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U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Montana Newsletter for Sunday May 10, 2020 ( 36 items )  

After Pressure From Sen. Tester, More Than $200 Million in Coronavirus Economic Relief Finally Headed to Montana Tribes
WASHINGTON, May 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Following weeks of pressure from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the U.S. Department of Treasury is finally disbursing the $8 billion in coronavirus economic relief funds for Tribal governments that Tester secured in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. More than $200 million of these funds will be allocated to all eight of Montana's Tribes--including the recently-recognized Little Shell Tri  more

All VA Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19 Will Get Personal Protective Equipment Following Sen. Tester Push
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Following pressure from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued updated guidance that it is distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to every VA health care worker providing direct care to veterans at VA facilities or at home during the COVID-19 crisis. Previously, PPE was solely given to staff caring for COVID-19 patients or the highest-risk veterans, placing many h  more

All VA Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19 Will Get Personal Protective Equipment Following Sen. Tester's Push
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Following pressure from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued updated guidance that it is distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to every VA health care worker providing direct care to veterans at VA facilities or at home during the COVID-19 crisis. Previously, PPE was solely given to staff car  more

Rep. Armstrong: HEAT Members Support Justice Department Opposition of Nationwide Injunction Jeopardizing Utility Line Projects
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and HEAT members Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) led a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General William Barr in support of the Department's opposition to nationwide injunctions and the Department's effort to challenge the District Court for the District of Montana's nationwide  more

Rep. Gianforte Recognizes Lohgan Dennehy of Butte With Spirit of Montana Commendation
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release on May 8: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) recognized Lohgan Dennehy of Butte with his Spirit of Montana commendation for her work providing handcrafted personal protective masks to health care, school district, and community workers as Montana combats the COVID-19 outbreak. At 10 years old, Lohgan is already making a difference in her community. A couple months ago, she heard about the demand for masks   more

Rep. Gianforte Urges Relief 'Funding for County Governments of All Sizes'
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers recently urged House leaders to provide flexibility in emergency funding to county governments in a future COVID-19 relief package. In the letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Gianforte and the lawmakers write, "As you consider the next COVID-19 (coronavirus) relief pac  more

Rep. Scalise: HEAT Members Support Department of Justice Opposition of Nationwide Injunction Jeopardizing Utility Line Projects
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and HEAT members Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) led a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General William Barr in support of the Department's opposition to nationwide injunctions and the Department's effort to challenge the District Court for the District of Montana's nationwide inju  more

Reps. Gianforte, Bustos and Sens. Carper, Kennedy Lead Bipartisan Inquiry: Why Are the Deceased Receiving Coronavirus Relief Checks?
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) and Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) as well as U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) are leading a group of lawmakers in raising concerns regarding recent reports that deceased individuals are receiving COVID-19-related economic impact payments as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In a letter sent to U.S. Treasury  more

Sen. Daines Calls for Sanctions Against China in Response to Coronavirus Cover Up
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced legislation that would authorize the president to sanction foreign officials who suppress or distort information about international public health crises, including China for the cover up of the coronavirus pandemic. "China must be held accountable for its cover up of the coronavirus outbreak which led to American lives lost and the devastation of our booming economy," Dai  more

Sen. Daines Introduces Bill to Extend President Trump's 60-Day Immigration Ban to Support American Workers
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines is introducing legislation to temporarily extend President Trump's 60-day ban on immigration to support American workers and jobs as the nation begins to safely reopen the economy. Currently, President Trump's 60-day ban expires on June 23rd, 2020. "I'm proud to back President Trump and his efforts to put the American worker first as we begin to safely reopen the economy and support   more

Sen. Daines Secures Over $3 Million for Montana's Health Centers to Expand Coronavirus Testing in Montana
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would be directing $3,004,376 to 14 health centers across Montana to expand testing for COVID-19. "As we work to safely reopen the economy, it's critical that Montana has the ability to conduct widespread testing, and health centers are essential to make testing more accessible," Daines said. "I will continue working with our  more

Sen. Daines Secures Over $3 Million to Strengthen Montana Infrastructure, Community Development During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that $3,325,357 will be directed to Montana through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to support housing needs and infrastructure development for Montana communities during the coronavirus outbreak "This critical funding is about strengthening Montana's infrastructure and building our communities during the coronavirus pandemic," Daines said. "I'm glad to  more

Sen. Daines Urges Relief for Montana Low-Income Communities During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter urging the Administration to provide relief for the Opportunity Zones Program to support low-income communities during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. "As we work together to ensure the American economy recovers to the historic growth levels it was experiencing just months ago, we must also ensure that our low-income communities are not left behind as we return to bus  more

Sen. Daines: We Must Bring Drug Manufacturing Back to America, Reduce Dependency on China
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines is pushing legislation to end the United States' reliance on China for drug and medical equipment manufacturing and bring those jobs back to the United States. "America cannot continue to rely on foreign countries like China to manufacture our PPE and critical drugs," Daines said. "China's lack of transparency and cover up of the virus made this global pandemic much worse--it costs l  more

Sen. Daines: We Must Support Our First Responders, Families on Front Lines
WASHINGTON, May 6 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced bipartisan legislation that would guarantee benefits for families of any first responder who tragically dies from COVID-19 in the line of duty. "Our first responder heroes need to know that when they are putting their lives on the line during this Coronavirus pandemic, their families will be supported," Daines said. "This is about protecting those and their families who k  more

Sen. Daines: We Must Support Postal Service, Protect Rural Montana Communities Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to Senate leadership urging emergency funding, additional borrowing authority, and debt forgiveness to support the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and help it survive the current national pandemic. "The Postal Service plays a critical role in American society, and its services are needed now more than ever, especially in our rural communities where local access to grocery st  more

Sen. Tester Announces $3.3 Million in Housing Relief During Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $3,325,357 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support public health, coronavirus response, housing, and economic disruption needs. "During this pandemic, every Montanan should have a roof over their head, plain and simple," said Tester. "I'm proud to have secured these funds that will  more

Sen. Tester Announces Nearly $800,000 in Emergency Food and Shelter Resources for Vulnerable Montanans
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 4: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $776,162 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) to provide critical resources to vulnerable Montanans, including those experiencing hunger and homelessness. The funding includes $311,115 allocated through the Program's Fiscal Year 2019 appropriation and $465,047 allocated through the Coronavirus Aid, Rec  more

Sen. Tester Announces Small Business Administration Reopening Disaster Loan Program for Ag Producers and Businesses
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 4: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced another win for Montana agriculture producers and businesses as the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it was reopening the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs to applications from agricultural small businesses and producers. The eligibility for these programs was expanded to include ag producers by the interim coronavirus relief pa  more

Sen. Tester Announces Support for Legislation Guaranteeing Benefits to Families of Fallen Pandemic First Responders
WASHINGTON, May 6 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced that he will be cosponsoring the Safeguarding America's First Responders (SAFR) Act, which make it easier for families of first responders lost to COVID-19 to receive benefits through the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program (PSOB). "Throughout this pandemic, Montana's first responders have continued to selflessly serve and protect communities across our state," said Tester.  more

Sen. Tester on Justice Department Efforts to Repeal Affordable Care Act Amid COVID-19 Crisis: 'This Must Stop'
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 4: As coronavirus cases continue to rise and many impacted families struggle to pay their bills, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is demanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) terminate their continued efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA)--a law that provides 20 million Americans with health coverage and protects 152,000 Montanans with pre-existing conditions. Tester is requesting that Attorney G  more

Sen. Tester Secures $3 Million for 14 Montana Community Health Centers to Expand COVID-19 Testing
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 7: U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $3,004,376 from the Health Resources and Services Administration for 14 Montana Community Health Centers--including the Marias Health Center, the community health care center in Toole County, which has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic--to expand a range of testing activities to best address local needs during this crisis. "We need to slow the spread of the virus  more

Sen. Tester Secures $355,000 for Water System Improvements in Roosevelt County
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $355,000 to make improvements to the outdated water main systems in Wolf Point, Montana. "In these unprecedented times, folks in our frontier communities should have peace of mind knowing they have access to clean water," said Tester. "This investment will help Wolf Point make critical improvements to their water system, ensuring they have access to clean water without emptyi  more

Sen. Tester Secures $533,000 for Water System Improvements in Daniels County
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $533,000 to supplement an original bid to make improvements to the outdated water system in Scobey, Montana. "In these unprecedented times, folks in our frontier communities should have peace of mind knowing they have access to clean water," said Tester. "This investment will help Scobey make critical improvements to their water system, ensuring they have access to clean water   more

Sen. Tester, Colleagues Lead Bicameral Call to Defense Secretary to Expand Protections for Servicemembers During Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester and his House colleagues are calling on the Department of Defense (DoD) to ease financial burdens facing servicemembers planning to relocate as a result of the "stop movement" order issued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Although the Defense Department rightly implemented stop moveme  more

Sen. Tester, Colleagues Lead Bicameral Call to Defense Secretary to Expand Protections for Servicemembers During Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester and his House colleagues are calling on the Department of Defense (DoD) to ease financial burdens facing servicemembers planning to relocate as a result of the "stop movement" order issued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Although the Defense Department rightly implemented stop movement orders at the onset of the pandemic, military families in the proce  more

Sen. Tester, Colleagues Urge VA to Prioritize Veterans' Mental Health Amid Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, joined 23 colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and implement comprehensive mental health care plans to ensure veterans' well-being during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. "The stress, uncertainty, and isolation associated  more

Sen. Tester, Colleagues Urge VA to Prioritize Veterans' Mental Health Amid Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, joined 23 colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and implement comprehensive mental health care plans to ensure veterans' well-being during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. "The stress, uncertainty, and isolation associated with the pandemic--all risk factors for suicide in a population where  more

Sen. Tester, Moran Introduce Legislation to Expand Protections for Military Families Impacted by COVID-19
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to provide additional legal protections for servicemembers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The SCRA provides legal protection to servicemembers to prevent them from being taken advantage of while on duty or deployed, and   more

Sen. Tester: VA Boosts Emergency Assistance to Homeless Veterans During COVID-19 Crisis Following Tester Effort
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it will implement provisions secured by U.S. Senator Jon Tester in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide immediate relief to veterans experiencing--or at-risk of--homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Some of our nation's most vulnerable vet  more

Sens. Daines, Tester Lead Bipartisan Call to Help Montana Families and Businesses Avoid Bankruptcy
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester are leading a call to include $700 million in funding for financial counseling to help families and small businesses avoid bankruptcy in the next coronavirus relief bill. In a letter to Senate leadership, Daines and Tester, along with a group of their Senate colleagues, urged an expansion of the funding for non-profit credit counseling services to help consumers and s  more

Sens. Daines, Tester Work to Shed Light on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis
WASHINGTON, May 6 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution designating May 5th, 2020 as a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. "This is about honoring the memories of the young women whose lives were cut short because of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis plaguing our tribal communities," Daines said. "I will continue working to   more

Sens. Tester, Daines Lead Bipartisan Call to Help Montana Families and Businesses Avoid Bankruptcy
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are leading a call to include $700 million in funding for financial counseling to help families and small businesses avoid bankruptcy in the next coronavirus relief bill. In a letter to Senate leadership, Tester and Daines, along with a group of their Senate colleagues, urged an expansion of the funding for non-profit credit counseling services to help consumers and sma  more

Sens. Tester, Moran Introduce Legislation to Expand Protections for Military Families Impacted by COVID-19
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to provide additional legal protections for servicemembers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The SCRA provides legal protection to servicemembers to prev  more

Special Pandemic Watchdog Commits to 'Report Any Undue Influence' After Sen. Tester Presses on Independent Oversight
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Continuing his push to hold government accountable and ensure strict oversight over the $2.2 trillion in pandemic relief aimed at helping workers and small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured a commitment from Brian Miller, the nominee to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, that he would "report any undue influence on me from whatever source." "I've been s  more

With Postal Service at Risk Due to Coronavirus, Sen. Tester Urges Support for Vital Service & Employees
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester urged Congress to include significant support for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and its 630,000 employees in the next coronavirus relief bill. In a letter to Senate leadership, Tester argued that the Postal Service is a crucial lifeline for millions of Americans, especially those living in rural and Tribal communities who depend on it to stay connected, and for the delivery of goods lik  more