. This follows Daines' rollout yesterday of several proposals he's working on with the Trump administration to protect Montana families and their finances during the Coronavirus outbreak. "I write to you today regarding the outbreak o  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: With foreign interference in U.S. elections posing an imminent threat to American democracy, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is backing legislation that would increase transparency in digital advertising, require campaigns to report interference to federal authorities and close loopholes that allow foreign nationals to contribute to campaigns. Following the 2016 election, national security agencies raised alarms abo  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator nominated class of 2024 students for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Academies * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester congratulated Havre-area high school student Cameron Pleninger on his appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Cameron is a varsity cross country, wrestling, and track athlete at Havre High School. He was also accepted to the United States Coast Guard Academy's AI  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator sends second letter to Veterans Health Administration requesting additional details on agency's response and preparedness * * * Following a recent surge in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases among veterans, Ranking Member Jon Tester of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee is doubling down on his push to ensure the U.S.   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator sends second letter to Veterans Health Administration requesting additional details on agency's response and preparedness * * * Following a recent surge in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases among veterans, Ranking Member Jon Tester of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee is doubling down on his push to ensure the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking appropriate measures to   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: In the face of the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced legislation to guarantee tests to confirm infections will be free, as well as to open up emergency Unemployment Insurance funds to replace wages lost by Montanans who have been affected by the outbreak. "No Montanan should have to pay for COVID-19 testing-period," said Tester. "That's why I'm backing legisl  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Top VSOs join Tester and 34 Senators on bill to add Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, Parkinsonism, and Hypertension to list of service-connected presumptive conditions * * * After years of inaction from the Trump Administration, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is leading more than 30 Senate colleagues in introducing the bicameral Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2020, which would require the   more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Top VSOs join Tester and 34 Senators on bill to add Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, Parkinsonism, and Hypertension to list of service-connected presumptive conditions * * * After years of inaction from the Trump Administration, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is leading more than 30 Senate colleagues in introducing the bicamera  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Continuing his efforts to curb the growing number of farmer suicides across the country, U.S. Senator Jon Tester pressed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on his agency's efforts to address the crisis. Tester-who recently introduced his bipartisan Seeding Rural Resilience Act to address the farmer suicide crisis-has been working tirelessly to get the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make strides tow  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following statement after four cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Montana: "The first cases of COVID-19 in Montana have been confirmed, and I am coordinating closely with the Governor's office and federal agencies as I monitor the situation,". "This outbreak is serious, which is why I've introduced legislation to ensure that testing for this disease is free to all Montanans, and why I've been holding the Administration acc  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator's bill will expand rural broadband, direct the FCC to build more accurate coverage maps * * * Rural America is one step closer to better broadband coverage after U.S. Senator Jon Tester's bill to make broadband mapping more accurate cleared the United States Senate this week and heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. "In rural America, broadband infrastructure plays a critica  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan Major Richard Star Act would allow combat-wounded veterans to receive disability compensation and retired pay * * * U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to provide combat-wounded veterans with less than 20 years of service, also known as Chapter 61 Veterans, both their disability compensation and retired pay. Currently,  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan Major Richard Star Act would allow combat-wounded veterans to receive disability compensation and retired pay * * * U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to provide combat-wounded veterans with less than 20 years of service, also known as Chapter 61 Vet  more