Author: Reilly Lowery

Montana Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines on Wednesday joined a group of lawmakers at the U.S Capitol to urge Congress to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The fund, established in 1964 to safeguard public lands, water resources and cultural heritage, is set to expire on Sept. 30 without congressional reauthorization. “Today marks 100 days until the LWCF expires,” Daines said. “It’s time we permanently reauthorize this critical conservation and recreation program for Montana. I support the full and permanent funding of LWCF.” Several conservation groups launched a $1 million digital ad campaign earlier this month to pressure lawmakers to reauthorize

All three of Montana’s delegates in Washington, D.C. said they oppose the Trump Administration’s strategy of separating families at the border. But they disagree on how to move forward to change that practice. Democratic Senator Jon Tester maintains a specific bill isn’t even necessary to keep those families together. “The Secretary of Homeland Security could stop it, (U.S. Attorney General Jeff) Sessions could stop it, they could stop it, and it would be stopped within minutes. But, assuming they’re not going to do that let’s stay here Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday – however long it takes to get this stopped.

Malmstrom Air Force Base will receive federal funding to help modernize its ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) infrastructure and replace UH-1N Huey military helicopters at the base, Sen. Steve Daines said Monday. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 OKs a $69.4 million increase for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program, a Daines spokeswoman said Monday. The GBSD will replace the Missileman III missile at Malmstrom in the mid-2020s and the funds are for public and private research nationwide, Daines said. It also requires the Air Force to increase staffing to ensure the project stays on schedule and to

Standing in the shadow of the Washoe Smelter, Republican Sen. Steve Daines got the lay of the land on Anaconda’s Superfund Friday while the quiet valley lay far below. Daines got a rare visit to the 585-foot smoke stack while making stops throughout southwest Montana Friday. He also visited Whitehall, Dillon and Deer Lodge as part of a 56-county tour around the state. He talked to ranchers in Whitehall, stock growers in Dillon, and lumber industry professionals in Deer Lodge. He also paid a visit to a pilot’s group in Missoula. He stopped in Butte in early March. His stopover

Two Montana groups will share $100,000 in federal grants to focus on local drug crises and emerging drug abuses, Sen. Steve Daines said Friday. The Substance Abuse Prevention Alliance in Great Falls and the Lincoln County Unite for Youth Coalition will each get $50,000 for communities’ efforts to combat local drug use, especially among youth. “Montana’s meth and drug epidemic has taken lives and destroyed families,” Daines, R-Mont., said. “These critical funds will help Montana combat drug use and rebuild impacted communities.” Daines said Montana had a 427 percent increase in methamphetamine violations from 2010-2015 and the 11 drug task