Author: Reilly Lowery

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.), Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Richard Burr (N.C.) led a colloquy today on the floor of the U.S. Senate on the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Without congressional action, the program is set to expire at the end of the month.     Watch HERE Download HERE “As an avid outdoorsman myself, I know first-hand the importance of our public lands… LWCF ensures that our booming outdoor economy can continue to grow. It allows hunters, anglers and others sportsmen to have access to their public land… LWCF is a program

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Angus King (Maine) today introduced S. 3497, the bipartisan Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act, to reverse an unintended policy of the Affordable Care Act that is currently denying millions of seniors and people with disabilities the full measure of their Medicare Advantage benefits. “This damaging Obamacare policy has left 17,000 Montanans without the Medicare benefits they deserve,” Daines said. “Our bipartisan bill will ensure that seniors and people with disabilities receive the full scope of the Medicare Advantage benefits.” “The Medicare Advantage program serves tens of thousands of Maine seniors, but the Quality Incentive Payment program designed to encourage top-level care and decrease costs for beneficiaries is currently

U.S. SENATE — Today, President Trump signed U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill requiring U.S. Senate candidates to file campaign reports electronically into law. Daines, who chairs the Legislative Branch Subcommittee on Appropriations, fought to include the provision, which increases campaign transparency for U.S. Senate candidates, in the bill. The new requirement will take effect immediately. “I’m very pleased to see one of the most important campaign finance reforms in recent history be signed into law,” Daines said. “Campaigns should be as transparent as possible and this bill mandates that U.S. Senate candidates file their campaign finance reports electronically so the information

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today praised the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for recommending the withdrawal of approximately 30,000 acres of the Custer Gallatin National Forest from mineral entry in the Paradise Valley and Gardner Basins. Daines has urged the withdrawal given the strong local support. “The Paradise Valley and Gardner Basin are truly special places that deserve protection,” Daines said. “After an extensive process and public input, I’m glad to see that the Forest Service listened to the voices of the residents and is recommending this withdrawal.” Download audio HERE. “I’ve always said there are places where it is appropriate

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the City of Billings has been awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant of $1,360,000 to purchase at least five refurbished buses for MET Transit and replace aging buses. “Billings MET transit provides over half a million rides a year,” Daines said. “Many of those riders are elderly, disabled, or low-income and rely solely on public transportation. I’m glad to have supported this grant request and am pleased that this money will be used to benefit the people of Billings.” “MET Transit sought letters of support from the community, local transportation agencies,

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced today that 16 Community Health Centers (CHCs) in Montana were awarded funding totaling $4,372,775. The funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will help Montana communities combat substance abuse including opioids and meth.  “CHCs are on the front line of providing health care in Montana,” Daines said. “They do vital work in keeping Montanans healthy. I will continue to fight to keep these CHC’s funded to help Montana families and communities overcome substance abuse.” Breakdown of funding:   ###

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who sits on the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations, today voted to secure funding for Montana’s military units, installations, research partners, universities, small businesses and manufactures. The funding secured in the bill is critical to Montana, Malmstrom, Montana National Guard and the rest of the nation. The bill also secures a 2.6% pay raise for troops – the largest in 10 years. “This funding will greatly enhance our national defense and give our war fighters the resources they need to maintain a decisive advantage over our adversaries,” Daines said. “Montana’s military assets play a critical

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Lake County Community Development Corporation (LCCDC) has been awarded a grant of $499,983 to renovate the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center in Ronan. The grant, distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will also be used to help purchase new equipment for the center. “The Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center does good work in providing assistance to Montana food businesses while also creating jobs in areas suffering from high rates of poverty,” Daines said. “I was happy to support this grant request and I’m glad to see the Lake County Community

  U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted on a bill that will help combat the devastating meth and opioid epidemic across Montana and the nation. Before the vote, 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.   Watch full video HERE Download full video HERE “The legislation before us will help combat an epidemic that touches the lives of almost every person in our country,” Daines said. “We’re seeing sad story after story on the effects of meth