WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: After 72 hours negotiating substantial, bipartisan improvements to COVID-19 stimulus legislation that had previously fallen far short, U.S. Senator Jon Tester voted to deliver critical, urgent relief to Montana workers, families, small businesses, hospitals and others hardest hit by the outbreak. On Sunday, Tester outlined his opposition to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's original spending package, which d  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Includes more than $7.6 million in Indian Housing funds for Montana Tribes * * * After 72 hours negotiating substantial, bipartisan improvements to the Senate's COVID-19 stimulus legislation, U.S. Senator Jon Tester voted to deliver $10 billion to strengthen Indian Country's response to the COVID-19 crisis--relief that Tester successfully pushed to include after it was omitted from Senate Majority   more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester applauded the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) move to activate the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) to a Level 1, enabling the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate more closely with federal and non-governmental partners to support the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that President Trump signed his bipartisan bill, the Emergency GI Fix for Coronavirus School Closures, into law. This legislation will stop veterans, and those who depend on them, from losing GI Bill education benefits during the Coronavirus outbreak. "During these times of uncertainty, veterans shouldn't have to worry about losing their GI benefits. I'm glad that Congre  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: On Monday, Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) introduced the bipartisan Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act. The legislation guarantees the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal health authorities, and urban Indian organizations access to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a federal repository of drugs and medical supplies that can be tapped if a public health emergency exhausts local suppl  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release $80 million, twice the minimum Congress allocated, in COVID-19 relief funds to the Indian Health Service (IHS) for dissemination to Tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian Organizations On Friday, Gianforte and a bipartisan group of 22 other House lawmakers urged HHS Secretary Al  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following statement as the Senate considers the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act: "Montanans are worried if their businesses will close and whether they'll see their next paycheck, which is why the federal government must step up immediately to help Montana workers, families, and small businesses during this time of crisis and uncertainty. After unnecessary delays and obstruction of a bipartisan agreement, I'm   more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Secures Over $10 Billion for Drug Development after working with NIH, FDA, BARDA, White House on Plan * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced a plan and over $10 billion in funding for accelerated drug development and manufacturing to treat and prevent the Coronavirus. Daines has been working with top healthcare and medical leaders including National Institute of Health Director Dr. Collins, Fe  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that he was able to successfully secure stronger provisions and critical funding for tribal communities in the Coronavirus Economic Recovery Package. Earlier this month, Daines urged President Trump to ensure Montana tribal communities have access to federal assistance during coronavirus outbreak. "As the Coronavirus pandemic impacts millions of Americans across the coun  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Votes for Bill to Provide Immediate Relief for MT Workers, Families, Small Businesses, Healthcare Professionals, Hospitals, Tribes * * * U.S. Senator Steve Daines voted and advanced a Coronavirus economic relief package that will provide Montana workers, small business, hospitals, and state and local governments more than one billion dollars in emergency relief to handle the Coronavirus outbreak.  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement after the Senate voted a second time against the CARES Act, a Coronavirus economic recovery package that would deliver major relief for millions of workers, working families and small businesses in Montana and across the country. "This is a time we must get this done for the good of our country... The senate bill before us provides relief for workers  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement after the Senate voted against a Coronavirus economic recovery package that would deliver major relief for millions of workers, working families and small businesses in Montana and across the country. "The health and livelihoods of the American people are in danger and I'm disappointed the Senate didn't move forward to support crucial legislation to   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 23: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced that Montana will receive $1.2 million to support senior nutrition, including $400,000 for congregate meals and $800,000 for home meals: "Too many Montana seniors are unable to go to the grocery store for fear of contracting the virus, or unable to get to one at all because they live too far, or don't have transportation. So this funding could not have come soone  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: After an aggressive push on behalf of Montana small businesses, U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) declared an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration for all 56 Montana counties in response to the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which will provide much-needed economic support for Montana's main street businesses. Earlier this week, Tester anno  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on March 24: * * * - Funding will go towards screening and testing, acquiring medical supplies, and boosting telehealth * * * As part of his ongoing effort to ensure that Montana health providers are properly equipped for the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced that the state will receive $810,430 in grant funding-split between 14 Community Health Centers (CHCs)-to aid them with screening a  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Original deadline to comply was October 1 * * * U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced the deadline to obtain a REAL ID to fly on commercial domestic flights has been pushed back in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. "Montanans should be worried about keeping their families healthy, not standing in line at the DMV to fill out government paperwork," Tester said. "This measure will help slow the spread  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator's legislation would ensure those trying to qualify for PSLF are forgiven for not paying during national or public health emergencies * * * As the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic begins to prevent Montanans from making payments on time, U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced a bill to ensure no Montanan looking to qualify for Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) will be penalized fo  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator's legislation would assist rural broadband providers as they roll out free or discounted services to underserved areas * * * With more Montana families relying on online services for work and education during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced bipartisan legislation to compensate broadband providers for giving free or discounted services and upgrades to low-income fam  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator and colleagues call on the President to put federal dollars into airports, especially in rural areas * * * With Montana airports seeing massive declines in traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is working to ensure local airports are not left behind as Congress works to create a "Phase III" coronavirus legislative stimulus package. "Our airlines play a critical role  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following statement on the Senate's failed vote on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's coronavirus legislative package: "This bill is a multi-trillion dollar bailout for the largest corporations that ignores the urgent needs of Montana workers, families, and small businesses who are suffering. The bill fails to make critically needed investments in our hospitals and health care workforce while providing no accountability for how this   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester took to the Senate Floor to urge Senate Leadership to include real relief for Montana workers, small businesses, and hospitals in the nearly $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package currently being negotiated. "I've spent the last several weeks talking to Montana's small business owners, employees, health care workers, and mayors about the relief they need during this crisis, and this  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Montana providers are sewing, 3D printing their own N95 masks - Senator pleads to activate VA's Fourth Mission to help communities caring for patients affected by the deadly COVID-19 disease * * * Imploring the Trump Administration to release hundreds of thousands of masks, ventilators, and other urgently needed medical supplies for Montana's hospitals-U.S. Senator Jon Tester pleaded to activate t  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Ranking Member pleads to activate VA's Fourth Mission to help communities caring for patients affected by the deadly COVID-19 disease * * * Imploring the Trump Administration to release hundreds of thousands of masks, ventilators, and other urgently needed medical supplies for hospitals across the country--U.S. Senator Jon Tester  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Ranking Member pleads to activate VA's Fourth Mission to help communities caring for patients affected by the deadly COVID-19 disease * * * Imploring the Trump Administration to release hundreds of thousands of masks, ventilators, and other urgently needed medical supplies for hospitals across the country-U.S. Senator Jon Tester pleaded to activate the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) statutory  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Over the last 72 hours, Ranking Member secured key provisions to support veterans and health care workforce during national crisis through additional medical equipment, services, telehealth capabilities, and more * * * After 72 hours negotiating substantial, bipartisan improvements to COVID-19 stimulus legislation, U.S. Senator J  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Over the last 72 hours, Ranking Member secured key provisions to support veterans and health care workforce during national crisis through additional medical equipment, services, telehealth capabilities, and more * * * After 72 hours negotiating substantial, bipartisan improvements to COVID-19 stimulus legislation, U.S. Senator Jon Tester voted to deliver $19.6 billion to strengthen U.S. Department  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator helped 16 Montanans stuck on cruise ship return home this week * * * After helping 16 Montanans return home from the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship earlier this week, U.S. Senator Jon Tester continues his work to ensure that Montanans traveling or living abroad can return safely home to the United States. "My office is available to help Montanans who have been traveling internationally return  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * - Student veterans will continue to receive their earned education benefits as universities move to online curriculum due to COVID-19 * * * President Trump signed Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester's bipartisan bill to allow veterans on the GI Bill to continue receiving full benefits as universities move classes online to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). "Congress ste  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Student veterans will continue to receive their earned education benefits as universities move to online curriculum due to COVID-19 * * * President Trump signed Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester's bipartisan bill to allow veterans on the GI Bill to continue receiving full benefits as universities move classes   more