Author: Reilly Lowery

From his office in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Montana Senator Steve Daines conducted a ZOOM call with FDA Deputy Commissioner Anand Shah for an update on development of treatments for COVID 19. Daines called his plan ‘Operation Warp Speed’ meaning federal authorities are pulling out all the stops in an effort to find an effective treatment for the worldwide pandemic. “Nationally, my effort will be called ‘Operation Warp Speed’, and that is what the White House is calling this overall project,” said Daines. “The beginnings of that were when I secured $10 billion, in which I worked with Senate leadership

Montana health care leaders asked questions Wednesday about how a COVID-19 vaccine is being developed, how it’ll be distributed and what’s being done to ramp up testing as positive case numbers continue to surge. Over Zoom, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Anand Shah, deputy commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, fielded those questions and gave an update on efforts to provide immunity to and treatment for the virus. Daines said that the federal government has made significant investments in vaccine and drug development. He cited his support to help secure $10 billion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and

U.S. Sen Steve Daines, R-Mont., told Montana health professionals Wednesday he’s optimistic a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready for distribution by year’s end, in part because the government will pay for manufacturing of promising drugs ahead of final approval. The senator was joined on the Zoom conference Wednesday by Dr. Anand Shah, the Food and Drug Administration’s deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs. “I’ve always felt, and still firmly believe, the only way our country is going to get back to a sense of normal, and fully get back to work and restore confidence in our economy is to

The U.S. House made a significant investment in public lands on Wednesday by passing the Great American Outdoors Act. The bill is now headed to President Donald Trump who has said he will sign it into law. Trump tweeted his support for the act on Wednesday and thanked Montana Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican up for reelection, for his work on the bill. The Great American Outdoors Act provides $9.5 billion for the maintenance backlog on public lands and sets aside $900 million annually for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Rep. Greg Gianforte, a Republican running for governor, voted

Crow tribal leaders met with Montana U.S. Senator Steve Daines on July 17 to request support for the new tribal police department’s operations and novel Coronavirus surge planning.   Senator Daines toured a closed Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) jail in Crow Agency with members of the Crow Executive Branch, Crow Tribal Police, BIA Police and high ranking local judges.   The new Crow Police Department, which was formed June 27, is seeking to reopen the Crow Agency Jail.   Crow Tribal Police Chief Terrill Bracken says the time and expense of transporting detainees to Hardin’s Two Rivers Detention Facility

A bill to help workers navigate the shifting economy by gaining new skills and provide employer incentives could help boost the nation’s recovery, Sen. Steve Daines said Tuesday.   Daines on Tuesday morning introduced the Workforce Recovery and Training Services Act, saying many workers are returning to a job market that looks different than it did before the pandemic.   “As our nation continues to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, we must ensure our workers have the support they need to get back to work,” Daines said. “My bill will boost our economic recovery by connecting unemployed Montanans with

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday was expected to be sending 24 cases / 960 doses of remdesivir to Montana, which they have given emergency-use authorization to treat certain patients hospitalized with COVID-19, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said.   Remdesivir It is an antiviral that shortens hospitalization by about an average of four days.   “These shipments of remdesivir will help treat and support Montanans hospitalized with COVID-19,” Daines, R-Mont., said in an email. There are 40 vials per case and the average patient receives 6.25 vials over a five-day course of treatment.   Jon Ebelt, spokesman for

The number of fatalities in Montana due to COVID-19 grew to 39 on Monday as state health officials announced two more deaths in a Billings nursing home.   The state added 88 new cases on Monday, including four in Missoula, increasing the running tally to 2,621. More than 48 people remain hospitalized in the state and 1,248 cases are considered active.   “Two more Montanans have sadly passed from COVID-19. My heart goes out to their families and community,” Gov. Steve Bullock said. “As we continue to see the tragic situation unfold at Canyon Creek (Billings), I call on Montanans