url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/dasinger-receives-honor-gianforte,Dasinger receives honor from Gianforte,2018-12-26,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., recognized Katie Dasinger of Sidney with his Spirit of Montana commendation for her leadership, commitment to promoting community service, and efforts to develop young professionals. Dasinger is founder and president of Sidney Young Professionals, a group focused on community service as well as personal and professional development. The organization regularly organizes entrepreneurship panels, roundtable discussions, public forums, training programs, and tours of local businesses. Gianforte's Spirit of Montana is a weekly recognition of Montanans for their accomplishments, dedication, or service. Gianforte highlights the recipient in the U.S. House of Representatives and personally contacts the honorees. Gianforte encourages anyone to nominate Montanans for the Spirit of Montana award by contacting his office at 202-225-3211 or by e-mail at https://gianforte.house.gov/contact/email. (Click here to read the full story)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/update-new-farm-bill-law,UPDATE: New Farm Bill is law,2018-12-26,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"1419 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3211 Fax: (202) 225-5687",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-announces-spirit-montana-recipient-katie-dasinger-sidney,Gianforte Announces Spirit of Montana Recipient: Katie Dasinger of Sidney,2018-12-21,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte recognized Katie Dasinger of Sidney with his Spirit of Montana commendation for her leadership, commitment to promoting community service, and efforts to develop young professionals. Dasinger is founder and president of Sidney Young Professionals, a group focused on community service as well as personal and professional development. The organization regularly organizes entrepreneurship panels, roundtable discussions, public forums, training programs, and tours of local businesses. Gianforte's Spirit of Montana is a weekly recognition of Montanans for their accomplishments, dedication, or service. Gianforte highlights the recipient in the U.S. House of Representatives and personally contacts the honorees. Gianforte encourages anyone to nominate Montanans for the Spirit of Montana award by contacting his office at 202-225-3211 or by e-mail at https://gianforte.house.gov/contact/email. Gianforte's statement in the Congressional Record follows: RECOGNIZING KATIE DASINGER OF SIDNEY Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Katie Dasinger of Sidney for her efforts to engage young professionals in Eastern Montana to serve their communities and develop their skills. Dasinger is founder and president of Sidney Young Professionals (SYP), a group focused on community service as well as personal and professional development. The program coordinator for the Richland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) in Sidney, Dasinger launched SYP in 2016. SYP recently held its annual winter school benefit which was dedicated to helping teachers replenish their classrooms with supplies, equipment, and other items for the new school semester. SYP collected more than 25 large shopping bags of supplies as well as donations from the public and local businesses. SYP regularly organizes entrepreneurship panels, roundtable discussions, public forums, training programs, and tours of area businesses. When a court ruling threatened the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project (LYIP) at nearby Intake, SYP and REDC coordinated bus tours, organized educational outreach, and bolstered community support for the vital irrigation project. Their efforts contributed to a positive outcome for the thousands of area residents who rely on the LYIP to irrigate crops and provide water for their municipal systems. We want to engage young adults to invest in their communities, get to know the local business and community leaders, serve on local boards, and take part in community events. It's important young people have a reason to stay connected to the area, said Dasinger, who Montana Young Professionals recognized as the Young Professional Woman of the Year for 2018. Mr. Speaker, for her leadership, commitment to promoting community service, and efforts to develop young professionals in her community, I recognize Katie Dasinger for her spirit of Montana.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-and-loebsack-s-rural-ems-bill-now-law,Gianforte and Loebsacks Rural EMS Bill Now Law,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"President Trump today signed into law the Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act of 2018. Congressmen Gianforte and Loebsack's bipartisan law reauthorizes a federal grant program that helps rural communities and the EMS providers that serve them. Our rural EMS providers are the first line of care for Americans in more remote areas who face a medical emergency, Gianforte said. The SIREN Act provides access to resources so that EMS providers in our rural areas have the training and equipment they need to get the job done. I appreciate working with Congressman Loebsack to get the SIREN Act signed into law. Patients in rural areas have the same medical conditions requiring an emergency response as those in urban areas do, however many rural EMS agencies face unique challenges in delivering quality care, said Loebsack. I am pleased to have worked with Rep. Gianforte to get this bipartisan legislation signed into law to invest in our rural communities and ensure they have the tools necessary to treat patients no matter where they live. The SIREN Act creates a $10 million grant program for EMS agencies in rural areas to help address issues they face, including personnel recruitment and retention, providing continuing education and preparedness training, purchasing updated equipment, maintaining adequate coverage during prolonged transport times, and obtaining qualified medical oversight. The SIREN Act was included in the 2018 Farm Bill, which President Trump signed into law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-blasts-lack-progress-year-end-public-lands-package-border,"Gianforte Blasts Lack of Progress on Year-End Public Lands Package, Border Security",2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte today blasted the lack of progress on a public lands package and a border security measure before the end of the year. Gianforte urged action in a speech on the House floor. Montanans didn't send me here to shut down the government. But they also didn't send me here to let their priorities die in a lame duck session that is every part lame, Gianforte said to his colleagues. I stand here still, urging this body to take up a public lands package and secure the border. To view the video, click HERE. Gianforte said a year-end public lands bill should include the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), his Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, and his Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act. In November, Gianforte sent a letter to House and Senate leadership that outlined Montana priorities for a public lands package, including protecting the gateway to Yellowstone, permanently reauthorizing LWCF, resolving the maintenance backlog in our national parks, providing clean water throughout Montana, and reforming how federal forests are managed. Gianforte urged lawmakers to disregard House and Senate Democrats' refusal to protect the border and instead act. Mr. Speaker, we could just kick the can here -- on government funding, on our public lands, and on border security. All because Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are folding their arms, shaking their heads no, and refusing to secure our border, Gianforte said. Mr. Speaker, this lame duck session doesn't have to produce lame results. I urge my colleagues to take up a public lands package and to secure our border.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-trump-signs-2018-farm-bill-montana-priorities-included,"President Trump Signs 2018 Farm Bill, Montana Priorities Included",2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.18 President Trump Signs 2018 Farm Bill, Montana Priorities Included Daines secures wins for Montana ag, forestry reform U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement and videos following the 2018 Farm Bill. Daines secured critical priorities for Montana farmers and ranchers and strong forestry provisions to help prevent catastrophic wildfire. As Montana's lone voice on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, I fought hard to ensure Montana ag priorities and forest management reforms were included in the 2018 Farm Bill, Daines said. I'm pleased President Trump signed this critical bill into law today which will give certainty to Montana farmers and ranchers, and help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The 2018 Farm Bill is authorized until 2023.You canread the text of the Farm Billhere. Priorities for Montana Agriculture Secured by Daines: Click HERE to hear from Montana Rancher JM Peck of Melrose on the importance of the Farm Bill Protected crop insurance, a critical part of the safety net for Montana farmers to mitigate risks inherent to agriculture. Secured funding for land grant universities, including MSU, specialty crops, and agriculture research stations across Montana. Secured provisions to expand broadband access in rural Montana, promote precision agriculture,and prioritize funds to areas that are unserved with no access. Included an amendment to help the ARC-County program, an important commodity support program, better reflect actual growing conditions in many of Montana's large counties. An important vaccine bank to help better respond to animal disease outbreaks Protected the sugar program, which is critical to ensure our farmers are able to compete on a level playing field Fought tosupport importantconservation programs such astheEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)that help farmers and ranchers improve the best practices on their land. Inclusion of the Hemp Farming Act, which allows states to regulate hemp production and research and make hemp eligible for crop insurance. Priorities to Help Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires Secured by Daines: Click HERE to hear from Short Pyramid Mountain Lumber on the Importance of the Farm Bill Daines worked to empower states to manage national forests Improved the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) by allowing the Forest Service to enter into agreements with counties and tribes to carry out timber sales and other work on national forest. Clarified that excess funds from GNA projects can be used to carry out additional restoration work on the national forests. Established Forest Service program to that improves water quality and wildlife habitat, reduces wildfire risk or provides other benefits. Daines' bipartisan bill with Senator Klobuchar that sets funding aside to support projects that span ownership boundaries on Federal, State, county, tribal, private or other non-Federal land particularly in areas identified as a priority by the state. Daines fought to reduce red tape Extended the authority for the Forest Service to expedite treatment in areas on the national forest experiencing insect and disease epidemics while also allowing projects to reduce the threat of wildfire in the same areas. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6546,Tester Secures Guarantee on Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act [press_release],2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester has secured a guarantee that his Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act will receive a Senate vote early next year. Tester made an eleventh-hour attempt to include the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act in an end of year public lands legislative package, but the bill was blocked by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) from receiving a vote. Tester then worked with Senate leadership to secure the guarantee that the landmark bill will receive a Senate vote at the beginning of the 116th Congress, which begins on January 3. ""The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act has been years in the making and now Senate passage is in sight,"" Tester said. ""I will hold Congress accountable to our agreement and make sure that they deliver on their promise to permanently protect the doorstep of Yellowstone Park from mining that will hurt our economy and harm our clean water."" Beginning in 2015, Tester met with local residents and small-business owners to build collaborative legislation that prevents mines from expanding onto public land in the region. Tester introduced the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act in April 2017 and it received a Senate hearing in July 2017. Tester's bill permanently withdraws federal mineral rights on 30,000 acres of public land in the Custer Gallatin National Forest adjacent to the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness and Yellowstone National Park, and it eliminates the ability for proposed mines to expand onto unclaimed public land.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6547,Tester Sends 21st Bill to Presidents Desk [press_release],2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - The United States Senate passed Ranking Member Jon Tester's 21st bipartisan bill, capping off a landmark Congress with numerous victories for America's veterans. Tester's Veterans Benefits and Transition Act contains 18 bipartisan bills, including six bipartisan Tester-authored bills to honor Native American veterans, better protect student veterans, and increase the transparency and accountability of the VA's historic electronic health records transition. ""This legislation is the product of hard work, compromise and bipartisanship,"" said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. ""Sending another VA reform bill to the President's desk sends a clear message to our nation's veterans: Serving our men and women in uniform is a responsibility that we should all take very seriously. I have been honored to work with Chairman Isakson this Congress to accomplish so much for our nation's veterans."" The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act contains the following provisions: The Servicemembers Improved Transition through Reforms for Ensuring Progress ""SIT-REP"" Act: Forces schools that receive G.I. Bill benefits to adopt a policy that it will not impose a late fee, restrict a student veterans' access to campus facilities, or otherwise punish a student veteran due to a late payment of tuition or fees from the VA. Tribal Veteran Burial Benefits Act: Authored by Tester and Senator Dean Heller (R-Nev.), the VA can now provide headstones or burial markers to a Native American veteran's spouse and dependents who wish to be buried alongside their loved one in a tribal veterans' cemetery. Veteran Debt Fairness Act: Following reports that the VA had been forcing veterans to repay benefits to the VA, Tester authored legislation with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to require the VA to update its information technology systems so that affected veterans are able to review and revise information about their dependents electronically. Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act: Tester authored this legislation with Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) to require the VA to notify veterans with a straightforward, easy-to-understand electronic or standard mail notification of any debt that veteran owes to the VA and the steps they can take to dispute that debt. Veterans' Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act: As the VA undertakes the largest electronic health records change in history, Tester and Blumenthal authored legislation to make the modernization program's key planning and implementation efforts more transparent and hold the VA accountable by requiring the VA to notify Congress in the event of any significant cost increase, schedule delay, loss of veteran health data or breach of privacy. Veterans' Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act: The VA is required to report on the possibility of expanding veterans' access to dental care. By analyzing access and affordability through VA dental care, oral health needs of eligible veterans, and the number of providers needed to provide such care. Tester's Veterans Benefits and Transition Act can be read in full HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6548,Farmers & Ranchers Praise Tester's Work as President Signs 2018 Farm Bill [press_release],2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - Local farmers and ranchers praised U.S. Senator Jon Tester's work on behalf of Montana's number one industry after President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill into law today. ""After holding more than half a dozen listening sessions with farmers and ranchers across the state, we worked hard to make sure this Farm Bill gives Montana producers the certainty they need to keep their operations successful,"" Tester said. ""The new Farm Bill protects crop insurance, preserves conservation initiatives, and invests in rural communities. At a time when there is so much uncertainty in agriculture, this bill will strengthen producers."" Over the last two years, Tester has held seven Farm Bill listening sessions across the state to gather feedback from producers-feedback that he used to secure dozens of critical provisions in the final Farm Bill package. ""Montana farmers owe Jon a hearty thank you for his leadership in adding language to the Farm Bill that meets our specific needs in Montana,"" said Gordon Stoner, former President of the National Association of Wheat Growers. ""Jon's tireless efforts in passing the Farm Bill helps bring certainty to the nation's farmers in these uncertain times"". ""This farm, food and nutrition bill will help to provide the stability our growers need to weather difficult economic times and periods of trade uncertainty and will continue to provide food assistance to families who have fallen on hard times,"" said Lyle Benjamin, President of the Montana Grain Growers Association. ""MGGA appreciates that Senator Tester routinely sought input from Montana grain producers throughout development of this important piece of legislation and supported final passage. We look forward to working with him as we move into the implementation phase."" ""We are extremely pleased with passage of the Farm Bill,"" said Alan Merrill, President of the Montana Farmers Union. ""It provides certainty for Montana farmers and ranchers through support of programs like PLC and ARC and preservation of the CRP Program and the Crop Insurance Title. One provision with great potential to impact Montana agriculture is the removal of Industrial Hemp as a Schedule 1 drug. This action will break down the barriers to the production, sale and transport of Industrial Hemp. We applaud Senator Tester's work on the Farm Bill which provides great certainty for Montana farmers and ranchers."" ""We would like to thank Senator Tester for his work to pass a Farm Bill,"" said Fred Wacker, President of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. ""This bipartisan legislation keeps intact programs that provide certainty for Montana ranchers while also providing funding for grants that promote economic growth in rural Montana."" ""The number and significance of Native American-related provisions in the new Farm Bill is unprecedented,"" said Ross Racine, Executive Director of the Intertribal Agriculture Council and Co-Chair of the Native Farm Bill Coalition. ""Congress has listened to Indian Country as never before and delivered on many of our requests. We would like to commend Senator Tester on his work on the farm bill"". ""Montana Food Bank Network is grateful to Senator Tester for his dedication to passing a Farm Bill that helps all Montanans keep food on the table,"" said Lorianne Burhop, Chief Policy Officer of the Montana Food Bank Network. ""This Farm Bill affirms our national commitment that no one should go hungry by protecting SNAP, our nation's most important and effective anti-hunger program. SNAP, TEFAP, and the other programs included in the Nutrition Title strengthen our communities and support the health and well-being of tens of thousands of Montana households. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Tester and his colleagues to keep our nation's anti-hunger programs strong."" ""We appreciate Senator Tester's unwavering support of the 2018 Farm Bill,"" said Hans McPherson, President of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. ""It's fantastic when Senator Tester and the Farm Bureau agree on what's best for Montana's farmers and ranchers. This Farm Bill is indeed great for farmers and ranchers because its timely passage provides certainty and an essential safety net, and it's also good for consumers and hungry folks nationwide."" ""The 2018 Farm Bill preserves the important agriculture, forestry, and nutrition programs that help to feed, clothe, and fuel nearly 330 million Americans,"" said Leo McDonnell, Director Emeritus of the U.S. Cattlemen's Association. ""The United States Cattlemen's Association would like to thank Senator Tester and his staff for providing the certainty ranchers need in severe weather conditions, by ensuring much needed disaster-assistance resources. The bill also modernizes the EQIP program to help improve grazing economics and practices on pastures.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6549,Tester Slams Partisan Blockade on Little Shell Recognition Act [press_release],2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(Big Sandy, Mont.)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today slammed a partisan blockade that is preventing the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians from receiving their federal recognition. Tester's legislation to federally recognize the Little Shell was set to pass the Senate, until Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) blocked the bill from receiving a Senate vote. Tester is demanding that Lee lift his objection and provide the Little Shell access to their homeland and resources they rightfully deserve. ""The Little Shell have fought for generations to secure what is rightfully theirs,"" Tester said. ""Now just one man stands in the way and it is time for him and his political party to quit the political shenanigans and allow this long-overdue vote to take place."" Tester first introduced legislation to federally recognize the Little Shell Tribe in 2007. It was the first bill he ever introduced as a United States Senator. Tester passed his bipartisan bill to grant the Little Shell federal recognition out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in May of 2017. Native American Tribes must be formally recognized as sovereign nations by the federal government to exercise full self-governance. Under this nation-to-nation relationship, Tribes access critical economic development, health care and education resources, and regulate affairs on tribal lands on terms socially and culturally appropriate. The Little Shell Tribe is currently recognized by the State of Montana only. Tribes can be recognized by the federal government through Congressional legislation, a U.S. Court decision, or an administrative process through the U.S. Interior Department.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6550,Tester Statement on the Departure of Defense Secretary Mattis [press_release],2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tester Statement on the Departure of Defense Secretary Mattis (U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today issued the following statement following the announcement that Secretary James Mattis will depart the Department of Defense, saying his views are not ""aligned"" with President Trump's: ""As American troops protect us from security threats across the globe, we need strong leadership in Washington that is as united as our men and women on the battlefield. Chaos in President Trump's Administration threatens our national security. The President must listen to his military leaders and avoid making shoot-from-the-hip decisions that put Americans and our allies in harm's way."" Tester supported Mattis' bipartisan confirmation in 2017.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6544,Tester Grills VA Secretary on Future of Veterans Community Care [press_release],2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - Ranking Member Jon Tester today grilled VA Secretary Robert Wilkie about the VA's implementation of his landmark, bipartisan VA MISSION Act. Tester specifically questioned Wilkie on the VA's recent decision to backtrack its agreement with Congress to designate certain health care services as automatically eligible for community care outside the VA and instead outsource almost all VA health care services to private health care providers. Tester told Wilkie that this decision is putting the VA on a path towards privatization--something Tester and most veterans oppose. ""Mr. Secretary, not even six months ago, you came before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and said you would oppose attempts to privatize VA health care,"" Tester said. ""If you move further down this path - gutting the VA health care system for those veterans who want and need to use it - you'll end up bringing down the whole ship."" The VA had previously indicated to Senators that certain services like routine lab work and X-rays should be almost always automatically eligible for community care outside the VA. The VA now indicates it plans to designate every VA health care service as eligible for community care, essentially outsourcing all segments and types of VA health care based on the same arbitrary wait times and geographical standards veterans found frustrating under the VA Choice Program. Tester noted that the VA's decision to outsource all types of VA care to the private sector goes against the intent of the bipartisan VA MISSION Act and the veterans and advocates who helped draft it. ""To make matters even worse, VA officials have offered us only vague, verbal descriptions of the various sets of potential access standards you are considering,"" Tester continued. ""It also concerns me that each time we've discussed this issue in the last two months VA officials have given us wildly different estimates of how much this will cost. We need to know what you're doing and how much it is going to cost. No conflicting or vague answers. No fuzzy math. No games. The stakes are too high."" Today's hearing was a joint hearing of the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees. More information about ""Tracking Transformation: VA MISSION Act Implementation"" can be found online HERE. Tester's opening statement can be read in full HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6545,Tester Votes to Reform Federal Criminal Justice System [press_release],2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tester Votes to Reform Federal Criminal Justice System Senator Backs Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Recidivism (U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester voted Tuesday night with Republicans and Democrats to make the federal criminal justice system more fair, reduce recidivism, and fix broken sentencing laws. ""This bipartisan bill takes important, commonsense steps forward to fix our criminal justice system and address overly-harsh sentencing laws. When signed into law, this bill will reward good behavior, end unduly harsh penalties for minors, expand judicial discretion by easing certain mandatory minimum sentences, and improve the health of female prisoners."" The FIRST STEP Act passed the Senate 87-12. The bill will: Increase access to vocational and rehabilitative programming for federal inmates. Revise the ""good time credit"" law to allow federal prisoners to earn additional credit off their sentences for good behavior. Implement new ""earned time credits"" to incentivize participation in programming that would allow prisoners to receive early placement in halfway homes, home confinement, or supervised release. Prohibit the shackling of pregnant prisoners and require health care products to be provided to incarcerated women. Require that inmates be placed closer to their homes and provided additional phone, video, and visitation privileges. End federal juvenile solitary confinement. Expand judicial discretion in sentencing. Reform two and three-strike laws. Fix crack cocaine sentencing disparities. The FIRST STEP Act now goes back to the House for consideration.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-to-nih-director-we-must-continue-to-combat-montana-meth-addiction,Daines to NIH Director: We Must Continue to Combat Montana Meth Addiction,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.18 Daines to NIH Director: We Must Continue to Combat Montana Meth Addiction U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines todaysent a letter to the Honorable Francis Collins M.D., Ph.D, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to encourage the agency to continue working to find solutions to the meth epidemic in Montana and the nation. In Montana we have a crisis wreaking havoc throughout the state: a methamphetamine epidemic. Meth is destroying families and communities, and disproportionately impacting Native American tribes,the letter states. As Montana and other parts of the country confront this crisis, I write to encourage the [NIH] to continue their diligent pursuit of a Medication Assisted Treatment to combat meth addiction. Currently, opioids, alcohol and other drugs have a Medication Assisted Treatment but meth does not. There are seven ongoing NIH funded trials for meth. To read the full letter, clickHERE. Background: Daines has been a leader in fighting the meth epidemic.Last month, Daines held a roundtable with members of Montana's law enforcement community to hear their thoughts on next steps to combat Montana's growing meth epidemic. One theme that was present was the importance of finding a viable MAT for Methamphetamine abuse. Last month, Daines also wrote an op-ed on his bipartisan efforts to fight meth in our country and Montana. Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6543,"Tester, Boozman Intensify Call for Better VA Care for Women Veterans [press_release]",2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) are pushing the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) to immediately take steps to improve the quality of VA care for women veterans. Following VA Secretary Robert Wilkie's September presentation of the ""State of the VA"" to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee that showed that strides must still be made to improve services for women veterans, Tester and Boozman are urging VA Secretary Wilkie to implement low-cost and common sense reforms from their bipartisan Deborah Sampson Act. ""As you note, the number of women veterans using VA health care services has tripled since 2000, yet 52 percent of women veterans surveyed believe they are not entitled to, or eligible for, VA care,"" the Senators wrote to Wilkie. ""This disconnect clearly necessitates a more aggressive outreach campaign, targeted at women veterans, with the goal of better connecting them with access to what can often be life-saving services."" Tester and Boozman are urging Wilkie to implement reforms from their Deborah Sampson Act such as expanding the Women Veterans Call Center to include text message access to counselors and VA staff, partnering with community organizations on a pro-bono basis to help women veterans with legal issues that are contributing to their homelessness, and expanding women veteran mini residency programs while the VA works to hire more dedicated women veteran clinical providers. They are also urging the Department to begin to track women veterans' utilization and experiences at the VA to learn from current shortcomings and to fully staff and put in place strong leadership at the Center for Women Veterans. Tester and Boozman's letter to Wilkie can be read online HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-announces-spirit-montana-recipients-devin-rich-and-kiersten,Gianforte Announces Spirit of Montana Recipients: Devin Rich and Kiersten Bare from Kalispell,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte recognized siblings Devin Rich and Kiersten Bare from Kalispell with his Spirit of Montana commendation for their compassion for the victims of California's disastrous Woolsey and Camp fires and for their commitment to helping in the recovery. Rich helped victims of the fire search through the ash and rubble where their homes stood to salvage items dear to them, and Bare worked to reunite lost pets with their owners. Gianforte's Spirit of Montana is a weekly recognition of Montanans for their accomplishments, dedication, or service. Gianforte highlights the recipient in the U.S. House of Representatives and personally contacts the honorees. Gianforte encourages anyone to nominate Montanans for the Spirit of Montana award by contacting his office at 202-225-3211 or by e-mail at https://gianforte.house.gov/contact/email. Gianforte's statement in the Congressional Record follows: RECOGNIZING DEVIN RICH AND KIERSTEN BARE FROM KALISPELL Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor siblings Devin Rich and Kiersten Bare of Kalispell for helping victims of the Woolsey and Camp fires recover from the devastation. A graduate of Flathead High School, Devin lives in Marina del Rey, California. While the nearby Woolsey Fire roared in early November, he volunteered to help with the support efforts. Wearing protective gear and working in difficult circumstances, Devin helped victims of the fire search through the ash and rubble where their homes stood to salvage items dear to them. Driven by her compassion for animals, Kiersten, who lives in Kalispell, worked to reunite lost pets with their owners. Kiersten spent hours online studying photos of the displaced animals to identify potential matches to help pet owners in their search. The Woolsey and Camp fires devastated California this year, claiming nearly 90 lives and destroying more than 14,000 homes. Devin and Kiersten are among the generous Americans who answered the call to serve others in their time of need. I commend all the firefighters, first responders, support workers, and volunteers who saved lives and helped those impacted by these catastrophic fires. Mr. Speaker, for their compassion for the victims of California's disastrous Woolsey and Camp fires and their commitment to helping in the recovery, I recognize Devin Rich and Kiersten Bare for their spirit of Montana.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-daines-hoeven-and-gosar-lead-letter-president-trump-keystone,"Gianforte, Daines, Hoeven, and Gosar Lead Letter to President Trump on Keystone XL Pipeline",2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte and U.S. Senator Steve Daines todayled42 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Trump to urgeany immediate action necessary to move construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline forward. The Keystone XL pipeline will bring nearly 6600 high paying jobs in the near-term and nearly $4 billion in new capital investment next year alone, the letter states. [O]ne of your first actions as President was to expedite the approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline across six western and rural states. While we sincerely appreciate your strong leadership on this issue, we write now to encourage that leadership and attention to continue so that this important infrastructure project can become a reality. To read the full letter, click HERE. Signers include: U.S. Senators: Daines, Hoeven, Crapo, Risch, Enzi, Barrasso, Capito, Ernst, Lankford, Blunt, Moran, Murkowski, Inhofe, Rounds, Cassidy, Thune and Hatch. U.S. Representatives: Gianforte, Gosar, LaMalfa, Biggs, Hunter, Westerman, Cramer, King, Gohmert, Bishop, Lesko, Tipton, Lucas, Lamborn, Estes, Mooney, Cook, Calvert, Norman, Duncan, McClintock, Amata, Cheney, Weber, Marshall, Newhouse and Stewart. Background: In November, a federal judge issued a decision that blocked construction of the pipeline.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-hoeven-gianforte-and-gosar-lead-letter-to-president-trump-on-keystone-xl-pipeline,"Daines, Hoeven, Gianforte and Gosar Lead Letter to President Trump on Keystone XL Pipeline",2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.18 Daines, Hoeven, Gianforte and Gosar Lead Letter to President Trump on Keystone XL Pipeline Urge POTUS to Take Every Practicable Step to Get Project Back on Track U.S. CONGRESS U.S. Senator Steve Dainesand Congressman Greg Gianforte todayled42 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Trump to urgeany immediate action necessary to move construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline forward The Keystone XL pipeline will bring nearly 6600 high paying jobs in the near-term and nearly $4 billion in new capital investment next year alone, the letter states. [O]ne of your first actions as President was to expedite the approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline across six western and rural states. While we sincerely appreciate your strong leadership on this issue, we write now to encourage that leadership and attention to continue so that this important infrastructure project can become a reality. To read the full letter, click HERE. Signers include: U.S. Senators: Daines, Hoeven, Crapo, Risch, Enzi, Barrasso, Capito, Ernst, Lankford, Blunt, Moran, Murkowski, Inhofe, Rounds, Cassidy, Thune and Hatch. U.S. Representatives: Gianforte, Gosar, LaMalfa, Biggs, Hunter, Westerman, Cramer, King, Gohmert, Bishop, Lesko, Tipton, Lucas, Lamborn, Estes, Mooney, Cook, Calvert, Norman, Duncan, McClintock, Amata, Cheney, Weber, Marshall, Newhouse and Stewart. Background: In November, a federal judge issued a decision that blocked construction of the pipeline. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-honors-montanan-of-the-week-kyle-wilson-of-richland-county-and-anthony-byms-of-sanders-county,Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byms of Sanders County,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.18 Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byms of Sanders County U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byms of Sanders County for their commitment and dedication of service to this country. Through his Montanan of the Week initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines' Montanan of the Week program by calling Daines' office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines' website:HERE. The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record: TRIBUTE TO KYLE WILSON AND ANTHONY BYRNS Mr. DAINES, Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing two outstanding Montanan men. Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byrns of Sanders County for their dedicated service to this country. Kyle Wilson was born and raised in Sidney, Montana. A lifelong Montanan who graduated from Sidney High School in 2011. Kyle, dedicated his life to public service, by joining the United States Navy. Hard working and disciplined are a few of the words used to describe those who join the armed forces, and Kyle is the epitome of a hard-working seaman. Anthony Byrns, another Montana Native, from Hot Springs truly grew up knowing the meaning of small town. Following the footsteps of many in his family, Anthony joined the United States Navy directly following his graduation from Hot Springs High School in 2015. Anthony has been a dedicated leader, taking initiative of the opportunities set before him. Proud of his small-town heritage, he is honored to represent Montanans. Kyle Wilson and Anthony Byrns are a part of just 1% of the Navy who were chosen to be in the Navy Ceremonial Guard. Upon selection they both went through Ceremonial Guard School, an eight-week program where they learn the protocol for important military ceremonies such as funerals. With the passing the late President H.W. Bush, both Wilson and Byrns were selected to carry his casket during the state ceremony, an honor of a life time. I commend both Kyle and Anthony for their diligent service to this country and congratulate them for representing Montana with honor and pride. I look forward to seeing their future success as they continue to make all Montanans proud. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-honors-montanan-of-the-week-kyle-wilson-of-richland-county-and-anthony-byms-of-sanders-county-,Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byms of Sanders County,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.18 Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byms of Sanders County U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byms of Sanders County for their commitment and dedication of service to this country. Through his Montanan of the Week initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines' Montanan of the Week program by calling Daines' office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines' website:HERE. The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record: TRIBUTE TO KYLE WILSON AND ANTHONY BYRNS Mr. DAINES, Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing two outstanding Montanan men. Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byrns of Sanders County for their dedicated service to this country. Kyle Wilson was born and raised in Sidney, Montana. A lifelong Montanan who graduated from Sidney High School in 2011. Kyle, dedicated his life to public service, by joining the United States Navy. Hard working and disciplined are a few of the words used to describe those who join the armed forces, and Kyle is the epitome of a hard-working seaman. Anthony Byrns, another Montana Native, from Hot Springs truly grew up knowing the meaning of small town. Following the footsteps of many in his family, Anthony joined the United States Navy directly following his graduation from Hot Springs High School in 2015. Anthony has been a dedicated leader, taking initiative of the opportunities set before him. Proud of his small-town heritage, he is honored to represent Montanans. Kyle Wilson and Anthony Byrns are a part of just 1% of the Navy who were chosen to be in the Navy Ceremonial Guard. Upon selection they both went through Ceremonial Guard School, an eight-week program where they learn the protocol for important military ceremonies such as funerals. With the passing the late President H.W. Bush, both Wilson and Byrns were selected to carry his casket during the state ceremony, an honor of a life time. I commend both Kyle and Anthony for their diligent service to this country and congratulate them for representing Montana with honor and pride. I look forward to seeing their future success as they continue to make all Montanans proud. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6540,Tester Fights Trump Administration's Plan to Expand Junk Health Insurance in Montana [press_release],2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester is taking on the Trump Administration over a plan that could expand junk insurance in Montana. In a scathing letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, Tester demanded CMS reconsider its effort to waive safeguards established by the Affordable Care Act, which would allow states to expand short-term junk health insurance plans that don't cover basic medical treatments. ""In addition to discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions, junk insurance can refuse to cover basic services like prescription drugs, maternity care, substance abuse treatment, or mental health care,"" Tester wrote. ""This insurance could leave Montanans high and dry when they need coverage the most."" Tester expressed concern that CMS's proposal would raise costs and jeopardize access to health coverage for millions of Americans, including the 152,00 Montanans, who have pre-existing conditions like asthma, cancer, and diabetes. ""You have already undermined these vital protections by promoting junk insurance like short-term plans, which do not have to meet requirements for pre-existing conditions protections,"" Tester wrote. ""The proposals you have advanced in recent weeks double down on pushing junk insurance by allowing taxpayer dollars to fund these plans, when what Montanans need is real, affordable coverage."" Tester demanded the Administration work with Congress to lower the cost of health care and protect coverage for folks with pre-existing conditions. Tester has relentlessly defended Montanans against harmful junk insurance plans, and has sponsored legislation to protect Montanans with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage by health insurance companies. Tester's letter to Administrator Verma is available HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6541,Tester to Continue Leadership on Veterans' Affairs Committee [press_release],2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced today he will continue fulfilling his commitment to America's veterans by retaining his position as Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee in the 116th Congress. Tester has represented Montana on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee since 2007 and became Ranking Member in 2016. ""It's no secret there are challenges at the VA. But there are opportunities too,"" Tester said. ""When I came to the Senate I made it my mission to make sure our nation's service men and women are supported in every way, and I'm honored to continue this important work on behalf of the heroes who risked their lives to defend us."" Tester has spent his time in Congress fighting relentlessly to hold the VA accountable, and has worked closely with members on both sides of the aisle to secure major victories for our nation's veterans. During his first term as Ranking Member, Tester got 11 veterans bills signed into law, including the landmark VA MISSION Act, the VA Accountability & Whistleblower Protection Act, and the Veterans Education Assistance Act. Tester also used his position on the committee to secure critical funding last March to construct the Southwest Montana Veterans' Home in Butte. You can read more about Tester's work on behalf of veterans HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6542,Tester Statement on Criminal Justice Reform Debate [press_release],2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tester Statement on Criminal Justice Reform Debate (Big Sandy, Mont.)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester issued the following statement on the First Step Act: ""I look forward to joining my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on Monday to vote to further debate on this critical issue.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6537,Tester Nominates 21 Montanans to Military Service Academies [press_release],2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced he is nominating 21 Montanans to U.S. military service academies. To attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, a student must be nominated by a member of Congress. ""These students represent the best Montana has to offer,"" Tester said. ""They've proven they deserve this opportunity, and I know they'll rise up to the challenge. I look forward to watching these young men and women grow and become the next generation of military leaders."" Tester nominated the following students based on their academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and a demonstrated commitment to serving and leading in the United States military. Montana students who are interested in applying to a military academy can request a nomination from Tester HERE. Senator Jon Tester's 2018 military academy nominations: Brockton Mackenzie Dethman: U.S. Air Force Academy Bozeman Aiden Reinhardt: U.S. Military Academy Butte William Cunneen: U.S. Military Academy Columbus Nathan Palmer: U.S. Naval Academy Dylan Sutton: U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy Florence Gabriel Bennett: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy Helena Travis Petersen: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, Merchant Marine Academy Kamrin Rosling: U.S. Military Academy Cameron Holston: U.S. Air Force Academy Kalispell Rakiah Grende: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Lincoln Jones: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Shelby Petersen: U.S. Military Academy Missoula Madison Edwards: U.S. Air Force Academy Cade Insko: U.S. Navy Academy Simon MaMahon: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy Finnian Westenfelder: U.S. Air Force Academy Park City Rayna Lasko: U.S. Military Academy Power Berit Bedord: U.S. Air Force Academy Red Lodge Shane Vomund: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Scobey Devan Fishell: U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy Whitefish Tyler Dunnagon: U.S. Naval Academy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6538,Tester Praises American Airlines Decision to Bring Flights in Flathead Valley [press_release],2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tester Praises American Airlines Decision to Bring Flights in Flathead Valley Senator: New Direct Flights Will Create Jobs, Boost Economy (U.S. Senate) -U.S. Senator Jon Tester today praised American Airlines' addition of three new direct flights from Glacier Park International Airport to Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The flights will be daily throughout the summer, and are the first American Airlines flights into the airport. ""Bringing in more direct flights will create jobs, boost tourism, and bolster the local economy,"" Tester said. ""People want to come to Montana, and now getting here will be even easier. I'll keep fighting to ensure our airports have the resources they need to keep growing and help Montanans stay connected with the rest of the world."" Tester's #ConnectMT initiative has been a massive success for Montana's airports. Last September Tester delivered a grant for $8.7 million to construct a new terminal at the Missoula International Airport, and last summer he secured $2.7 million for the Glacier Park International Airport.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6539,Tester Secures $600 Million Investment to Expand High-Speed Internet in Rural America [press_release],2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today applauded a $600 million investment to expand high-speed internet in rural communities across the country. Tester helped secure the investment in a budget bill in March, and he was the only member of Montana's Congressional delegation to support the funding for this new initiative. ""Schools, families, and businesses all need reliable access to high-speed internet to thrive,"" Tester said. ""This funding will specifically help the country's most rural areas close the communication gap and bring new opportunities to folks across our state."" The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will administer the new $600 million initiative, known as the ""ReConnect Program,"" through loans and grants to local telecommunication companies, tribes, and municipalities. Communities with fewer than 20,000 residents will be eligible for the new funding to expand high-speed internet access. The first round of grants applications will be due to USDA by the end of April 2019. Montanans can access assistance from USDA during the grant application process by visiting the ReConnect Program's resource portal at https://reconnect.usda.gov/. Tester earlier this week led the charge to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that included development grants to expand access to high-speed internet in rural areas.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-votes-farm-bill,Gianforte Votes for Farm Bill,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte today voted for the Farm Bill Conference Report, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives 369-47. Ahead of the vote, Gianforte spoke on the House floor, urging his colleagues to vote for the legislation. This Farm Bill is a win for Montana's farmers and ranchers who work the land to feed our country and the world, Gianforte said. To view the video, click HERE. To download the video, click HERE. Gianforte praised the Farm Bill for protecting Montana ag producers and providing them greater certainty. This Farm Bill gives our farmers and ranchers a strong safety net that protects them against the impact of natural disasters and unpredictable, unfair trade practices of other countries, Gianforte said. Gianforte described how the Farm Bill takes care of Montana priorities, including protecting Montana's sugar beet growers and producers, supporting the Agricultural Research Service, assisting rural EMS providers, and improving rural broadband delivery. An advocate of forest management reform to improve the health of forests and reduce the severity of wildfires, Gianforte noted of the Farm Bill, It improves how we manage our forests by empowering county governments to improve management of neighboring National Forest System lands. While providing counties with Good Neighbor Authority is a positive step, Gianforte cautioned the reform is one of many needed to begin to actively manage federal forests. Gianforte concluded his remarks on the House floor, This Farm Bill works for Montana. I urge my colleagues to give America's farmers and ranchers the certainty they need and vote for the Farm Bill Conference Report. The U.S. Senate yesterday passed the Conference Report to the Farm Bill, H.R. 2. It now goes to the president for his consideration. Nearly 500 agriculture groups support H.R. 2, including the Montana Grain Growers Association and the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. Read their letter of support HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-to-bia-time-for-answers-for-loring-heavyrunner-family,Daines to BIA: Time for Answers for Loring Heavyrunner Family,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.12.18 Daines to BIA: Time for Answers for Loring Heavyrunner Family Daines Demands Explanations on Indian Country's Missing and Murdered U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today in aU.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) hearing on Indian Country's missing and murdered demanded answers from the Bureau ofIndian Affairs (BIA) on theepidemic of missing and murdered persons in Indian country. The hearing follows Daines' request to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee to hold the hearing.Daines also successfully secured Kimberly Loring HeavyRunner, the sister of missing Ashley Loring Heavyrunner of the Blackfeet Tribe, as a witness at today's hearing. At the hearing, Kimberly told her sister'stragic story and the complete disregard and lack of answers for Ashley's case they have received from law enforcement saying:I am here today to stress to you that I believe that the law enforcement did not take Ashley's case seriously. Click HERE to watch Click HERE to download In the hearing, Daines questioned Deputy Associate Director of the BIA, for not getting any answers for the Loring-Heavyrunner family. Daines doubled down on his concern and questioned why it took two months from the day Ashley went missing for the investigation to begin. Does it seem like protocol is being followed when there was a two-month lag time between when Ashley went missing and when the case began as a missing person,""Daines asked. Click HERE to watch Click HERE to download Does it seem like protocol is being followed when there was a two-month lag time between when Ashley went missing and when the case began as a missing person,Daines asked. Yesterday, Daines met with Kimberly prior to the hearing. Today, he met with her following the hearing where they discussed next step In September, Daines sent a letter to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee urging them to hold a hearing on Indian Country's missing and murdered. Background: Many incidences ofmissingpersons in Indian country go unreported and even when they are reported, Indian country law enforcement carry a high volume of cold cases that go unresolved. OnOctober 3, 2018the Senate passed comprehensive opioids legislation which included Sen. Daines' Mitigating METH Act. That same day, Daines met with the nominee to head ONDCP and highlighted the devastating impacts methamphetamine and opioids have on Montana tribes and their law enforcement agencies. OnApril 26, 2018, the Senate passed Daines' bill to designate May 5thas the National Day of Awareness forMissingand Murdered Native Women and Girls. OnApril 19, 2018, Daines led a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions in response to a Department of Justice Inspector General report, urging the department of Justice to uphold its responsibilities to Indian tribes and implement the recommendations outlined in that report as quickly as possible. OnMarch 23, 2018, Daines' bill to help relocate children who gomissingthrough AMBER Alert systems became law. OnFebruary 16, 2018, Daines sponsored and supported the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs' passage of the Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act, which included Daines' bipartisan legislation to promote tribes' access to national criminal databases. OnJanuary 1, 2018,Daines introduced bipartisan legislation, the Mitigating the Methamphetamine Epidemic and Promoting Tribal Health Act, or the Mitigating METH Act, to combat methamphetamine use across Montana and strengthen Indian tribes' ability to fight this epidemic. OnDecember 6, 2017, Daines' bipartisan legislation, the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act, passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.This bill strengthens services for victims of crime in Indian country. OnMay 5, 2017, Daines joined with the family of Hanna Harris to mark the National Day of Awareness forMissingand Murdered Native Women and Girls as designated by his Senate resolution. OnMay 5, 2017, Daines introduced and secured U.S. Senate unanimous passage of a resolution recognizing May 5thas the National Day of Awareness forMissingand Murdered Native Women and Girls. The resolution honors the memory of Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe who was murdered in July 2013. In theSpring of 2017, Daines spoke at the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center briefing. The organization is based out of Billings, Montana. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6535,"Tester, Wyden Lead Charge to Overturn Administration's Controversial Dark Money Rule [press_release]",2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led the charge today to repeal a controversial new rule allowing dark money groups to hide the identities of their donors. After the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced in July that they would no longer require certain tax-exempt organizations to report the names of their major donors to the IRS, Tester and Wyden introduced a Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the controversial decision and bring more transparency and accountability to our democracy. Today, that resolution passed the Senate 50-49. ""These dark money forces are a threat to our democracy and they must be reined in,"" Tester said. ""Today's action sheds more light on the wealthy few who are trying to buy our elections and drown out the voices of regular folks. We must wrestle our country back and continue to bring transparency and accountability back to political campaigns."" ""Today the Senate voted on a bipartisan basis to throw out Trump's dark money rule and bring transparency back to our elections,"" Wyden said. ""This is a huge first step in America's fight against anonymous political insiders looking to tighten their grip on Washington. I urge Paul Ryan to act swiftly on this issue of great importance and lead the House in reversing course on the Trump administration's reckless decision."" More than 30 other Senators signed on to Tester and Wyden's resolution, forcing today's vote on the Senate Floor. Under the Congressional Review Act, members of Congress must introduce a disapproval resolution within 60 calendar days of when the final rule was issued. After 20 calendar days, the resolution can be discharged from the Finance Committee without a Committee vote. At that point, a motion to proceed to the resolution may be made on the Senate floor, so long as it is supported, in writing, by at least 30 Senators. You can read the Senators' Congressional Review Act Resolution HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6536,Tester Demands Answers from Feds on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Epidemic [press_release],2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester demanded answers from federal law enforcement officials duringtoday's Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic. ""You cannot step foot in Indian Country without hearing a heartbreaking story about this growing problem-that is why we are here today,"" Tester said. ""We need to know what's happening and what exactly can happen to solve this problem. Because these are people, these are families, these are communities that our law enforcement agencies need to look out for."" Tester had initially requested the hearing back in August after meeting with tribal leaders in Montana who told him that 20 Native American women had gone missing in the state since the beginning of 2018, but only one had been found. ""Where's the problem? Is it with BIA, is it with the FBI, is it with tribal law enforcement? Why are we not finding these people?"" Tester asked. ""We have got to find a solution to this. We have to."" In addition to representatives from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the National Institute of Justice the hearing featured testimony from native legislators and advocates, including Kimberly Loring HeavyRunner of Missoula. ""Thank you for allowing me to speak for my sister Ashley,"" Loring HeavyRunner said. ""I'm here today to stress to you that I believe law enforcement did not take Ashley's case seriously, as well as other girls that have gone missing and been murdered in Indian Country."" Ashley HeavyRunner was a 20-year-old member of the Blackfeet Tribe. She disappeared on June 8, 2017. Her sister Kimberly has been looking for Ashley ever since and has become a vocal advocate on this issue. As a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has taken a three-pronged approach to addressing this epidemic focused on raising awareness, providing resources to support survivors, and empowering tribes to bring assailants to justice. He wrapped up today's hearing with a simple request. ""We've got work to do,"" Tester said. ""I don't think this should be our last hearing on this.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/remembering-and-honoring-president-george-hw-bush,Remembering and honoring President George H.W. Bush,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"1419 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3211 Fax: (202) 225-5687",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-secures-montana-priorities-farm-bill,Gianforte Secures Montana Priorities in Farm Bill,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Farm Bill negotiators last night released the Farm Bill Conference Report which includes measures Congressman Greg Gianforte advocated to benefit Montana. The new Farm Bill includes a strong safety net for Montana farmers and ranchers, provides them with greater certainty, takes care of our rural communities, and improves how we manage our forests, Gianforte said. This Farm Bill has Montana's fingerprints on it, and I'm grateful the conference committee listened and took Montana's interests into account when putting together this Farm Bill. The Farm Bill Conference Report includes measures Gianforte advocated in a September 2018 letter to leaders of the Farm Bill conference committee. The new 2018 Farm Bill maintains and strengthens the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage options through 2023, and it enhances the Foreign Market Development program as well as the Market Access Program. The Farm Bill Conference Report helps Montana farmers and ranchers by improving and expanding access to credit, and it protects Montana sugar beet growers and processors by maintaining the sugar program. The Conference Report also includes Gianforte's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs Act, or SIREN Act, which reauthorizes a grant program for EMS training and equipment acquisition in rural areas. The new 2018 Farm Bill also includes forest management reforms which Gianforte successfully pushed, including a provision extending Good Neighbor Authority to county governments. Under current law, only state governments can enter into agreements to perform forest management services on National Forest System lands. Gianforte's measure allows the U.S. Forest Service to enter into agreements with county governments.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-statement-epa-proposal-reform-waters-us-rule,Gianforte Statement on EPA Proposal to Reform Waters of the U.S. Rule,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte today released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to reform the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule: President Obama's WOTUS mandate further empowers federal bureaucrats in Washington and threatens our Montana way of life, particularly for our farmers and ranchers. The Trump administration today proposed to roll back federal overreach, clarify the federal government's jurisdiction, and return power to states and tribes to manage their waters. The EPA's proposal will reduce uncertainty and help Montana's farmers and ranchers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-calls-for-passage-of-blue-water-bill,Daines Calls for Passage of Blue Water Bill,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.18 Daines Calls for Passage of Blue Water Bill Joined Veterans and Bipartisan Group of Senators to Call for Senate Passage of Bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined bipartisan senators and veterans to call for Senate passage of the bipartisanBlue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. Click HERE to download audio The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act is about fairness, about justice and about congressional intent,Daines said.The intent of congress was to ensure that those who served in Vietnam and were exposed to agent orange are getting the care they need and deserve. It's time to make this wrong, right. We need to take away the muddy water of the VA and pass the bipartisan Blue Water bill to protect our veterans. I urge my colleagues to support this and get it done before the year end. Last night, Daines took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to urge passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act by unanimous consent. One senator blocked the effort. Daines will continue to fight to ensure final passage of the bill. The measure passed unanimously in the House. Click HERE to download the Senator's speech on the floor last night. In 2017, Daines and Gillibrand reintroduced the bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act to help Navy veterans harmed by Agent Orange. The bill changes current law to guarantee that veterans exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the territorial waters of Vietnam can receive treatment and benefits from the VA. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-secures-critical-montana-priorities-in-2018-farm-bill,Daines Secures Critical Montana Priorities in 2018 Farm Bill,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.18 Daines Secures Critical Montana Priorities in 2018 Farm Bill Certainty Provided for Farmers and Ranchers, Forest Management Reforms U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the 2018 Farm Bill will include critical priorities for Montana farmers and ranchers and forestry provisions to help prevent catastrophic wildfire. The final compromise must now be passed by the House and Senate before moving to the President's desk to be signed into law. You can find the text of the Farm Billhere. I'm glad to see that we're moving forward with the 2018 Farm Bill andhelpingour farmers and ranchersgetthe certainty they deserve. As Montana's lone voice on the Senate Ag Committee, and as the Chairman of the Senate Western Caucus, I fought hard to ensure we got it done. I look forward to sending this final compromise to the President Trump's desk and getting it signed into law, Daines said. Click HERE to download video from Smieja Farm in Belgrade, Trapper Creek Ranch in Melrose on the importance of the Farm Bill Priorities for Montana Agriculture: Protected crop insurance, a critical part of the safety net for Montana farmers to mitigate risks inherent to agriculture. Secured funding for land grant universities, including MSU, specialty crops, and agriculture research stations across Montana. Secured provisions to expand broadband access in rural Montana, promote precision agriculture,and prioritize funds to areas that are unserved with no access. Included an amendment to help the ARC-County program, an important commodity support program, better reflect actual growing conditions in many of Montana's large counties. An important vaccine bank to help better respond to animal disease outbreaks Protected the sugar program, which is critical to ensure our farmers are able to compete on a level playing field Fought tosupport importantconservation programs such astheEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)that help farmers and ranchers improve the best practices on their land. Inclusion of the Hemp Farming Act, which allows states to regulate hemp production and research and make hemp eligible for crop insurance. As a steadfast champion of Montana's number one economic driver, I'm glad that under this Farm Bill, our farmers and ranchers are finally receiving the certainty they deserve, Daines said. Priorities to Help Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires: Daines worked to empower states to manage national forests Improved the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) by allowing the Forest Service to enter into agreements with counties and tribes to carry out timber sales and other work on national forest. Clarified that excess funds from GNA projects can be used to carry out additional restoration work on the national forests. Established Forest Service program to that improves water quality and wildlife habitat, reduces wildfire risk or provides other benefits. Daines' bipartisan bill with Senator Klobuchar that sets funding aside to span ownership boundaries on Federal, State, county, tribal, private or other non-Federal land particularly in areas identified as a priority by the state. Daines fought to reduce red tape Extended the authority for the Forest Service to expedite treatment in areas on the national forest experiencing insect and disease epidemics. I've fought to successfully give Montana and other states and counties more power to actively manage national forests, increase fuels reduction efforts on and off federal lands, protect communities from wildfires, and maintain an authority allowing expedited management of lands damaged by insects and disease, Daines said. I'm disappointed that liberal extremists blocked other much-needed reforms to cut red tape and combat fringe litigation but I will continue fighting for those until they're signed into law. Click HERE to download video from Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge on the importance of the Farm Bill ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-western-caucus-applauds-trump-administration-rewrite-of-epa-wotus-rule,Senate Western Caucus Applauds Trump Administration Rewrite of EPA WOTUS rule,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.18 Senate Western Caucus Applauds Trump Administration Rewrite of EPA WOTUS rule U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines, chair of the Senate Western Caucus, and Caucus Members Senator Jim Inhofe, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Joni Ernst, Senator John Barrasso Senator Pat Roberts, Senator Jeff Flake and Senator Jon Kyl, todayapplauded the Trump administration's rewrite of the Obama era Waters of the US (WOTUS) rule. The new EPA rule more narrowly defines waters of the US to focus on truly public waterways. The Obama WOTUS rule took federal government overreach in rural America to absurd new levels,Daines said.Maybe the Obama administration should have spent more time focusing on economic growth and protecting the homeland rather than trying to regulate farm puddles. As chair of the Senate Western Caucus, I applaud the Trump administration for rewriting this rule so that it applies to actual public waterways and no longer does harm to farmers and ranchers. Americans deserve clean water and clear rules,Barrasso, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), said.The Trump administration's new proposal respects the authority Congress gave EPA and the Army Corps under the Clean Water Act. Regulations must follow the law and be easy for Americans to understand. This new proposal does that.The old WOTUS rule put Washington in control of ponds, puddles, and prairie potholes. The regulation was so confusing that property owners and businesses could not determine when permits were needed. Even worse, it inserted Washington into local decision making. This overreach put unfair restrictions on how farmers, ranchers, and landowners could use their property. I am glad the new proposal addresses these issues. This is a big deal for Alaska that should help end years of concern, frustration, and uncertainty over a costly regulation that would have halted construction projects and other economic opportunities,Murkowski, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said.This new proposal will protect water quality while providing clarity on the scope of regulation and restoring balance to the state and federal relationship. I look forward to working with EPA and the Army Corps to make sure it is effective and workable for Alaskans. We needed a right-sized WOTUS rule, and that is exactly what President Trump and Acting Administrator Wheeler delivered,Inhofe, senior member of EPW, said.The new rule will clearly define the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act in a straightforward manner, alleviating the burden farmers and landowners face under the Obama-era rule requiring them to spend tens of thousands of unnecessary dollars to determine if they need to obtain a federal permit to make improvements to their land. Thirty-two states, two courts and even members of Obama's own administration all agreed that the Obama-era WOTUS rule was deeply flawed and an illegal land-grab by unelected federal bureaucrats. The new WOTUS rule changes all of that by helping farmers, ranchers, homebuilders and energy producers across Oklahoma focus on their businessnot red tapeand I am glad we are moving in the right direction. I thank President Trump and the EPA for putting a priority on revising the WOTUS rule to be workable for farmers, ranchers, and landowners,Roberts, chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee said.This revised rule scales back the previously affected areas, which represented a huge regulatory overstep by the Obama administration. Farmers and ranchers can spend more time growing and raising food instead of sifting through mounds of regulatory red tape. For years, people impacted by Obama's WOTUS rule have been in a state of regulatory limbo. The proposed WOTUS rule, released by the Trump EPA, provides much needed predictability and certainty by establishing clear and reasonable definitions of what qualifies as a WOTUS.' Iowa's farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and small businesses can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that, going forward, a tire track that collects rain water won't be regulated by the federal government. I want to thank the EPA, under Acting Administrator Wheeler's leadership, for ensuring this WOTUS replacement rule was released quickly, and properly, to provide much-needed regulatory certainty to the people of Iowa,Ernst said. I applaud the administration's efforts to clarify and narrow the scope of the misguided Waters of the United States rule.The rewritten rule provides the consistency and predictability that landowners need, and stops the flow of the federal government into every dry ditch in Arizona,Flake said. I am pleased the EPA announced it will propose a change to the Clean Water Act's Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, which has continuously subjected Arizona farmers and ranchers, as well as Arizona's homebuilding industry, to federal overreach. A rule change would allow these industries continue to operate without unnecessary restrictions,Kyl said. The WOTUS rule defines which bodies of water are subject to federal jurisdiction under the 1970 Clean Water Act. The Obama Administration rule was announced in 2015 and was written so broadly that to everything from puddles to irrigation ditches on private land could be considered Waters of the US, and be subject to federal regulations. In today's announcement, the EPA stated that bodies of water on private property that are not connected to larger waterways, as well as temporary streams that run only from rainfall will not be subject to regulation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6533,Tester Statement Following Blue Water Navy Vote [press_release],2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tester Statement Following Blue Water Navy Vote Blockage of Bipartisan Bill to Expand Benefits A Thumb in the Eye to Millions' (U.S. Senate) - Ranking Member Jon Tester today released the following statement after his bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act was blocked from passage on the Senate floor: ""I'm incredibly disappointed in the obstructionism that blocked our bipartisan and widely supported Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. Republicans and Democrats have worked in good faith to move this bill with plenty of opportunities for debate along the way. Taking care of our veterans is a cost of war. While this eleventh hour attempt to block the bill is a thumb in the eye to millions of veterans and service members, I won't stop fighting for the veterans who are counting on this bill to pass before the end of the year.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6534,Tester Backs Bipartisan Farm Bill [press_release],2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate)-The U.S. Senate's only farmer, Jon Tester, today voted for a bipartisan farm bill to strengthen Montana's number one industry. Tester supported the Farm Bill because it strengthens crop insurance, supports conservation, protects nutrition assistance for seniors and families, and invests in rural communities. ""As the escalating trade war hurts our nation's producers, this bipartisan Farm Bill helps lessen the blow to Montana's family farmers and ranchers,"" Tester said. ""It provides the kind of certainty producers can take to the bank, while protecting successful conservation tools and ensuring every hungry Montanan has access to quality food."" Tester successfully pushed to amend the Farm Bill to provide state and local Farm Service Agency Committees with the ability to improve access to the critical ARC safety net program by redrawing ARC County boundaries into multiple zones in one county. This amendment will better reflect crop and growing conditions for farmers enrolled in the ARC program in large, rural counties where conditions can vary within the county. Tester held seven open-to-the-public Farm Bill listening sessions across the state to gather feedback from producers. The following provisions brought up during Tester's Farm Bill listening were included in the bipartisan Farm Bill: Reauthorizes and keeps intact both Price Loss Coverage and Ag Risk Coverage (ARC) insurance. Amends the Environmental Quality Incentive Program to better work for Montana producers. Increases the maximum acreage of the Conservation Reserve Program. Directs the USDA Secretary to more actively fight the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease. Protects sugar policies that have been successfully utilized in the current Farm Bill. Reauthorizes the Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, which is vital to the mission of the Northern Plains Research Lab in Sidney. Mandates funding for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Removes hemp from the list of controlled substances, enabling it to be sold as a commodity. Reauthorizes critical USDA Rural Development Grants that are used to rebuild and construct water and wastewater infrastructure and expand access to high-speed internet in rural areas. The Farm Bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. The current Farm Bill expired in September. The Senate passed the Farm Bill 87-13.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-secures-critical-meth-sex-offender-provisions-in-criminal-justice-reform-legislation,"Daines Secures Critical Meth, Sex Offender Provisions in Criminal Justice Reform Legislation",2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.18 Daines Secures Critical Meth, Sex Offender Provisions in Criminal Justice Reform Legislation U.S. SENATEU.S. Senator Steve Daines announced he will cosponsor and support legislation to reform the criminal justice systemafter working to ensure meth and sex offender provisions were included in the bill. Meth use has skyrocketed in Montana. We need to make sure we have every tool available to fight against an epidemic that is tearing families apart and increasing violent crimes in our state,Daines said.I'm glad to have worked to ensure high level meth dealers and sex offendersareexcluded from the benefits of theFirst Step Act to help protect Montana families and communities. I'm happy to cosponsor this bill. The bill, theFirst Step Act,prohibits the offenders of 48 specific crimes from earning and using good time credits including violent criminals and high-level heroin and fentanyl dealers. Due to the increase in meth use in Montana and the violent nature of Methamphetamines, Daines worked to include high level meth dealers as one of the 48 offenders that are prohibited from using and earning time credits. Daines also worked to ensure sex offenders were included in the list. Background: The First Step Act is a bipartisan bill to reform the criminal justice system in order to focus resources on the worst criminals. Specifically, the bill: Increases programs designed to reduce recidivism and prepare offenders to return to their families, their communities and back into the workforce. Creates a risk assessment system that determines each inmate's risk of recidivism. Low level offenders who are assessed as having a low risk of recidivism may earn time credits for pre-release custody. Violent criminals, sex offenders, certain high-level drug dealers, and other high-risk criminals are not permitted to earn time credits for pre-release custody. Increases employment and training opportunities so offenders can better return to the workforce Prohibits the use of restraints on pregnant inmates. Expands the definition of serious violent offenders to enhance the sentences of violent criminals. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-successfully-secures-us-senate-hearing-on-missing-and-murdered-persons-in-indian-country,Daines Successfully Secures U.S. Senate Hearing on Missing and Murdered Persons in Indian Country,2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.18 Daines Successfully Secures U.S. Senate Hearing on Missing and Murdered Persons in Indian Country U.S. SENATEU.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a hearing this Wednesday on the issue ofmissingand murdered persons in Indian country. The announcement comes after Daines sent a letter to Committee leadership requesting a hearing. We face tragedies from across Montana where tribal citizens, particularly women and girls, go missing without a trace,Daines said. We must do all in our power to curb the crisis of American Indians and Alaska Natives who disappear and whose cases never see justice.I'm glad to see that the committee is treating this issue with the seriousness it deserves. I look forward to hearing from Kimberly Loring HeavyRunner, Montanan and sister of missing Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, at the hearing. Kimberly Loring HeavyRunner, sister of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner who disappeared in June 2017 from the Blackfeet Reservation, will testify at the hearing. InSeptember, Daines sent a letter to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee urging them to hold a hearing on the issue. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, December 12 at 12:30 PM MT. The hearing will be live streamedHERE. Background: Many incidences ofmissingpersons in Indian country go unreported and even when they are reported, Indian country law enforcement carry a high volume of cold cases that go unresolved. OnOctober 3, 2018the Senate passed comprehensive opioids legislation which included Sen. Daines' Mitigating METH Act. That same day, Daines met with the nominee to head ONDCP and highlighted the devastating impacts methamphetamine and opioids have on Montana tribes and their law enforcement agencies. OnApril 26, 2018, the Senate passed Daines' bill to designate May 5thas the National Day of Awareness forMissingand Murdered Native Women and Girls. OnApril 19, 2018, Daines led a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions in response to a Department of Justice Inspector General report, urging the department of Justice to uphold its responsibilities to Indian tribes and implement the recommendations outlined in that report as quickly as possible. OnMarch 23, 2018, Daines' bill to help relocate children who gomissingthrough AMBER Alert systems became law. OnFebruary 16, 2018, Daines sponsored and supported the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs' passage of the Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act, which included Daines' bipartisan legislation to promote tribes' access to national criminal databases. OnJanuary 1, 2018,Daines introduced bipartisan legislation, the Mitigating the Methamphetamine Epidemic and Promoting Tribal Health Act, or the Mitigating METH Act, to combat methamphetamine use across Montana and strengthen Indian tribes' ability to fight this epidemic. OnDecember 6, 2017, Daines' bipartisan legislation, the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act, passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.This bill strengthens services for victims of crime in Indian country. OnMay 5, 2017, Daines joined with the family of Hanna Harris to mark the National Day of Awareness forMissingand Murdered Native Women and Girls as designated by his Senate resolution. OnMay 5, 2017, Daines introduced and secured U.S. Senate unanimous passage of a resolution recognizing May 5thas the National Day of Awareness forMissingand Murdered Native Women and Girls. The resolution honors the memory of Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe who was murdered in July 2013. In theSpring of 2017, Daines spoke at the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center briefing. The organization is based out of Billings, Montana. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-staff-hold-mobile-office-hours-five-counties-0,Gianforte Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in Five Counties,2018-12-07,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte announced that a member of his staff will conduct mobile office hours in five counties, including Big Horn, Chouteau, Gallatin, Phillips, and Treasure counties. BOZEMAN TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 8 a.m. Gallatin County Courthouse Room 301 311 West Main Street Gianforte Staff: Casey Collins MALTA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 1 p.m. Phillips County Courthouse Lower Level Meeting Room 314 South 2nd Avenue West Gianforte Staff: Lesley Robinson HARDIN WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 8 a.m. Big Horn County Courthouse Basement Meeting Room 121 West Third Street Gianforte Staff: Casey Collins HYSHAM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 1 p.m. Treasure County Courthouse Judges Room 307 Rapelje Gianforte Staff: Casey Collins FORT BENTON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 1 p.m. Chouteau County Library 1518 Main Street Gianforte Staff: Tory Scribner Area residents are invited to visit with a member of Gianforte's staff on an individual basis and share their views, questions, or concerns regarding the federal government. These comments will be shared with Congressman Gianforte. Residents may also inquire about federal programs or seek help with a federal agency, such as the Social Security Administration or the Veterans Administration. Residents may drop by the location or make an appointment by calling Gianforte's Helena office at (406) 502-1435. If residents are unable to attend and would like information or assistance, they should contact Gianforte's Helena office at (406) 502-1435.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-honors-montanan-of-the-week-hannah-nieskens-of-jefferson-county_,Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Hannah Nieskens of Jefferson County,2018-12-07,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.18 Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Hannah Nieskens of Jefferson County U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Hannah Nieskens of Jefferson County for her years of service to Montana veterans and her great impact on Montana's education system. Yesterday, Daines spoke about Nieskens on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Watch HERE Download HERE Daines' speech in the Congressional Record is available here. Mr. DAINES, Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Hannah Nieskens of Jefferson County for her tremendous service to Montana veterans and her great impact on Montana's education system. Hannah grew up spending time in Montana with her family, and then was awarded the presidential scholarship to attend Montana State University in Bozeman. After graduating with Honors from MSU, Hannah began her career in education in the Billings School District. During her four years in Billings, she met her now-husband Kelly, who served in the Army, and they fell in love. Hannah and Kelly now have three children, two daughters, Charity and Hope. And their adopted son, Joshua. Joshua is currently serving overseas in the Air Force. Hannah has a distinguished career in education. She has served her community as a teacher in Billings, the Dean of Wolf Point High School, the Principal at Northside Elementary School, and now is the 6-12 Principal in Whitehall. Last year, Hannah was named Montana Principal of the Year. Now, Hannah's one of three finalists for the 2019 National Principal of the Year. In addition to Hannah's devoted career to education, Hannah has a passion for serving Montana veterans. After Kelly was severely wounded while serving in Iraq, Hannah began volunteering to help other veterans in the community navigate the VA. Hannah even earned a law degree, to be better prepared to assist Kelly and others veterans struggling with the VA. Hannah currently serves as the Montana Dole Fellow, where she advocates on behalf of Montana's military families. Hannah has greatpride in calling Montana home and we are lucky to have her. She has made a lasting impact on her community and the entire state, both through her service to our veterans and by shaping our future generations in the school system. I congratulate Hannah on all of her success, and look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish for Montana in the future. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6531,Tester Announces $10 Million BUILD Grant to Replace Bridges in Toston [press_release],2018-12-07,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Montana Department of Transportation will receive a $10 million grant to replace two bridges on Highway 287 near Toston. The Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant, formerly known as a TIGER Grant, will be used to replace the two deteriorating bridges and enhance highway safety in Broadwater County between Helena and Three Forks. ""Anyone who has traveled up and down Highway 287 knows exactly how dangerous these bridges are,"" Tester said. ""This investment will improve public safety, strengthen our transportation infrastructure, and eliminate a major choke point for local farmers and ranchers trucking their products."" Tester sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in July in support of the Montana Department of Transportation's BUILD Grant application. Today, Secretary Chao personally called Tester to announce that the Toston bridge project will receive the grant. The Highway 287 corridor near Toston has a higher-than-average crash rate, and the BUILD Grant will widen the narrow bridges that sit above the Missouri River and Montana Rail Link train tracks, as well as correct the substandard curves that pose a safety risk. The Montana Department of Transportation has already invested $100 million to widen the highway around the bridges on Highway 287. Both bridges are designated as ""fracture critical"" bridges and require monitoring on a three-month cycle. Neither bridge has been significantly improved since the 1950's. In addition to the Toston bridge project, Tester today also secured a $12.7 million BUILD Grant for the City of Kalispell to further complete the Kalispell bypass project.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6532,Senate Passes Tester's Bill to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Epidemic [press_release],2018-12-07,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) U.S. Senator Jon Tester's bill to help address theMissing and Murdered Indigenous Womenepidemic unanimously passed the Senate Thursday night, just a few weeks after the Senate Indian Affairs Committeeunanimously votedto sendSavanna's Actto the Senate floor. Allof us must work together to end this epidemic,Tester said.Savanna's Actwould ensure we all have access to the most comprehensive data regarding these crimes and make sure law enforcement agencies are on the same pageas they investigatethisunacceptableepidemic. According to the National Institute of Justice,more than 80 percentof native women have experienced violencealmost half within the last year.As a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has worked hard to raise awareness about thisepidemic, support survivors, and bring their assailants to justice. Savanna's Actwouldrequire theU.S. Department ofJustice to better collect and report crime data and increase access to federal crime databases thattrackmissing persons across Indian Country. Itwouldalso create standard guidelines for responding to cases of missing and murderedindigenous women, laying out a clear framework for cooperation between tribal, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Earlier this year, Tester secured a historic$133 million to help tribesassist survivors of violent crimes through the Crime Victims Fund and issponsoring legislationto make this funding permanent.TheSURVIVE Actwas passed unanimouslyout of Committee and is currently awaiting a vote on the Senate floor. Tester hascalled for a Senate hearingon the Missing and MurderedIndigenous Womenepidemic, which will take place on December 12, 2018.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-announces-military-academy-nominations-0,Gianforte Announces Military Academy Nominations,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte today announced his nominations for 14 Montana students applying for enrollment to U.S. military academies. One of my greatest honors is to nominate the best and brightest Montana students to compete for an appointment to one of our nation's military academies, Gianforte said. I commend these remarkable young people for their dedication to serving our country, and I wish them the best success as they continue in this extremely competitive process. A service academy nomination from a member of Congress is required of students seeking officer training at one of the nation's four military academies: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. Students applying through Gianforte's congressional office for an academy nomination completed an extensive application process that examined their academic, civic, and physical abilities as well as their commitment to military service. Gianforte's 2018 nominees to U.S. military academies follow by county: Carbon County Shane Vomund, Red Lodge - U.S. Air Force Academy Flathead County Tyler Dunnagan, Whitefish - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Lincoln Jones, Kalispell - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Gallatin County Aiden Reinhardt, Bozeman - U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy Logan Wilkes, Bozeman - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Lake County Kyla Blixt, Polson - U.S. Military Academy Missoula County Madison Edwards, Missoula - U.S. Air Force Academy Kamrin Rosling, Missoula - U.S. Military Academy Finnian Westenfelder, Missoula - U.S. Air Force Academy Ravalli County Gabe Bennett, Florence - U.S. Naval Academy Sophia Doyle, Hamilton - U.S. Military Academy Stillwater County Nathan Palmer, Columbus - U.S. Naval Academy Teton County Berit Bedord, Power - U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Yellowstone County Charles Morledge-Hampton, Billings - U.S. Naval Academy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-announces-us-service-academy-nominations-for-montana-students,Daines Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominations for Montana Students,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.06.18 Daines Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominations for Montana Students U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced his nominations for 14 Montana students who are applying for enrollment into U.S. service academies. A congressional nomination is a critical step in the process for Montanans seeking admission to one of four of the nation's service academies: the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. As a United States Senator, it is one of my greatest honors to nominate young men and women from Montana to attend one of our nation's military academies,Daines said.I'm confident that this group of outstanding students will be successful at our service academies, and I commend them for their commitment to serving our nation and upholding Montana's strong legacy of service. Students interested in applying to a U.S. service academy submitted an extensive application that documents their academic, civic and athletic abilities, as well as their commitment to military service. An academy selection board assembled by Daines reviewed the applications and conducted interviews of the applicants. The following is a complete list of Daines' 2018 service academy nominations by county: Missoula County: Kamrin Rosling,Missoula: USMA Finnian Westenfelder,Missoula: USAFA Madison Edwards,Missoula: USAFA Gallatin County: Aiden Reinhardt,Bozeman: USAFA,USMA Logan Wilkes,Bozeman: USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA Stillwater County: Nathan Palmer,Columbus: USNA Teton County: Berit Bedord,Power: USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA Ravalli County: Sophia Doyle,Hamilton: USMA Gabriel Bennett,Florence: USMA, USNA, USAFA Flathead County: Tyler Dunnagen, Whitefish: USNA, USAFA Lincoln Jones, Kalispell: USNA, USAFA Silver Bow County: William Cunneen, Butte: USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA Yellowstone County: Charles Morledge-Hampton, Billings: USNA Carbon County: Shane Vomund,Red Lodge: USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-applauds-trump-administration-for-reversing-job-killing-regulation-on-coal,Daines Applauds Trump Administration for Reversing Job-Killing Regulation on Coal,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.06.18 Daines Applauds Trump Administration for Reversing Job-Killing Regulation on Coal Action Will Create Jobs, Increase Affordable Energy and Boost Local Economies in Montana and Across the U.S. U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement on the Trump administration's proposed revisions to the Obama era's job-killing Clean Power Plan (CPP). The EPA Power Plan was another example of President Obama and Gina McCarthy regulating by having the tail wagging thedog.Their standards were unattainable and did nothing to clean up the environment and instead killed high paying jobs,Daines said.Today's action by the Trump administration will help save Montana jobs and help create affordable and reliable energy across the country.I'm thankful for EPA Administrator Wheeler and President Trump for stepping up to the plate. As part of theCPP,the Obama administration placed uneconomical requirements on new and modified coal plants. The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to removethese emissionsstandards for coal plants that were unattainable and would have blocked the construction of new coal plants. The revised rule willuse new standards based on existing technology,helping to ensure that our nation's energy mix can continue to diversify and remain reliable with coal-fired power part of its future. Statement of Support: Lori Shaw, Colstrip United Director, Colstrip City Councilwoman:""This is great news for the future of America's coal fleet. Montana has the extraordinary potential to help be a leader in new coal technologies thanksto our existing infrastructure, and the fact that our state has larger coal reserves than any other in the nation. The reasonable modification of these regulations will help create a more stable and fair playing field for new coal technologies that can continue to provide the vital around-the-clock reliable power that keeps our grids stable and our energy bills affordable. For my community of Colstrip and all the citizens of Montana that support our vital natural resource industries like coal, the push for this change is a clear sign that our concerns are being heard and that our efforts to raise our voices on behalf of our energy future have not been in vain."" ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-helps-to-secure-227-million-in-grants-for-kalispell-highway-missouri-river-crossing-project,"Daines Helps to Secure $22.7 Million in Grants for Kalispell Highway, Missouri River Crossing Project",2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.06.18 Daines Helps to Secure $22.7 Million in Grants for Kalispell Highway, Missouri River Crossing Project U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced over $22 million in grant funding for US Highway 93 in Kalispell, and the Missouri River Crossing Project. As a member of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Daines secured the funding through the Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant programs. From driving to work every day to welcoming visitors at Glacier National Park, this infrastructure is critical to Montana's economy and jobs,Daines said.I'm thrilled to have secured these funds for Kalispell and Toston and I look forward to seeing these projects get started! The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Details below: City of Kalispell: $12,750,000 This grant will widen an approximately 2-mile section of the US Highway 93 bypass from 2-4 lanes and replace an existing roundabout at Foys Lake Road. OnJuly 12, 2018Daines sent a letter to DOT Secretary Chao in support of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce receiving the BUILD grant. In2015, Daines also secured a $10 million grant for infrastructure improvements in Kalispell. Missouri River Crossing Project: $10,000,000 This grant will accelerate the Missouri River Crossing Project, which will reconstruct approximately 3.5 miles of US 287 near Toston, improve several intersections and replace two structurally deficient bridges. OnJune 27, 2018Daines sent a letter to DOT Secretary Chao in support of the Missouri RiverCrossing Project receiving the BUILD grant. Statements of Support: Joe Unterreiner, President and CEO, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau:Today's announcement that the Kalispell Bypass has been selected for $12.75 million of BUILD funding is tremendous news for Kalispell and the Flathead Valley.Sen. Daines' support and advocacy on our behalf with the US. Department of Transportation was an important part of today's announcement.With traffic counts already at 2040 projections, the widening of the south half of the Bypass and removal of roundabouts will be benefit to the traveling public throughout northwest Montana. Mark Johnson, Mayor of Kalispell:The citizens of Kalispell, and all of Flathead Valley, will benefit significantly from this grant as we continue our work to complete the highway 93 by-pass and improve the flow of traffic in our fast-growing community. Couple this with the TIGER grant we received to redevelop the core area of Kalispell and we are well positioned to grow into the future and improve the lives of those who live in our community. This growth with be well worth the investment of the grant funds. Thank you Senator Daines for your support and assistance with this project and everything else you do for us!"" Pam Holmquist, Flathead County Commissioner:What a wonderful early Christmas present for Flathead County as we continue our efforts to make the alternate route a true by-pass.Special thanks to Senator Daines, Senator Tester and Congressman Gianforte for helping us secure these funds. Mark Blasdel, Montana State Senator:This is an incredible step for the Flathead Valley in its growth and a tremendous example of collaborative effort and leadership from Senators Daines, Tester, Congressman Gianforte, state agencies, local legislators, county and city government, and local business groups such as the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6530,Tester Announces $12.7 Million BUILD Grant for Kalispell Bypass [press_release],2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Kalispell will receive a $12.7 million grant to further complete the city's bypass project. The Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant, formerly known as the TIGER Grant, was awarded today to the City of Kalispell to widen two miles of U.S. Highway 93 south of town and replace the roundabout near Foys Lake. ""The Kalispell bypass is building new opportunities for local businesses to create jobs and strengthen the economy,"" Tester said. ""For every dollar we invest in our transportation infrastructure we see major returns and Kalispell's leaders deserve big praise for their relentless push to secure this major grant."" Tester sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in July in support of the City of Kalispell's BUILD Grant application. Today, Secretary Chao personally called Tester to announced that Kalispell will receive the BUILD Grant. Highway 93 serves as a main travel corridor for the over 3 million annual visitors to Glacier National Park and the access point for hundreds of local businesses. The Kalispell bypass will reduce the travel congestion across the Flathead Valley and create new development opportunities for business and commerce. Planning for the Kalispell bypass began in 1994 to create a smooth and safe passage way across the valley, while investing in new opportunities for local business. To date, 500 businesses, government officials, and agencies have endorsed the Kalispell bypass project. Tester helped secure a $10 million TIGER Grant for the city of Kalispell to create the new Glacier Rail Park in 2015 to spur economic growth in downtown and he also secured a $16 million TIGER Grant to complete construction of the Beartooth Highway earlier this year to unlock access to Yellowstone National Park.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6529,Tester Delivers Win for Missoula Kids [press_release],2018-12-05,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - As part of his ongoing mission to give every child a chance to succeed, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced a $2.8 million grant for Child Start, Inc. a Missoula-area Head Start program. ""A great education starts at the beginning, and Head Start gives kids a chance to reach their highest potential,"" Tester said. ""Public education is a cornerstone of our democracy and entering school ready to learn is the best way to take advantage of that. This grant will help make sure Missoula kids have every resource they need to be successful."" Head Start provides educational enrichment to low-income children between three years-old and Kindergarten. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Tester, a former elementary school teacher and School Board member, has been a longtime champion of early education in Montana. In a major win for early childhood education, Tester worked with Republicans and Democrats to secure $9.8 billion for Head Start initiatives across the country this year. Tester has also secured similar grants for Butte, Anaconda, Great Falls, Vaughn, Conrad, Shelby, Cut Bank and CSKT Head Start initiatives in the last year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/gianforte-visits-bozeman-school-promote-coding-lessons,Gianforte visits Bozeman school to promote coding lessons,2018-12-04,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Coding computers might sound daunting to a lot of adults, but to the fourth-graders at Bozeman's Emily Dickinson School, it's a cool way to learn while having fun. Students in teacher Tina Martin's class practiced Monday using a program called Tinker that let them drag and drop bits of coded instructions into place to make the screen images do their bidding. Kids learned to make cubes spin and blow up on their computer screens, and make monsters to zap and kill. Nine-year-old Ryder Earle used his coding time to create farm animals that tell jokes. He said he likes it because you never run out of ideas. It was all part of the Hour of Code, an international event designed to introduce millions of students to computer coding, to demystify technology, to show kids that anyone can learn the basics, and to broaden the appeal to more kids, beyond the realm of geeks. More than 2,000 Bozeman students in 60 classrooms will take at least an hour this week to try coding, Superintendent Rob Watson said. Montana Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte, who made a fortune creating a successful software company in Bozeman, RightNow Technologies, visited the school to support the Hour of Code. I am kind of a geek, Gianforte told students. He said he first started computer coding in junior high school and taught himself with an early Radio Shack computer that had a paltry 4 kilobytes of memory, enough for a page or two of text. That led to his first job, coding for a hospital while still in junior high. I thought it was just fascinating, Gianforte said. That's why I think the Hour of Code is so fantastic, to increase awareness. There's a big difference between using a computer and coding a computer, because when you can code, then you become master of the machine. He asked the fourth-graders what programs they'd like to create, and one girl said she'd write a safe social media program so moms would let their kids use it. Martin said she and her students had already discussed how there will be hundreds of thousands of jobs in computer coding, but fewer than 50,000 students will graduate each year with the skills to fill those jobs. This exercise is also teaching her students how to troubleshoot and problem solve when their programs don't work right, Martin said. Next week she plans to have them program a game that can test people with concussions. Martin is one of 16 teachers at Bozeman's eight elementary schools who received training from Project Lead the Way, a national educational nonprofit that promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. The 16 teachers are starting to train other teachers at their schools how to use STEM lessons. Teachers love it because students become so engaged, Martin said, and teachers know kids will benefit. Watson and Bozeman School Board trustees have made STEM education one of their priorities but had no extra funds for teacher training. So Watson asked the Bozeman Schools Foundation to raise $350,000 for the effort from businesses and private donors. Asked whether the federal or state governments should provide money for STEM education, Gianforte said most school funding is local and federal funds often come with strings attached. ... (Click here to read the full story)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-daines-applaud-forest-service-solicitation-next-generation,"Gianforte, Daines Applaud Forest Service Solicitation for Next Generation Airtankers",2018-12-04,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte, andU.S. Senator Steve Daines applauded the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) release of the Request for Proposals for Next Generation 3.0 contracts for large airtankers for fire support.These airtankers will be responsible for delivering retardant in fire suppression efforts nationwide. I appreciate the Forest Service responding to our request to issue the solicitation for the Next Generation 3.0 contracts,Gianforte said.New airtankers will ensure our firefighters have more tools in their belt to combat wildfires. Large airtankers are a critical tool in the fight to contain wildland fires,Daines said.I am thankful the Forest Service has responded to our request to issue the solicitation so our brave firefighters will have the fastest, most cost-effective airtankers into the future. InNovember, Gianforte and Daines sent a letter to USFS Chief Vicki Christiansen, requesting the agency issue the solicitation without any further delay. Click HERE to read the full letter. Background: The Next Generation 3.0 airtankers will replace former legacy aircraft that were used in aerial fire suppression efforts and are more than 50 years old. The airtanker industry, including Missoula-based Neptune Aviation, has been awaiting the agency's solicitation of Next Generation airtankers since February 2017. Neptune Aviation has made significant investments in acquiring and converting aircraft for the wildland firefighting mission and currently has nine Next Generation airtankers in its fleet. As of November 29, 2018, there have been 1,302 fires burning 97,250 acres in Montana.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-gianforte-applaud-forest-service-solicitation-for-next-generation-airtankers,"Daines, Gianforte Applaud Forest Service Solicitation for Next Generation Airtankers",2018-12-04,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.18 Daines, Gianforte Applaud Forest Service Solicitation for Next Generation Airtankers U.S. CONGRESS U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte applauded the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) release of the Request for Proposals for Next Generation 3.0 contracts for large airtankers for fire support.These airtankers will be responsible for delivering retardant in fire suppression efforts nationwide. Large airtankers are a critical tool in the fight to contain wildland fires,Daines said.I am thankful the Forest Service has responded to our request to issue the solicitation so our brave firefighters will have the fastest, most cost-effective airtankers into the future. I appreciate the Forest Service responding to our request to issue the solicitation for the Next Generation 3.0 contracts,Gianforte said.New airtankers will ensure our firefighters have more tools in their belt to combat wildfires. InNovember, Daines and Gianforte sent a letter to USFS Chief Vicki Christiansen, requesting the agency issue the solicitation without any further delay. Click HERE to read the full letter. Background: The Next Generation 3.0 airtankers will replace former legacy aircraft that were used in aerial fire suppression efforts and are more than 50 years old. The airtanker industry, including Missoula-based Neptune Aviation, has been awaiting the agency's solicitation of Next Generation airtankers since February 2017. Neptune Aviation has made significant investments in acquiring and converting aircraft for the wildland firefighting mission and currently has nine Next Generation airtankers in its fleet. As of November 29, 2018, there have been 1,302 fires burning 97,250 acres in Montana. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6527,Tester Secures Millions For Rural Water Infrastructure [press_release],2018-12-04,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured major investments to help deliver safe, clean water to communities across Montana. Tester secured over $20 million through loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to upgrade water and wastewater systems in multiple communities across Montana. ""Whether it's used for running a business, growing crops, or raising a family, water is life in rural Montana,"" Tester said. ""These investments will strengthen our water infrastructure, pave the way for more good-paying jobs, and benefit rural communities for years to come."" Tester secured the funding through the 2018 budget agreement, and was the only member of Montana's Congressional delegation to support the bill. The much-needed water improvement projects receiving funding include: Glasgow $1.3 million to the City of Glasgow to replace valves, pumps, storage reservoirs, and electrical equipment. Belt $850,000 to the Town of Belt to replace and upgrade the lift stations to prevent wastewater from backing up in local homes. Scobey $3.9 million to the City of Scobey to upsize cast iron water mains and replace deteriorated pipes that may pose health risks. Sheridan $400,000 to the Town of Sheridan to construct a new well following a 2017 earthquake that limited the community's water supply. Thompson Falls $14 million to the City of Thompson Falls to begin a four-phase project to connect 760 new users to the city's wastewater collection system. Sanders County $1.1 million to Sanders County to construct a solid waste transfer station near Thompson Falls and make improvements to collection sites in Heron, Noxon, Trout Creek, and Plains. ""We feel very fortunate to receive the funds from Rural Development,"" said Belt Mayor Jim Olson. ""This investment will allow the community of Belt to replace one lift station that has been on emergency bypass, the second operating with only one pump and the third needs upgrades. These funds will help our small community stay viable."" ""This investment is much needed and much appreciated in our community,"" said Scobey Mayor Danne Showers. Tester has fought to make sure all Montanans have access to clean, safe water. In October, Tester helped passed the bipartisan the Water Resources Development Act to upgrade water systems, establish watercraft inspection stations, and boost access to clean water in rural communities. Earlier this year, Tester helped pass the 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which includes much-needed investments to help deliver clean water to communities across Montana.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/computer-science-education-week-addresses-need-tech-workers-montana,Computer Science Education Week addresses need for tech workers in Montana,2018-12-03,2018,2018-12,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Nationwide, those who work in science, technology, engineering and math make almost twice as much as the average American, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. STEM courses are rooted in classrooms at Emily Dickinson Elementary in Bozeman. The school is celebrating Computer Science Education Week. Principal Sarah Hays says the school is adding more coding activities to the curriculum and helping students learn computer programming. ""In our library they're doing quite a bit of that,"" Hays said. ""All kids will be doing that."" ""Since I got started, computers have become more and more important,"" said U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, the school's guest. ""We need to be introducing our kids at this younger age about coding. It's really every industry, every career would benefit from more coding experience."" The Department of Labor reports more than 55,000 STEM workers in the state, and jobs are expected to increase. The average salary for a Montana STEM worker is $68,695, compared to a non-STEM salary, which averages $36,643. (Click here to view the full story)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6528,Tester Statement on the Life of President George H. W. Bush [press_release],2018-12-01,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tester Statement on the Life of President George H. W. Bush (U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement to celebrate the life of President George H. W. Bush: ""President Bush was a statesman who lived the meaning of service. His deeply held values made him a giant at a time where bitterness and division were all too common. We must remember his legacy and commit ourselves to the kindness he hoped for our nation.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-announces-spirit-montana-recipient-webb-brown-helena,Gianforte Announces Spirit of Montana Recipient: Webb Brown of Helena,2018-11-30,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte recognized Webb Brown of Helena with his Spirit of Montana commendation for his dedication to making Montana more business friendly, for his commitment to creating jobs and opportunity for more Montanans, and for always putting Montana first. A fifth-generation Montanan from Trout Creek, Mr. Brown has been a strong voice and tireless advocate for Montana businesses since the early 1990s, including for the last 20 years as president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Montana Chamber Foundation. Gianforte's Spirit of Montana is a weekly recognition of Montanans for their accomplishments, dedication, or service. Gianforte highlights the recipient in the U.S. House of Representatives and personally contacts the honorees. Gianforte encourages anyone to nominate Montanans for the Spirit of Montana award by contacting his office at 202-225-3211 or by e-mail at https://gianforte.house.gov/contact/email. Gianforte's statement in the Congressional Record about Brown is available HERE and follows: RECOGNIZING WEBB BROWN OF HELENA Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Webb Brown of Helena for his decades of leadership in advancing Montana's business community and our job creators. Mr. Brown recently announced his retirement after 20 years as president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Montana Chamber Foundation. A fifth-generation Montanan from Trout Creek, Mr. Brown has been a strong voice and tireless advocate for Montana businesses since the early 1990s. Before taking the helm of the Montana Chamber of Commerce in 1999, he led business development organizations in Thompson Falls, Lewistown, and Billings. Under his steady leadership, the Montana Chamber has grown larger and stronger, effectively advancing the interests of Montana businesses at the local, state, and federal levels. Mr. Brown has been instrumental in spearheading many initiatives to cultivate a more competitive climate for businesses in Montana. I got to know him as we worked together on initiatives promoting entrepreneurship and expanding telecommuting to bring our kids back home to Montana. With the help of Mr. Brown and the Montana Chamber of Commerce, entrepreneurship has flourished in Montana. Our state leads the nation in entrepreneurship with more than 1 in 10 Montanans owning a business, according to a 2016 Kauffman Foundation report. Mr. Speaker, for his dedication to making Montana more business friendly, for his commitment to creating jobs and opportunity for more Montanans, and for always putting Montana first, I recognize Webb Brown for his spirit of Montana.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-calls-senate-democrats-end-obstruction-include-forest-reforms,"Gianforte Calls on Senate Democrats to End Obstruction, Include Forest Reforms in Farm Bill",2018-11-30,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte took to the House floor, urging Farm Bill negotiators to include critical forest management reforms in the new Farm Bill. Gianforte described the heavy toll wildfires have taken in California and the devastating fire seasons Montana has had in the last few years. Mr. Speaker, the Camp Fire in California has tragically claimed the lives of 88 people, and hundreds remain missing. It has left more than 13,000 families without homes, Gianforte said. Congress must act now. Our communities can't afford to wait any longer. Gianforte called on Senate Democrats to end their obstruction of critical reforms. Senate Democrats should put the health and safety of our communities first and include commonsense forest management reforms in the Farm Bill, Gianforte said. To watch the video, click HERE. To download it, click HERE. Gianforte's remarks as prepared: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge Farm Bill negotiators to include critical forest management reforms in the new Farm Bill. I'm encouraged that a new Farm Bill is forthcoming, but it should include reforms for how we manage our forests. Mr. Speaker, the Camp Fire in California has tragically claimed the lives of 88 people, and hundreds remain missing. It has left more than 13,000 families without homes. Last year in Montana, more than 1.2 million acres burned, leaving air quality dangerous. Congress must act now. Our communities can't afford to wait any longer. Senate Democrats should put the health and safety of our communities first and include commonsense forest management reforms in the Farm Bill. Meaningful forest management reforms will reduce the severity of our wildfires, improve air quality, boost the health of our forests and wildlife habitats, as well as create good-paying jobs. With devastating wildfire seasons over the last couple of years, it's urgent Congress act now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-honors-montanan-of-the-week-dr-george-mulcaire-jones-of-silver-bow-county,Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Dr. George Mulcaire-Jones of Silver Bow County,2018-11-30,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.30.18 Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Dr. George Mulcaire-Jones of Silver Bow County U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today honored dr. George Mulcaire-Jones for his dedication and commitment to serving folks in Butte and surrounding areas. Through his Montanan of the Week initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines' Montanan of the Week program by calling Daines' office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines' website:HERE. The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record: TRIBUTE TO DR. GEORGE MULCAIRE-JONES Mr. DAINES, Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Dr. George Mulcaire-Jones of Silver Bow County for his tremendous impact on lives of folks in Butte and surrounding areas. Dr. Mulcaire-Jones has spent over 30 years practicing medicine, each of which he committed to improving the health of those around him.He founded Maternal Life International, which goes above and beyond, to provide training and program development in Africa and Haiti.Over the course of his career, Dr. Mulcaire-Jones has also focused on addressing the growing issue of substance abuse among pregnant and post-partum moms. Dr. Mulcaire-Jones led the fight to address the growing drug crisis in pregnant and post-partum moms across Montana. Dr. Mulcaire-Jones directed an initiative that defines symptoms for these moms, and ensures they receive the proper medical care. He was instrumental in a $150,000 grant awarded to a local hospital that works to treat these moms. Dr. Mulcaire-Jones also worked hard to ensure that other care providers in the industry have the training they need to properly treat those patients. I congratulate Dr. Mulcaire-Jones on his proactive approach in recognizing the signs of drug abuse in pregnant and post-partum mothers. Through his efforts, Dr. Mulcaire-Jones has paved the way for other communities around Montana to combat this growing epidemic. ### Contact: Marcie Kinzel, Katie Schoettler Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-statement-on-president-trump-signing-usmca,Daines Statement on President Trump Signing USMCA,2018-11-30,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.30.18 Daines Statement on President Trump Signing USMCA U.S. SENATE --U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after President Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). ClickHEREto download video The next step is for the agreement to come before Congress for consideration. I'm very pleased to see President Trump sign the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement today,Daines said.While the agreement still needs to come before Congress for approval, this is the next step towards finalizing trade negotiations withCanada and Mexico, and is critical to providing certaintyfor Montana farmers, ranchers and businesses. I've been actively working with the administration and my colleagues to make sure we get this agreement implemented, and I will continue to work toreduce barriers to trade and open markets abroad for Montana goods and services. ### Contact:Marcie Kinzel,Katie Schoettler Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6525,Tester Announces Nearly $2 Million for Havre Head Start Classrooms [press_release],2018-11-30,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Northern Montana Child Development Center will receive nearly $2 million to fund their classrooms next year. ""Early childhood education is vital to the development of our kids and grandkids across the Hi-Line,"" Tester said. ""These resources will help ensure our next generation of leaders are put on a path to success and can reach their full potential."" ""District 4 Human Resources Development Council is proud to be able to continue providing high quality early childhood education through our Early Head Start and Head Start classrooms known as the Northern Montana Child Development Center,"" said Samantha Clawson of the Northern Montana Child Development Center. ""We hope to be able to expand our programming to support much needed services for our service area of Hill, Blaine, and Liberty Counties. We'd like to thank Senator Jon Tester for his continued support of our program and for Early Childhood Education in Montana."" The Northern Montana Child Development Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms will receive $1,956,775 to fund early childhood education for local families. Tester secured the funding for Havre's Head Start Programs through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Head Start and Early Head Start cover five major components: education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and social services. The Northern Montana Child Development Center accepts children ranging in age from newborns to five and serves families in Hill, Blaine, and Liberty Counties. In addition to preparing children for kindergarten, Head Start and Early Head Start provide complete health and nutrition screenings, and work with parents to develop childrearing skills.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6526,Tester Delivers Win for Great Falls Community Health Center [press_release],2018-11-30,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - As part of his ongoing effort to support health care in Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester delivered a $1.6 million grant to the Community Health Care Center in Great Falls. The grant, which provides funding for the sliding fee discount that makes community health centers affordable, is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ""Montanans rely on community health centers to fill an incredible need in their communities,"" Tester said. ""This grant will help make sure folks in Great Falls can continue getting the health care they need at a price they can afford."" Tester has been relentless in his support of community health centers. Last year, he called out Congress after funding for community health centers expired, and he demanded funding be included in a bipartisan funding deal. ""This is exciting news for us as it formalizes our transition from a County entity to an independent non-profit organization,"" said Community Health Care Center CEO Trisa Besich. ""These funds support programs that ensure patients are never turned away due to inability to pay. Cascade County has been a wonderful home for the last 24 years and we look forward to growing vital health services for our community."" A full list of Tester's accomplishments on behalf of community health centers can be found HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-introduces-bill-to-help-low-income-americans-find-jobs,Daines Introduces Bill to Help Low-Income Americans Find Jobs,2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.29.18 Daines Introduces Bill to Help Low-Income Americans Find Jobs Introduces Bill to Modernize TANF, Get People Back to Work U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation to help low-income families find work. Daines' bill, the Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services Act or JOBS Act, reauthorizes and modernizes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Our welfare programs should be a springboard to work and self-support, not a sinkhole into government dependency, Daines said. My bill supports families and offers a pathway to equip every working age American with the skills and resources they need to find and keep a job.. Work requirements werea core component of the historic bipartisan welfare reforms in 1996, andproved to drive down welfare caseloads and reduce child poverty. Over the years,however,the work requirements fell flat and were ignored by many states. While current law bases TANF allotments on participationrequirements that are routinely avoided, Daines' bill requires everyone to be working or seeking work. Daines' bill will require that the state's case worker engage with job seekers to help them not only find a job but keep a job.It takes into consideration all aspects of a person's life including mental health, drug addiction, alcohol addiction and to work with a case worker who will work with them throughout the entire process.The measure will help close the jobs gap by connecting job creators with potential workers who are currently on the sidelines. TANF is set to expire December 7, 2018. A similar bill has passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee (H.R. 5861). For more information on the bill click HERE. Statements of support: Adam Brandon, President, Freedom Works: Senator Daines' JOBS Act emphasizes the dignity of work, which will ensure the dollars the federal government spends on TANF actually go towards lifting Americans out of poverty and into sustainable careers. It would extend TANF funding, while implementing common sense reforms that direct funds towards only truly needy Americans, and reforms that make it easy to track the progress and success of TANF recipients. This will make sure every taxpayer dollar spent on this program is used to maximum effectiveness. Kim Hawn, Executive Director, Family Connections Montana: As a Child Care Resource and Referral Director, I so appreciated the opportunity to speak with Senator Daines office as they work on the TANF reauthorization. I fully support investing in child care to support the work and educational activities of those receiving assistance. Child care assistance is an essential support to families engaged in work and education activities as they move toward financial independence. Opportunities, Inc., Great Falls, Montana: The TANF program is a valuable asset in helping children and families out of poverty. Addressing the root causes through practical means such as employment support, barrier reduction, and educational support is vital in making any real difference in the lives of the people in our communities. We appreciate the ability to administer this program as we feel it truly makes a difference. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6524,Tester Calls on Senate Leaders to Extend Rural Payment Program [press_release],2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester today called on leaders of both parties to extend an important initiative that helps rural Montana counties fund essential services like schools, roads, and law enforcement. Tester joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in urging Congress to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools (SRS), which allocates funds to rural counties based on historic timber sales. If the bill isn't reauthorized, rural Montana counties could lose millions of dollars in annual funding. ""SRS is a powerful tool for helping rural counties adequately fund their schools and keep their roads and communities safe,"" Tester said. ""Congress must get its act together by the end of the year so folks across rural Montana aren't left with their hats in their hands."" In their letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the bipartisan group noted SRS has helped fund over 4,400 schools, road maintenance, law enforcement, and search and rescue projects, across the nation. Tester also pointed out that SRS is a critical lifeline to over 775 counties in over 40 states, including Montana. If SRS isn't reauthorized, these critical services could experience more than an 80 percent drop in funds as federal payments revert to an older funding formula. You can read Tester's letter to leadership HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/survey-how-can-we-make-wildfires-less-severe,Booming economy and increasing optimism,2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"1419 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3211 Fax: (202) 225-5687",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6523,Tester Statement on Forever G.I. Bill Payments [press_release],2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tester Statement on Forever G.I. Bill Payments Senator: Student Veterans ""Deserve Better"" From the VA (U.S. Senate) - Ranking Member Jon Tester today released the following statement in response to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie's decision to reset the implementation of certain provisions in the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act due to delayed benefit payments to student veterans. ""The VA must ensure that student veterans are receiving their G.I. Bill payments on time. If the contractor who is responsible for implementing the Educational Assistance Act is causing payments to be late, then the VA should find a contractor who can get the job done right. Our veterans deserve better than this. I'm disappointed in VA's inability to implement this important law on time, but the number one priority must be taking care of our veterans, and I will be watching closely as Secretary Wilkie takes charge moving forward. "" Tester's fifth bipartisan bill to be signed into law by President Trump, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the Forever G.I. Bill, gets rid of the arbitrary 15-year window for veterans to use their G.I. Bill education benefits and strengthens education benefits for student veterans. More information about Tester's law can be found online HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-votes-to-advance-nps-director-nominee,Daines Votes to Advance NPS Director Nominee,2018-11-27,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.27.18 Daines Votes to Advance NPS Director Nominee U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Dainestoday voted to move President Trump's nominee to serve as Director of the National Park Service, David Vela, out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.Vela's nomination will now move to the Senate floor for a final confirmation vote. Having spent almost 30 years dedicated to the National Park Service, Mr. Vela has the qualifications necessary to be an outstanding Director of our national parks,Daines said.I look forward to a full Senate vote to confirm Mr. Vela soon. Daines, who chairs the U.S Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, has long been a champion for our national parks. Last month, Daines held afield hearingwith community leaders and the National Park Service to discuss challenges the parks face. Daines also sent aletterto Congressional leaders in October stressing the need to pass theRestore Our Parks Act,a bill to address the NPS's maintenance backlog. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-daines-urge-usda-provide-relief-montana-livestock-producers,"Gianforte, Daines Urge USDA to Provide Relief for Montana Livestock Producers",2018-11-26,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte and U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to William Beam, deputy administrator of Farm Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to urge the agency to include coverage under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) for producers who suffered substantial losses this past winter. The winter of 2017- 2018 in Montana was particularly severe and most of the losses did not occur due to any single event Livestock loss claims were estimated to be 11,000 claves, more than 1,500 adult bulls and cows, and more than 1,000 other livestock animals. These are only the claims that are filed, the letter states. As you know, the LIP plays an integral role in helping producers recover from excessive losses due to adverse weather. The LIP is designed to help with such losses and we ask you to reconsider your position regarding the request to consider this past winter as a qualifying event. To read the full letter click HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/capital-high-seniors-win-gianforte-s-congressional-app-challenge,Capital High seniors win Gianfortes congressional app challenge,2018-11-25,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Capital High School seniors Kyler Nelson and Andrew Stroop won the 2018 congressional app challenge, U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte announced. The challenge is for high school students nationwide to participate within their representative's district. Gianforte's district encompasses all of Montana. I didn't believe it, Nelson said. He didn't know that he and Stroop had won until The Independent Record reached out to them last week. Stroop said he was shocked when Nelson told him. After finding out they had won, Nelson got in his car and drove to Stroop's job at Hardee's to tell him in person. I didn't expect to win, Nelson said. I thought there were others who would do way better than us. Kyler and Andrew developed an impressive app that showcases Montana entrepreneurship at its best, Gianforte said. Their app gets two challenging, complex codes to interface making it easier to run robotic machine tools like a milling machine from their app. Their app is called GCodeHelper, and it aims to help people learn the complicated programming language of machining tools. G-code is a programming language that uses numerical control programming language to control automated machine tools, which work in computer-aided manufacturing. It's a time saver, Nelson said. It tells a machine how to run and what to do. Computers don't understand traditional language or commands, so this app works to translate commands into code that a machine can understand. Nelson and Stroop said their app is great for beginners in g-code and can help them learn the basics. This code is primarily used in milling materials made of metal, plastic or wood. Practical applications run the gambit from machining metal housing for electronics to machining large parts for aircraft at Boeing. Precision is incredibly important for these machines. Machining is like a reverse 3D printer, Stroop said. Instead of building up material, it cuts away at the material."" Nelson has been interested in machining for years. He said over the years, he has eased his parents into his world and that's how they understand when he talks about it. Stroop only started working with machining code in the past year. However, Stroop has worked with regular code for about four years. ""Andrew has been taking computer science for three years and Kyler for two, so they're both getting good at coding,"" said Pat Murphy, Capital High computer science teacher. ""But what sets the two apart is that they can use their programming skills to solve real world problems, and that's what they did to win the Congressional App Challenge. They found a problem that they could simplify and make more efficient, so they wrote a Java program to interface with a user and a milling machine. The experience they gained with the app challenge will serve them well in college and beyond, and we are really proud of them here at Capital High School."" The two spent about a month working on the app. Nelson said that at first, the pair sat there for a week wondering what they were going to do. We had several false starts on ideas that didn't work out, Nelson said. Stroop credits Nelson with the idea to design a g-code app. Nelson had recently started working with g-code and when he suggested it as a possible app, the idea stuck. Stroop thought it sounded like a unique idea and decided to roll with it. The pair worked on their app in class and at home. They spent an afternoon working on a script for a video explaining the app and got the completed project in by deadline. Stroop wants to pursue a career in computer science after graduation. He said he is interested in the development of software, websites, new programs and application. Nelson will pursue a career in machining and hopes to work for Boeing one day. But I'll never give up programming, Nelson said. At least on the side. The congressional app challenge is an annual contest that aims to engage students and encourage participation in science, technology, engineering and math education fields. The nationwide competition allows high school students from across the country to compete against their peers by creating software applications for various electronic platforms. Winning apps from each congressional district will be on display in the U.S. Capitol. (Click here to read thefull story)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-urges-passage-of-usmca-for-montana-farmers-ranchers-and-businesses,"Daines Urges Passage of USMCA for Montana Farmers, Ranchers and Businesses",2018-11-21,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.21.18 Daines Urges Passage of USMCA for Montana Farmers, Ranchers and Businesses Implementation of Trade Agreement Would Provide Certainty for Montana's Number One Economic Driver U.S. SENATEThis week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to President Trump showing support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and to urge passage of the trade deal. We are writing because we stand ready to assist in helping you secure a pathway to Congressional consideration of the recently concluded United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) this 115thCongress,the letter states.If you choose to pursue consideration of the USMCA before the end of the 115thCongress, we commit to working with you in a consultative manner to draft implementing legislation that could win our votes, as well as a majority in the House and Senate. Daines, joined by 11 other Senators, stressed the importance of finalizing the trade agreement this Congress, highlighting a congressional pathway for implementation.The USMCA will require Congressional approval prior to being implemented. The USMCA willhelp providecertainty for Montana farmers, ranchers and businesses. To read the full letter clickHERE. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-announces-winner-congressional-app-challenge,Gianforte Announces Winner of Congressional App Challenge,2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte today announced Montana's winners of the 2018 Congressional App Challenge, Kyler Nelson and Andrew Stroop, students from Capital High School in Helena. Kyler and Andrew developed an impressive app that showcases Montana entrepreneurship at its best, Gianforte said. Their app gets two challenging, complex codes to interface, making it easier to run robotic machine tools like a milling machine from their app. Learn more about Kyler and Andrew's app here. Gianforte thanked the budding programmers who competed. I'm impressed with the creativity and talent of Montana's young programmers. I thank all the students who entered the competition as well as their teachers and mentors for their guidance, Gianforte said. The Congressional App Challenge is an annual contest to engage student creativity and encourage their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education fields. This nationwide event allows high school students from across the country to compete against their peers by creating and exhibiting their software application, or ""app,"" for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. Winning apps from each congressional district will be on display in the U.S. Capitol. The Congressional App Challenge is sponsored by the Internet Education Foundation (IEF). For more information on the Congressional App Challenge, visit Gianforte's website.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-pushes-montana-priorities-public-lands-package,Gianforte Pushes Montana Priorities for Public Lands Package,2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte urged leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to include measures important to Montana in any year-end public lands bill. In a letter to the leaders of both chambers, Gianforte writes, As Congress wraps up our work in the remaining weeks of the 115th Congress, I urge you to include several critical Montana priorities in any public lands package. After detailing the measures for inclusion, Gianforte calls for action, concluding, Protecting the gateway to Yellowstone, permanently reauthorizing LWCF, resolving the maintenance backlog in our national parks, providing clean water throughout Montana, and reforming how our forests are managed are key priorities for Montanans, and I urge you to includes these measures in any public lands package. Gianforte's letter highlights five bills important to Montana that Gianforte has worked to advance, including the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, H.R. 4644; a bill to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, H.R. 502; the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act, H.R. 6510; the Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs Water Project Streamlining Act, H.R. 4419; and the Resilient Federal Forests Act, H.R. 2936. Click HERE to read the full letter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6521,Tester Recognizes Native American Heritage Month with Senate Resolution [press_release],2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(Big Sandy, Mont.) - As a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is joining forces with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce a Congressional resolution celebrating Native American culture, heritage, and history. The resolution will officially recognize November 2018 as ""National Native American Heritage Month,"" and the Friday after Thanksgiving as ""Native American Heritage Day,"" highlighting the powerful contributions of Native Americans to the fabric of the United States. ""By recognizing November as Native American Heritage Month we are recognizing all the ways in which tribal nations have made and continue to make this country stronger,"" Tester said. ""This is a time to recommit ourselves to fighting for tribal sovereignty and upholding our trust responsibilities to our Native American brothers and sisters."" The resolution specifically recognizes: The commitment of the United States to fostering tribal self-governance and self-determination; The commitment of the United States to improving health care, law enforcement, housing, and the socioeconomic status of tribal communities; The historical and current contributions of Native Americans to our Armed Forces; The United States' commitment to strengthening its government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes. Read more about Tester's work on behalf of Indian Country this Congress HERE. Access full text of the resolution HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-announces-spirit-montana-recipient-joan-nye-columbus,Gianforte Announces Spirit of Montana Recipient: Joan Nye of Columbus,2018-11-16,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte recognized Joan Nye of Columbus with his Spirit of Montana commendation for her selfless devotion to the survivors of suicide loss and her tireless efforts to prevent suicide in Montana. A survivor of suicide loss, Nye has worked with and led organizations dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the support of those impacted by suicide for more than 14 years. Gianforte's Spirit of Montana is a weekly recognition of Montanans for their accomplishments, dedication, or service. Gianforte highlights the recipient in the U.S. House of Representatives and personally contacts the honorees. Gianforte encourages anyone to nominate Montanans for the Spirit of Montana award by contacting his office at 202-225-3211 or by e-mail at https://gianforte.house.gov/contact/email. Gianforte's statement in the Congressional Record about Nye follows: RECOGNIZING JOAN NYE OF COLUMBUS Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joan Nye of Columbus for her efforts to prevent suicide in Montana and the support she provides the survivors of suicide loss. Ms. Nye serves on the executive board of the Montana chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and has led the organization for a decade as its chairwoman. She facilitates a support group for survivors of suicide loss and has been an active member of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Yellowstone Valley since its formation in 2004. The group sponsors monthly meetings, outreach events, fundraisers, and seminars. A survivor of suicide loss, Ms. Nye chairs the AFSP Montana chapter's education committee which focuses on suicide prevention education and training. She helps health professionals, family members, and others learn to identify the risk factors and warning signs of suicide and how to seek help. Ms. Nye is a key organizer of the Out of the Darkness Yellowstone Valley Walk, which raised nearly $90,000 in September for AFSP to invest in research, education, outreach, and support services. Her efforts are critical in Montana which has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation. On average, a Montanan dies by suicide every 33 hours. Tragically, it is the eighth leading cause of death in Montana, and it is the second leading cause of death for young Americans. Suicide, however, is preventable, and dedicated and compassionate advocates like Joan Nye are helping to save lives and end the stigma surrounding suicide. Mr. Speaker, for her selfless devotion to the survivors of suicide loss and her tireless efforts to prevent suicide in Montana, I recognize Joan Nye for her spirit of Montana.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-staff-hold-mobile-office-hours-western-montana-0,Gianforte Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in Western Montana,2018-11-16,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte announced that a member of his staff will conduct mobile office hours in three counties in western Montana, including Flathead, Lake, and Sanders counties. POLSON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 9 a.m. Lake County Courthouse Room 211 106 4th Avenue East KALISPELL TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 3 p.m. Flathead County Courthouse 3rd Floor Conference Room 800 South Main Street THOMPSON FALLS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 4 p.m. Sanders County Courthouse Court Room 1111 Main Street Area residents are invited to visit with Sonny Capece, a member of Gianforte's staff, on an individual basis and share their views, questions, or concerns regarding the federal government. These comments will be shared with Congressman Gianforte. Residents may also inquire about federal programs or seek help with a federal agency, such as the Social Security Administration or the Veterans Administration. Residents may drop by the location or make an appointment by calling Gianforte's Helena office at (406) 502-1435. If residents are unable to attend and would like information or assistance, they should contact Gianforte's Helena office at (406) 502-1435.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-honors-montanan-of-the-week-jason-gleason-of-cascade-county,Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Jason Gleason of Cascade County,2018-11-16,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.16.18 Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Jason Gleason of Cascade County U.S. SENATE -- U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Jason Gleason of Great Falls for his years of service to our nation's veterans as a nurse practitioner, as well as his service to our country as a veteran himself. Earlier this week, Daines spoke about Gleason on the floor of the U.S. Senate. WatchHERE DownloadHERE Daines' speech in the Congressional Record is availablehere. Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, on the heels of Veteran's Day and in honor of President Trump's designating November 2018 as National Veterans and Military Families Month, I have the distinct pleasure of recognizing Jason Gleason of Great Falls, MT, for his dedication to serving veterans in North Central Montana. Jason serves as a nurse practitioner in the Great Falls VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic and has become one of the most sought-after experts in veterans' healthcare. A veteran himself, Jason spent 20 years in the Montana Air National Guard, retiring as lieutenant colonel. During his time in the Guard, he served as officer in charge of health promotion, medical readiness, staff development, and as assistant chief nurse, where he gained a great deal of knowledge and experience caring for fellow service members. Jason retired from the Air National Guard in 2015, and since then he has dedicated himself to providing exceptional healthcare to Montana veterans. He has built and maintained a patient panel that is at 110 percent capacity and has 1,000 patients. When another provider recently retired, he stepped up and took over the patient panel and provided care to another 556 veterans. Jason has worked to improve the overall Montana VA system. He has recruited and mentored other nurse practitioners, which helped fill critical positions in the VA system. Jason also participated in a VA residency program that trains providers to better serve our women veterans. In 2011, he experienced a deep personal tragedy when his wife of 16 years, Heather, passed away from a stroke, leaving him a widower with three children. After his wife's death, he dedicated himself to becoming an expert on strokes. He regularly speaks to healthcare providers across the country about stroke prevention and treatment and received the Montana State Department of Health and Human Services Stroke Hero of the Year Award. Montana is incredibly lucky to have a healthcare professional like Jason Gleason serving our veterans. He is truly an excellent example of someone who puts service before self. He understands that his service to our country did not end with his service in the military. I want to personally congratulate and thank Jason for his excellent work. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-daines-demands-commitment-from-ice-director-nominee-to-take-on-montanas-meth-epidemic,Daines Demands Commitment from ICE Director Nominee to Take on Montanas Meth Epidemic,2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.15.18 Daines Demands Commitment from ICE Director Nominee to Take on Montana's Meth Epidemic U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today pushed President Trump's nominee to head theU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),Ron Vitiello, to ensurethe agencyprioritizes Montana's devastating meth epidemic. Vitiello assured Daines he would work to address the growing issue of meth in Montana by establishing federal partnerships with state, local, and tribal groups, enhancing Border Enforcement Security Teams, using technology to trace where the meth is being createdand ends up, and more. Watch HERE Download HERE Mr. Vitiello, our country is facing an opioid crisis, but in Montana we face a meth epidemic, Daines said. The vast majority of this devastating drug comes from Mexico.... and it's destroying our communities in Montana. The effects are personal. Background: In Fiscal Year 2018, ICE seized nearly 900,000 pounds of narcotics including 60,000 pounds of meth. The vast majority of meth comes through Mexico. Earlier this month, Daines held a roundtable with members of Montana's law enforcement community to hear their thoughts on next steps to combat Montana's growing meth epidemic. This month, Daines also wrote an oped on his bipartisan efforts to fight meth in our country and Montana. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-to-national-park-service-director-nominee-culture-change-comes-from-the-top,Daines to National Park Service Director Nominee: Culture Change Comes from the Top,2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.15.18 Daines to National Park Service Director Nominee: Culture Change Comes from the Top Daines Demands Accountability for Recent Sexual Assault in Park Service U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today questioned President Trump's nominee for the National Park Service (NPS) Director, David Vela, on the numerous accounts of sexual assault in our national parks, and demanded leadership on the issue going forward. Vela told Daines he is committed to fixing the lack of accountability in the NPS on the accounts of sexual assault throughout the organization. Watch HERE Download HERE Culture change starts at the top the tone and tenor at the top matters, said Daines. We all want a zero-tolerance policy and Park Service employees to feel safe and enjoy waking up and going to work every day, On the accountability piece there is more that we can do, we know how to go about doing that and if confirmed, I look forward to achieving that, said Vela. Background: According to Office of Inspector General, from January 2016-June 2017, there have been 8 reports from detailing sexual harassment and hostile work environments at our National Parks, including Yellowstone National Park. NPS has a history of issues of this nature in the past. In 1999, the Women in Law Enforcement Task Force was created to investigate various reports at the NPS the Task Force found that there was a prevalent issue of sexual harassment and gender discrimination within NPS law enforcement. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6518,Tester Pushes Bill to Address Missing and Murdered Native Women Epidemic Closer to Final Vote [press_release],2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(U.S. Senate) - After introducing Savanna's Act last year to help address the Missing and Murdered Native Women epidemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester and his colleagues on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee unanimously voted to advance this critical piece of legislation today, moving it one step closer to becoming law. ""When it comes to ending this epidemic, Native communities have to navigate a jurisdictional maze of bureaucracy,"" Tester said. ""That's why we need Savanna's Act, to improve information sharing between law enforcement agencies, establish better response protocols, and put an end to these crimes committed across Indian Country."" According to the National Institute of Justice, more than 80 percent of native women have experienced violence-almost half within the last year. As a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has worked hard to raise awareness about this epidemic, support survivors, and bring their assailants to justice. Tester's bill will require the Department of Justice to better collect and report crime data across Indian Country and increase access to federal crime databases that track crimes against Native Americans. It will also create standard guidelines for responding to cases of missing and murdered Native Americans, laying out a clear framework for cooperation between tribal, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Earlier this year, Tester secured a historic $133 million to help tribes assist survivors of violent crimes through the Crime Victims Fund and is sponsoring legislation to make this source of funding permanent. The SURVIVE Act was passed unanimously out of Committee and is currently awaiting a vote on the Senate floor. Tester also recently called on the Senate to hold a hearing on the Missing and Murdered Native Women epidemic, after introducing a Senate Resolution that designated May 5, 2018 a ""National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-daines-push-forest-service-approve-updated-airtankers-help,"Gianforte, Daines Push for Forest Service to Approve Updated Airtankers to Help Combat Montana Wildfires",2018-11-13,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte and U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Vicki Christiansen urging the USFS to move forward with Next Generation 3.0 contracts which will provide faster and more cost-effective airtankers to handle the complex wildland fire environment. Dry conditions, a buildup of hazardous fuels and many other factors resulted in over 50,000 fires nationwide this year,the letter states.The Forest Service is the primary Federal agency responsible for providing large airtankers to the wildland fire community... In order to ensure the Forest Service and the broader wildland fire community will have sufficient airtankers available in the future, we strongly urge the agency to issue the solicitation for the Next Generation 3.0 contracts without any further delay. To read the full letter click HERE. Background: The Next Generation 3.0 airtankers will replace former legacy aircraft that were used in aerial fire suppression efforts and are more than 50 years old. The airtanker industry, including Missoula-based Neptune Aviation, has been awaiting the agency's solicitation of Next Generation airtankers since February 2017. Neptune Aviation has made significant investments in acquiring and converting aircraft for the wildland firefighting mission and currently has nine Next Generation airtankers in its fleet. As of November 8, 2018, there have been 1,240 fires burning 96,327 acres in Montana.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-gianforte-push-for-forest-service-to-approve-updated-airtankers-to-help-combat-montana-wildfires,"Daines, Gianforte Push for Forest Service to Approve Updated Airtankers to Help Combat Montana Wildfires",2018-11-13,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.13.18 Daines, Gianforte Push for Forest Service to Approve Updated Airtankers to Help Combat Montana Wildfires U.S. CONGRESSU.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Vicki Christiansen urging the USFS to move forward with Next Generation 3.0 contracts which will provide faster and more cost-effective airtankers to handle the complex wildland fire environment. Dry conditions, a buildup of hazardous fuels and many other factors resulted in over 50,000 fires nationwide this year,the letter states.The Forest Service is the primary Federal agency responsible for providing large airtankers to the wildland fire community... In order to ensure the Forest Service and the broader wildland fire community will have sufficient airtankers available in the future, we strongly urge the agency to issue the solicitation for the Next Generation 3.0 contracts without any further delay. To read the full letter click HERE. Background: The Next Generation 3.0 airtankers will replace former legacy aircraft that were used in aerial fire suppression efforts and are more than 50 years old. The airtanker industry, including Missoula-based Neptune Aviation, has been awaiting the agency's solicitation of Next Generation airtankers since February 2017. Neptune Aviation has made significant investments in acquiring and converting aircraft for the wildland firefighting mission and currently has nine Next Generation airtankers in its fleet. As of November 8, 2018, there have been 1,240 fires burning 96,327 acres in Montana. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-statement-halting-keystone-xl-pipeline,Gianforte Statement on Halting of Keystone XL Pipeline,2018-11-09,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte released the following statement after a federal judge in Montana halted construction of the Keystone XL pipeline: Another activist court has halted another critical energy project. The Keystone XL project will create Montana jobs, make America more secure, and lower gas prices. I look forward to an appeal of the decision.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/_daines-announces-100000-for-bridger-photonics-in-bozeman,"Daines Announces $100,000 for Bridger Photonics in Bozeman",2018-11-09,2018,2018-11,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.09.18 Daines Announces $100,000 for Bridger Photonics in Bozeman EPA Grant Will Create Jobs and New Innovation at Montana Company U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Bozeman business Bridger Photonics is receiving $100,000 in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop technology that makes it easier to discover leaks in oil and gas wells. The project is expected to create new jobs in the community, while also better protecting the environment. The technology being developed at Bridger Photonics will help oil and gas wells be more efficient while also better protecting the environment,Daines said.I'm glad that the EPA recognized the good work being done at this Montana business and awarded them this funding. This EPA funding allows us to develop technology to map out, pinpoint, and quantify methane leaks throughout the natural gas value chain using drones. This is a rare opportunity to save the oil and gas industry money while helping reduce a powerful greenhouse gas, Bridger Photonics President and CEO Pete Roos said. The $100,000 to Bridger Photonics is part of $1.7 million that the EPA is awarding to 16 small businesses.The award comes EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which encourages the development of technologies that support EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-heeds-daines-and-gianfortes-request-approves-major-disaster-declaration-for-montana-counties,"President Heeds Daines and Gianfortes Request, Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Montana Counties",2018-10-31,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.31.18 President Heeds Daines' and Gianforte's Request, Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Montana Counties Major Disaster Declaration for Communities Impacted by 2018 Floods Approved U.S. SENATEAfter requests from U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte, President Donald J. Trump today approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Montana counties impacted by this year's severe flooding.The announcement comes after Daines and Gianforte sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Lock urging the agency to reconsider the denial of impacted counties in Montana. This is great news, and I'm thankful the President responded to our request,Daines said.This year's flooding devastated communities and infrastructure across our state. This declaration will help expedite cleanup and recovery efforts and will help restore the way of life for some of Montana's most impacted communities. Today is a great day for these Montana counties, and I am grateful for President Trump's response to our request,Gianforte said.This year's flooding devastated our communities, and today's decision will help these counties have resources they need to rebuild and recover from severe flooding. On behalf of Missoula county, we were excited to hear this major disaster declaration has been authorized. This will have a positive impact on our ability to mitigate flooding and help our community recover. We want to thank the delegation that have helped shepherd through this process, Missoula County Office of Emergency Management Director Adriane Beck said. The declaration will provide expedited federal funding to assist in cleanup and recovery efforts inCarbon, Custer, Golden Valley, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Powell, and Treasure Counties.The funding will be used for repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the 2018 flooding. Background: As a result of heavy flooding earlier this year, the State of Montana requested a major disaster declaration on June 18, 2018. The original request was forPublic Assistance, which repairs and replaces disaster-damaged facilities, to be available for Blaine, Carbon, Golden Valley, Hill, Liberty, Missoula, Musselshell, Petroleum, Pondera, Powell, Toole, and Valley Counties. The request also asked for ""Hazard Mitigation Assistance,"" which supports efforts for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from future flooding, would be available statewide. Daines and Gianforte fought to ensure all affected counties received Public Assistance and statewide Hazard Mitigation Assistance. OnSeptember 6, 2018, Daines and Gianforte sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long demanding the remaining counties be granted Public Assistance. OnAugust 30, 2018, Daines and Gianforte announced six of the 12 counties received Public Assistance from FEMA including: Blaine, Hill, Liberty, Pondera, Toole and Valley. They also announced Hazard Mitigation Assistance was granted statewide. OnAugust 22, 2018, Daines discussed the impacts of flooding with FEMA Deputy Administrator nominee Peter Gaynor at a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. OnAugust 14, 2018, Daines and Gianforte sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long to urge the approval of Montana's Major Disaster Declaration request. InMay 2018, Daines pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on the need to assist communities in Montana impacted by severe flooding. In July, Daines' bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program was signed into law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-fights-for-montana-priorities-in-year-end-legislative-package,Daines Fights for Montana Priorities in Year-End Legislative Package,2018-10-30,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.30.18 Daines Fights for Montana Priorities in Year-End Legislative Package Stresses Inclusion of Bipartisan Bills to Permanently Reauthorize LWCF, Combat Wildfires and Protect Yellowstone Gateway from Mining U.S. SENATEU.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to Congressional Leadership today urging the passage of several bills critical to Montana including legislation to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), combat wildfires, permanently protect the Paradise Valley and Gardiner Basin from mining, and restore aging infrastructure in national parks. As we enter the remaining weeks of the 115th Congress, I urge passage of several Montana priorities in any public lands legislative package or other legislative vehicle that emerges I find it critical for the Senate and House to produce tangible and meaningful results for the American people,the letter states.Thank you in advance for your commitment to put politics aside and enact bipartisan legislation that will improve stewardship of our iconic public lands, resources and wildlife in the West. The letter highlights five bills critical to Montana which have passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with Daines' support. Daines, who sits on the Committee, was instrumental in moving the bills through the legislative Committee process and is fighting to ensure final passage and enactment. The bills include the Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act, the Restore Our Parks Act, the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, the Protect Collaboration for Healthier Forests Act, and the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act. For more information on the bills click HERE. To read the full letter click HERE. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-statement-on-hoax-device-found-at-ktvq,Daines Statement on Hoax Device Found at KTVQ,2018-10-30,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.30.18 Daines Statement on Hoax Device Found at KTVQ U.S. SENATEU.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the following statement on the hoax bomb device found outside of KTVQ News yesterday in Billings, Montana. I have contacted KTVQ News Director Jon Stepanek,Billings Chief of Police Rich St. John, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, and County Attorney Scott Twito about the hoax device discovered last night outside of KTVQ. I have also requested a briefing from the FBI and will be monitoring the situation as details develop. I am keeping all of those involved in my prayers, and I thank Jon Stepanek for acting swiftly last night and alerting authorities,Daines said.The violence in our society must stop. We must remember we are one nation and Americans first.And at a time of divisiveness, we must stand together. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/fcc-listens-to-daines-votes-to-expand-broadband-to-rural-montana,"FCC Listens to Daines, Votes to Expand Broadband to Rural Montana",2018-10-26,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.26.18 FCC Listens to Daines, Votes to Expand Broadband to Rural Montana U.S. SENATE After U.S. Senator Steve Daines urged them to take action, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted earlier this week on rules that will allow more Montanan wireless carriers to buy spectrum to provide broadband to rural communities. Without access to broadband and cell service our rural communities are being left behind,Daines said.Access to reliable broadband and cell service is vital for Montana's future economic growth. I'm glad the FCC listened and implemented a plan that will expand broadband access for more Montanans.This week, the FCC voted to create county sized licenses for the 3.5 GHz spectrum band. This allows rural broadband providers to participate in buying licenses to expand wireless broadband in Montana. The 3.5 GHz spectrum band will be critical for the expansion of 5G wireless technology. Background: Earlier this year, Daines sent a letter to the FCC after brokering a deal between national wireless providers and small, rural providers to create medium sized, county level licenses for the3.5 GHz spectrum. Daines' deal created a broadly supported, middle of the road structure that balances large carriers needs to serve high density cities and small carriers needs to provide more access to sparsely populated, rural areas like Montana. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-fox-announce-nearly-one-million-dollar-grant-for-anti-meth-enforcement,"Daines, Fox Announce Nearly One Million Dollar Grant for Anti-Meth Enforcement",2018-10-25,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.25.18 Daines, Fox Announce Nearly One Million Dollar Grant for Anti-Meth Enforcement MONTANAU.S. Senator Steve Daines and Attorney General Tim Fox announced a $946,981 grant for critical anti-meth enforcement in Montana. The grant was formally authorized in the opioids legislation that was signed into law yesterday by President Trump. Montana is one of just nine states chosen to receive the funds through the CAMP (COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program). The state was selected for its high rate of seized finished meth, meth lab materials, and precursor chemicals for meth production. Over the next two years these funds will help the Montana Department of Justice investigate Meth production and distribution. I am grateful for the work of Montana's law enforcement community,Daines said. Their work over the last several years has resulted in the critical seizure of meth and enforcement of meth related crimes. These funds will help fight back against the devastation meth has on our tribes and families. The meth epidemic is killing Montanans and wreaking untold damage upon our children, families, and communities, Fox said. This grant will be an important resource allowing us to expand our ongoing efforts, including the specialized drug interdiction team we launched last year. We worked hard to secure this grant and I am grateful to Sen. Daines, the U.S. Department of Justice, and all who joined in the effort to make this happen. A formal release from AG Fox's office is forthcoming. For detailed questions please reach John Barnes at 406-444-2031. Yesterday, President Trump signedlegislation to help combat the devastating opioid epidemic across Montana and the nation. Daines fought to ensure the now law also includes specific provisions that address the meth crisis in Montana. Daines fought to include multiple provisions in the new law that will help combat the meth and opioid crisis in Montana including: The bipartisanMitigating METHAct,introduced by Daines, which expands the state targeted response to the opioid crisis grants to include Indian tribes as eligible recipients. The bipartisanSTOP Actwhich helps stop illegal drugs from coming in at the border or being shipped through the postal service. Daines also fought to reauthorize key meth prevention and enforcement including: Reauthorization of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Reauthorization of the Drug Court program Codifying the COPS Anti-Meth Program Earlier this month, Daines also met with James Carroll, the nominee to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), to discuss the importance of ending the drug epidemic in Montana. At the meeting, Daineshand delivered a letterto Carroll inviting him to Montana. Carroll is currently the Acting Director for ONDCP. In September, Daines took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to urge his colleagues to support the measure and to highlight the drastic impacts meth and opioids have in Montana. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/gianforte-tours-havre-sector-border-patrol-facilities,Gianforte tours Havre Sector Border Patrol facilities,2018-10-24,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., took advantage of being in Havre Tuesday to visit the U.S. Border Patrol Havre Sector facilities. ""I wanted to get some first-hand knowledge from the Customs and Border Patrol on the challenges they face to keep our northern border secure,"" Gianforte said after he toured the facilities. Gianforte, who faces a re-election challenge from Democrat Kathleen Williams and Libertarian Elinor Swanson, held a campaign event in Havre Monday. He said he met with several agents while touring facilities Tuesday, including Division Chief John C. South, Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Scott Good, Division Chief Julie L. Hassa and Division Chief Michael P. Stewart. Gianforte said he has toured a number of facilities and ports of entry in Montana along the Canadian border, including the Plentywood and Scobey Border Patrol stations. He said it was interesting to see the headquarters in Havre for the whole sector that guards the Montana-Canada border. He added that like on the southern border, agents are concerned about border security. ""First I want to say thank-you to the Customs and Border Patrol for them working to secure the border,"" Gianforte said. ""I am alwaysimpressed with their professionalism."" Gianforte said the agents said they encounter at least one illegal crossing at the border per week, though most of these are hunters wandering across the border, but there are other issues as well. He added that agents informed him the state has a serious problem with illegal narcotics being transported across the border. Gianforte said an agent he met with had recently transferred to Montana from the border with Mexico. The agent told him, he said, Montana has fewer than 200 agents protecting the northern border while the southern border has more than 18,000 agents. Gianforte said the challenges they face are different, but with agents stretched thin across 476 miles,they would like to have additional surveillance capabilities, due to a concern about small aircraft. ""We have to be vigilant,"" Gianforte said, ""I was impressed with the work that they do."" One of the big issues raised,Gianforte said, was the need to be effective in stopping narcotics coming across the border. He added that for the northern border illegal immigration is not as high of a concern as drug trafficking. While touring the facility, Gianforte said, he was also given the opportunity to observe and participate in the training simulator, which simulates a variety of law enforcement scenarios. He said this simulator is one out of a handful in the country and is the only one, to his knowledge, in the state. Border Patrol has been using the simulator for its own training purposes, as well as for training officers from other agencies, Gianforte said, such as the Hill County Sheriff's Office and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Officers and agents can be trained for a variety of situations they might face in the field, he said, such as an active shooter in a school or a movie theater or just a confrontation with a potential criminal. He added thatthe simulator is a great tool to assure law enforcement is ready to face whatever challenges they might encounter while in the line of duty. Gianforte said that during his session in the simulator he faced a perpetrator attacking him with a knife. ""I learned when a man who was running at me with a knife I didn't shoot fast enough,"" he said, ""I was prepared the second time."" ""I am thankful that we have tools like (the simulator) so that our law enforcement is prepared,"" Gianforte added. "" ... They put their lives on the line every day and anything we can do to prepare them or make sure they have the resources they need. 'Cause they are the thin blue line that keeps our communities safe both at the border and within our communities."" Gianforte said he saw how critically important it is that the country has secure borders, whether it is the northern or southern border. The issue at the border for Montana has more to do with methamphetamine, he added, with meth from Mexico finding its way across that border into Montana. Gianforte said a Montana sheriff told him he knows when the ""Mexican meth"" shows up in the community because he sees a spike in the crime rate. Burglaries, domestic violence and vandalism, 95 percent-plus is traced back to some form of addiction, Gianforte said the sheriff told him. The country needs to secure the border to end illegal immigration, Gianforte said, but probably more important for Montana is to end the flow of illegal drugs coming into the communities. These drugs, he added, are tearing families apart and are the root of most of the crime that is seen in the state. ""This is all about making our communities safer,"" he said. ""And I'm thankful that we have such talented individuals there in Havre supervising the security of our entire northern border."" (Click here to read the full story)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-statement-anti-narcotics-legislation-becoming-law,Gianforte Statement on Anti-Narcotics Legislation Becoming Law,2018-10-24,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte released the following statement today in response to President Trump signing landmark legislation addressing illegal drugs and prescription drug abuse: For too long, drugs like meth, opioids and fentanyl have destroyed Montana families and torn apart our communities. The law President Trump signed today, which I strongly supported and voted for, will help address this deadly public health crisis. The new law empowers law enforcement to combat drug traffickers and dealers, and it ensures addicts have access to treatment and recovery so they may turn their lives around. This law will help our Montana communities rebuild and our families heal in the wake of addiction.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-secures-solutions-to-fight-meth-crisis-devastating-montana-communities,Daines Secures Solutions to Fight Meth Crisis Devastating Montana Communities,2018-10-24,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.24.18 Daines Secures Solutions to Fight Meth Crisis Devastating Montana Communities President Signs Landmark Legislation to Help Combat Drug Epidemic Across the Nation U.S. SENATEPresident Donald J. Trump today signedlegislation to help combat the devastating opioid epidemic across Montana and the nation. Daines fought to ensure the now law also includes specific provisions that address the meth crisis in Montana. Download Video StatementHERE Far too often we're seeing stories of Montana tribes, families and communities being destroyed by meth and opioids. Enough is enough,Daines said.That is why I worked hard to get this bipartisan legislation across the finish line which will help give our communities the resources they need to curb this epidemic. I want to thank President Trump for signing this important bill into law and I look forward to working with our local and state law enforcement to help overcome this devastating reality. Substance abuse destroys lives and shatters families. I welcome the help that this legislation will bring to our communities, and I am grateful to Sen. Daines for his support in our efforts to help Montanans struggling with addiction,Montana Attorney General Tim Fox said. Daines' Efforts to Combat the Drug Epidemic: Earlier this month, Daines also met with James Carroll, the nominee to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), to discuss the importance of ending the drug epidemic in Montana. At the meeting, Daineshand delivered a letterto Carroll inviting him to Montana. Carroll is currently the Acting Director for ONDCP. In September, Daines took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to urge his colleagues to support the measure and to highlight the drastic impacts meth and opioids have in Montana. Daines fought to include multiple provisions in the new law that will help combat the meth and opioid crisis in Montana including: The bipartisanMitigating METHAct,introduced by Daines, which expands the state targeted response to the opioid crisis grants to include Indian tribes as eligible recipients. The bipartisanSTOP Actwhich helps stop illegal drugs from coming in at the border or being shipped through the postal service. Daines also fought to reauthorize key meth prevention and enforcement including: Reauthorization of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Reauthorization of the Drug Court program Codifying the COPS Anti-Meth Program ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-highlights-new-opportunity-zones-for-rural-montana,Daines Highlights New Opportunity Zones for Rural Montana,2018-10-23,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.23.18 Daines Highlights New Opportunity Zones for Rural Montana Stresses Importance of Job Creation, Wage Increases for Montanans U.S. SENATEU.S. Senator Steve Daines today touted the 25 new Opportunity Zones that now exist across Montana thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The designation of these Opportunity Zones will help Montana flourish economically by boosting wages and creating jobs in low income communities,Daines said.This is yet another positive impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act championed by the Republicans and the Trump administration, which is putting more money in the pockets of Montanans and folks across the nation. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's Opportunity Zone Program, low-income communities receive certain tax benefits that encourage job-creating investments in designated areas.In exchange for a lower capital gains rate that decreases based on the length of the investment, investors can put those unused dollars to work in Opportunity Zones distressed locations nominated by state governors and selected by the U.S Department of the Treasury. Nationwide, about a one-fifth of the population live in communities considered distressed. In Montana, 25 census tracts qualifying as distressed were selected as opportunity zones by the Treasury Department. Background: OnFebruary 22, 2018, Daines sent a letter to Governor Steve Bullock urging him to nominate low-income census tracts in Montana for the program. OnDecember 2, 2017,Senator Daines voted in support of the Senate Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to increase wages, grow jobs and give back Americans their hard-earned dollars. OnDecember 1, 2017,Senator Daines announced he secured $100 billion in tax cuts for Main Street businesses, increasing their tax deduction from 17.4 percent to 23 percent. To read more about Montana's 25 Opportunity Zones clickHERE. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-signs-montana-water-infrastructure-priorities-into-law,President Signs Montana Water Infrastructure Priorities into Law,2018-10-23,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.23.18 President Signs Montana Water Infrastructure Priorities into Law Daines Delivers Wins to Fight Against Aquatic Invasive Species, Benefit Montana Communities U.S. SENATEPresident Donald J. Trump today signed into law a bill that will improve Montana's water infrastructure to help make communities safer and grow the economy. The new law will also help prevent the transmission of aquatic invasive species in the Columbia River Basin and increase responsible energy development in Montana. Water is the most basic need of any Montana community,Daines said.This bipartisan bill prioritizes important water infrastructure projects in Montana, helps fight against aquatic invasive species harming Montana ecosystems and increases access to water for Montana farmers and ranchers. I'm grateful that President Trump signed this important bill into law. The legislation is themost pro-Westernwater infrastructure legislation in history. Water resources and hydropower provisions benefiting Montana: Expedites licensing of closed-loop pumped storage FERC recently licensed the Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Project near Martinsdale Protects the Columbia River Basin from aquatic invasive species including zebra and quagga mussel Streamlines FERC hydropower approvals and relicensing Promotes development of hydropower on existing non-powered dams Ensures water delivery to Montana ranches and farms Improves drinking water and wastewater systems across the country Authorizes early funding for the Blackfeet water rights settlement so that its water-related infrastructure projects can be completed in a more efficient manner Provides resources to connect, expand and repair water systems in Indian country Following Daines' vote to send the bill to the president's desk, a diverse group of stakeholders issued the following statements of support: Rep. Mike Cuffe, Vice President, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region:I am excited about the continued federal support for the fight against aquatic invasive species. Senator Dainesunderstood the danger early and became a staunch ally. I know becauseas Vice President of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region, I helped present to senators, congressmen and federal agencies on the problem.These matching federal funds are huge in our fight to stop the spread of quagga and zebra mussels.We talk, Sen. Daines listens, andthings happen. Good job, Steve. Thom Fischer, Manager, Gibson Dam Project:We applaud changes to the current FERC hydropower licensing provisions proposed which would allow FERC to administratively extend hydropower licenses for an additional six years in order to allow for the project to meet additional federal requirements for environmental protections and to commence construction. Gibson Hydro had to ask Congress to approve such an extension, but it took us four years and several Congresses to accomplish what [this bill] would allow in a matter of months. This much more practical administrative extension would be welcomed. Pat Riley, Advisory Board Member, Family Farm Alliance:Thank you for your efforts to getting AWIA 2018 passed. Water issues in all of Montana and the Western United States are key to all of us.The passage of [this bill] will serve our state, region, and nation in numerous ways. We will see additional funding for research, and prevention of Aquatic Invasive Species that are starting to affect our state and threaten much of our infrastructure. We will see additional assistance to rural water projects, assistance to both water and irrigation projects operated by tribal and non-tribal groups. We will also see passage and funding of the Blackfoot Water Rights Settlement Act. I would like to thank Senator Daines for his leadership on this effort and look forward to continuing to work with him on other efforts. Ted Sorenson, President, Sorenson Engineering:This bill will help to develop Montana's abundant natural resources while ensuring responsible environmental stewardship, and we thank Senator Daines for his support of it. Erling Juel, District Manager, Greensfields Irrigation District:Montana is a model for other states for an all-of-the-above approach to securing American energy independence. We greatly appreciate Senator Daines' support of irrigators putting their waterways and conduits to use making electricity. Carl Borgquist, President & CEO, Absaroka Energy:Senator Daines has always been a strong proponent of responsible energy development including the advancement of closed-looped pumped storage hydro. He recognizes the value of energy storage to provide for a resilient and robust electrical grid. Our Gordon Butte project is poised to be the first advanced pumped storage project built in the country. The passage of this bill is an important step in streamlining the regulatory process to ensure more facilities like Gordon Butte will be built in the United States. Rich Powell, Executive Director, ClearPath Action:Boosting these conduit projects byreducing regulationsdoes big things for small hydro. There is huge potential,particularly in western states like Montana, for providing clean and reliable power. Tim Davis, Chairman, Blackfeet Tribe:Thank you for all the work you did to assure our settlement language is in the bill for early access to funds. This enables our tribe to move forward in a positive way and provides much needed economic stimulus for our Blackfeet Nation. Great job! ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/_doj-doi-agree-with-daines-and-expand-tribal-access-to-national-crime-databases,"DOJ, DOI Agree with Daines and Expand Tribal Access to National Crime Databases",2018-10-22,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.22.18 DOJ, DOI Agree with Daines and Expand Tribal Access to National Crime Databases U.S. SENATEAfter U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced bipartisan legislation to expand tribes' access to national crime databases, the U.S. Departments of Justice and the Interior announced today that they are expanding the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP) to an additional 25 tribes. TAP provides Native American tribes direct access to national crime information databases. This is good news for Indian country. It's critical for Indian tribes to have direct access to national crime data in order to help protect public safety, Daines said. I'm pleased to lead legislation that supports this goal and will help make tribal communities safer places to live and prosper. In Montana, the Blackfeet Tribe is among those selected for this expansion. In addition, the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) Agencies will also soon have access to TAP. The Northern Cheyenne BIA Agency will be among the next three additional locations across the country where TAP will be used to vet prospective foster parents. Daines has been a leading advocate in the U.S. Senate for expanding tribes' access to national crime databases. Daines' leadership on crime prevention in Indian country: On October 16, 2018, Daines' Mitigating METH Act was sent to President Trump's desk as part of the comprehensive opioids legislation. The bill expands the state targeted response to the opioid crisis grants to include Indian tribes as eligible recipients. On September 20, 2018, Daines sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs requesting a hearing on the epidemic of missing persons in Indian country. On April 26, 2018, the Senate passed Daines' bill to designate May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. On April 19, 2018, Daines led a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions in response to a Department of Justice Inspector General report, urging the department of Justice to uphold its responsibilities to Indian tribes and implement the recommendations outlined in that report as quickly as possible. On April 13, 2018, Daines' bill to help relocate children who go missing through AMBER Alert systems became law. On February 14, 2018, Daines sponsored and supported the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs' passage of the Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act, which included Daines' bipartisan legislation to promote tribes' access to national criminal databases. On December 21, 2017, Daines introduced bipartisan legislation, the Mitigating the Methamphetamine Epidemic and Promoting Tribal Health Act, or the Mitigating METH Act, to combat methamphetamine use across Montana and strengthen Indian tribes' ability to fight this epidemic. OnDecember 6, 2017, Daines' bipartisan legislation, the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act, passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.This bill strengthens services for victims of crime in Indian country. On May 5, 2017, Daines joined with the family of Hanna Harris to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls as designated by his Senate resolution. On May 4, 2017, Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. In the Spring of 2017, Daines spoke at the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center briefing regarding the epidemic of missing/murdered. The organization is based out of Billings, Montana. In April 2016, Daines led an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill to set aside five percent of the Crime Victims Fund for Indian tribes. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-convinces-army-corps-to-continue-review-of-coal-export-terminal-project,Daines Convinces Army Corps to Continue Review of Coal Export Terminal Project,2018-10-22,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.22.18 Daines Convinces Army Corps to Continue Review of Coal Export Terminal Project U.S. SENATEAfter pressure from U.S. Senator Steve Daines, the U.S.ArmyCorpsof Engineers is continuing the environmental reviewforthe Millennium Bulk Terminal Project in Washington State. The project would allow Montana and Wyoming coal to be exported to international markets. Montana is rich in natural resources and has the largest coal reserves of any state in the nation,Daines said.The Millennium Bulk Terminal would provide access to international marketsforMontana coal and agriculture products, and would mean more high paying jobsforMontanans, including the Crow Tribe. Unfortunately, liberal regulators in Washington continue to try to block this important projectforMontana. I'm glad that theArmyCorpslistened and is taking this important stepforward. Background: Today, there is a large demand for Montana's clean coal in Asiathat can help foreign countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while meeting their energy demand.Despite this, the State of Washingtonhas attempted to blockthe construction of the Millennium Bulk Terminal, which is the point of access for Montana coal to make its way to Asia. On September 6, Daines sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking them toexpeditiously completethe environmental reviewof relevant permitsfor the Millennium Bulk Terminal. Review of the project was halted after the State of Washington denied the project a water quality permitbased on factors unrelated to water quality, contrary to statute and congressional intent. Daines letter also urged the Corps to determinethe State of Washington has waivedits authority to issue a water quality permit, removing any obstacle to issuing the federal permit. In July, Dainespushedforcongressional action to stop the abuse of power by Washington State to construct the terminal and get Montana's clean coal into Asia's markets. In August, Dainesintroduced The Water Quality Certification Improvement Actof 2018, which would pave the wayforthe building of the Millennium Bulk Terminal. Opening the terminal would allow coal from Montana's Decker Mine, Spring Creek Mine and the Crow's Big Metal Project to have access to Asian markets. An operating terminal would create an estimated 300 to 400 high-paying mining jobs most of them in Montana. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/doj-doi-agree-with-daines-and-expand-tribal-access-to-national-crime-databases,"DOJ, DOI Agree with Daines and Expand Tribal Access to National Crime Databases",2018-10-22,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.22.18 DOJ, DOI Agree with Daines and Expand Tribal Access to National Crime Databases U.S. SENATEAfter U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced bipartisan legislation to expand tribes' access to national crimedatabases, the U.S. Departmentsof Justice andtheInterior announced today that they are expanding the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP) to an additional 25 tribes. TAPprovides Native Americantribesdirectaccess to national crime information databases. This is good news for Indian country. It's critical for Indian tribes to have direct access to national crime data in order to help protect public safety,Daines said.I'm pleased to lead legislation that supports this goal and will help make tribal communities safer places to live and prosper. In Montana, the Blackfeet Tribe isamong thoseselected for this expansion. In addition, the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Bureau ofIndian Affairs-Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS)Agencies will also soon have access to TAP. The Northern Cheyenne BIA Agency will be among the next three additional locations across the country where TAP will be used to vet prospective foster parents. Daines has been a leading advocate in the U.S. Senate for expandingtribes'access to national crime databases. Daines' leadership on crime prevention in Indiancountry: OnOctober 16, 2018, Daines' Mitigating METH Act was sent to President Trump's desk as part of the comprehensive opioids legislation. The bill expands the state targeted response to the opioid crisis grants to include Indian tribes as eligible recipients. OnSeptember 20, 2018, Daines sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs requesting a hearing on the epidemic of missing persons in Indian country. OnApril 26, 2018, the Senate passed Daines' bill to designate May 5thas the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. OnApril 19, 2018, Daines led a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions in response to a Department of Justice Inspector General report, urging the department of Justice to uphold its responsibilities to Indian tribes and implement the recommendations outlined in that report as quickly as possible. OnApril 13, 2018, Daines' bill to help relocate children who go missing through AMBER Alert systems became law. OnFebruary 14, 2018, Daines sponsored and supported the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs' passage of the Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act, which included Daines' bipartisan legislation to promote tribes' access to national criminal databases. OnDecember 21, 2017, Daines introduced bipartisan legislation, the Mitigating the Methamphetamine Epidemic and Promoting Tribal Health Act, or the Mitigating METH Act, to combat methamphetamine use across Montana and strengthen Indian tribes' ability to fight this epidemic. OnDecember 6, 2017, Daines' bipartisan legislation, the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act, passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.This bill strengthens services for victims of crime in Indian country. OnMay 5, 2017, Daines joined with the family of Hanna Harris to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls as designated by his Senate resolution. OnMay 4, 2017, Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. In theSpring of 2017, Daines spoke at the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center briefing regarding the epidemic of missing/murdered. The organization is based out of Billings, Montana. InApril 2016, Daines led an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill to set aside five percent of the Crime Victims Fund for Indian tribes. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-we-must-take-care-of-our-gateway-communities,Daines: We Must Take Care of Our Gateway Communities,2018-10-20,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Steve Daines,D000618,www.daines.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.20.18 Daines: We Must Take Care of Our Gateway Communities Brings to Montana to Find Solutions U.S. SENATEU.S. Senator Steve Daines brought together community leaders and the National Park Service yesterday in Gardiner, Montana to discuss the challenges that national parks have on gateway communities. The discussion was part of an official Senate Subcommittee on National Parks Field Hearing. Panelists included Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly, West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce Director Marysue Costello, Cooke City Water District President Deb Purvis, Flathead County Emergency Manager Rick Sacca, and Gardiner Public Schools Board of Trustees Chairman Pat Baltzley. To watch the full hearing click HERE. Background: Gardiner, MT only has 875 residents, while the community accommodates a large portion of the 4 million visitors to Yellowstone National Parks each year. The large number of visitors each year puts a strain on Gardiner's local infrastructure, leaving the small handful of residents who actually live in the town responsible for generating the tax revenue to pay for it. The field hearing was held at the Gardiner Public School where folks saw firsthand the challenges gateway communities of national parks can have on local infrastructure. Gardiner Public School needs a new roof and boiler, but lacks a sufficient tax base to pay for upgrades. Daines looks forward to working with the local community and stakeholders to find a feasible solution. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6512,Tester Honors Great Falls Resident for Adoption Work [press_release],2018-10-19,2018,2018-10,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(Poplar, Mont.) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester is celebrating Great Falls resident Darcy Crum, a 2018 Angels in Adoption honoree for her work connecting Montana families. The Program, now in its 20th year, is sponsored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) to honor those who have made an exceptional contribution on behalf of children in need of families. Crum, an attorney in Great Falls, has facilitated hundreds of adoptions over three decades of service and has advocated tirelessly for important resources that help connect children with forever families. She was instrumental in securing passage of the Montana Adoption Act of 1997 which ensures that the well-being and best interests of the child are met by adoption proceedings. ""Every child deserves a loving family and a stable home,"" Tester said. ""Darcy's critical work has made a life-changing impact on hundreds of kids in Montana, and our great state is better for it."" Since 2000, Crum has helped coordinate an adoption celebration held in Great Falls during November, National Adoption Month. This event highlights families finalizing their adoptions and is one of the happiest and most joyful day in the courtrooms of Great Falls. ""Helping make families is the most rewarding part of my law practice,"" Crum stated. ""I am humbled and honored to receive this award. Working with children and families in Cascade County and across Montana has been one of the greatest joys of my career."" Crum played a crucial role in founding the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in Cascade County and served the program in various roles for several years. CASA volunteers ensure cases involving abused and neglected children caught up in the foster care system do not stall in the courts and advocate for the well-being of children during the process. Crum was honored at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute's annual gala in Washington D.C. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester fought proposals that cut funding for CASA and secured $12 million for the program in the FY 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill. In 2017, Tester authored a provision in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill that increased access to adoption services for disabled veterans. Read more about Tester's work on behalf of Montana's kids HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=6513,"Tester Announces $355,500 Grant to Keep Aging Veterans Living Independently in Eastern Montana [press_release]",2018-10-19,2018,2018-10,Democrat,House,MT,Jon Tester,T000464,www.tester.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(Butte, Mont.)-Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jon Tester today announced a $355,500 grant to the organization ""Action for Eastern Montana"" to ensure local veterans can remain independent and stay in their own homes as they age. The grant announced by Tester will help train and deploy 35 volunteers to help aging veterans in eastern Montana with daily tasks to ensure they can remain independent and spend their retirement years in their own homes. ""Eastern Montana is home to thousands of veterans who answered the call to serve our country,"" Tester said. ""Now we must uphold our commitment to them. These resources will help aging veterans remain at home rather than force them to live in costly senior facilities."" The grant is administered jointly though AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Veterans Health Administration's Choose Home Initiative. Volunteers will be trained to serve seniors in Valley, Sheridan, Richland, Dawson, and Rosebud Counties, as well as on the Fort Peck and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. Most of the volunteers will also be veterans. Action for Eastern Montana is a non-profit organization in Glendive that ""promotes education, advocacy, and dignity for achieving independence"" in eastern Montana. As Ranking Member, Tester has drafted 11 veterans bills this Congress that have been signed into law by President Trump. Tester is also using his seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fight for more funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which helps funds grants like the one going to the Glendive. Tester most notably authored the VA MISSION Act to cut government red tape and make it easier for veterans in rural areas to see a doctor in their community when wait times at the VA are too long. Tester is also pushing to increase access to benefits for aging Vietnam veterans, known as ""Blue Water Navy Veterans,"" who served off the coast of Vietnam during the war and were exposed to toxic chemicals like Agent Orange. If veterans in eastern Montana are experiencing difficulties accessing their benefits with the VA, they are encouraged to contact Tester's office in Glendive at 406-365-2391.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gianforte.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gianforte-receives-friend-farm-bureau-award,Gianforte Receives Friend of Farm Bureau Award,2018-10-17,2018,2018-10,Republican,House,MT,Greg Gianforte,G000584,gianforte.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Greg Gianforte was presented with the Friend of Farm Bureau Award by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for his strong support of Montana's agriculture industry. The award was presented during a visit to the Arntzen Angus Ranch in Hilger, MT. The Farm Bureau is an important voice for farmers in Montana and throughout the country, and I'm honored to receive the Friend of Farm Bureau award, said Gianforte. In Congress, I will continue serving as a strong voice for Montana's farmers working to roll back and repeal burdensome regulations they face, passing a Farm Bill that works for them, and advocating fair trade deals that benefit them so they can get their products to foreign markets. Gianforte was nominated for the award by the Montana Farm Bureau Federation based on his voting record in the 115th Congress on priority issues identified by the AFBF. Greg Gianforte has always realized the importance of agriculture and in particular, the Farm Bureau organization, noted Montana Farm Bureau President Hans McPherson. Ever since he ran for Congress, Representative Gianforte frequently consulted us on ag issues because he recognized us as the leading agricultural association in Montana. As the award indicates, he has voted with Farm Bureau policy the majority of the time. He has always been very helpful and responded quickly to what we need in Washington, D.C. We were proud to nominate him to the AFBF board for this prestigious award. MFBF's Director of National Affairs Nicole Rolf has worked extensively with Rep Gianforte and his staff. She added, The 115th Congress took on many issues important to agriculture. The farmer and rancher members of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation especially appreciate Congressman Gianforte's strong support of the Farm Bill, comprehensive Tax Reform, and other matters. We thank him for his dedication to the farmers and ranchers of this state and his willingness to listen to our concerns.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z