Category: News Article

The Air Force announced Wednesday evening it is “moving forward with a full and open competition” to replace its aging fleet of UH-1N Huey helicopters, including several dozen that are no longer capable of adequately responding if terrorists attack U.S. nuclear missiles. The decision to initiate a contest for more than $2 billion in helicopters was first reported by CQ. The proposal could bring to a boil an already simmering congressional debate over how to obtain new choppers for the mission. Some lawmakers had wanted the Air Force to forego a competition in the interest of security of the nuclear

The Air Force has decided to go with a normal acquisition process to replace the UH-1N Huey helicopters flown at Malmstrom Air Force Base and other intercontinental ballistic missile bases. In a statement, the Air Force said Wednesday that it is “moving forward with a full and open competition for the replacement of the entire UH-1N fleet, which is consistent with the fiscal year 2017 President’s Budget Request.” Based on a request from the U.S. Strategic Command commander, the Air Force proposed an immediate reprogramming action, according to the Air Force, but after a thorough review, the Air Force “remains

Republicans and other pro-coal lawmakers attacked the Army Corps of Engineers yesterday for deciding to kill a proposed export facility in Washington state that proponents hoped would ship the fuel from Western mines to Asian markets. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) accused the administration of ignoring the needs of his state and its mines. And Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) said he filed a Freedom of Information Act request for a trove of documents related to the Army Corps’ review of the so-called Gateway Pacific Terminal. After months of deliberations, Col. John Buck, commander of the Army Corps’ Seattle District, sided with

Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation that would move Montana rural water projects forward and ensure the completion of authorized projects across Montana. The Western Water Supply and Planning Enhancement Act is a bill that would help improve the efficiency of existing water supply infrastructure, ease the regulatory burden on new projects and protect water rights that are critical to the prosperity of the western United States. “If I told you that today, over 22,000 Montanan’s lack access to a steady supply of water, you’d be angry,” Daines stated. “That’s why I introduced legislation that will provide a steady supply

A proposed Puget Sound shipping terminal for Montana coal is dead after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied it a permit Monday. Citing the fishing rights of the nearby Lummi Nation, Corps Col. John Buck determined that as currently proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal could not be permitted. Valued at $700 million, the port was to be located near Ferndale, Wash. The Lummi Nation had cited treaty rights in January 2015 when it asked the Army Corps to reject the project. “Today was a good day for the Constitution and treaties in general,” said Tim Ballew, of the Lummi Indian

A decision Monday from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could spell the end to a controversial coal export terminal proposed near Ferndale, Washington. Colonel John Buck, commander of the Army Corp’s Seattle District, announced the decision at a meeting with Lummi Tribal leaders, saying the Gateway Pacific project would impact “treaty protected fishing rights” of Washington’s Lummi Nation,. The $700 million dollar Gateway Pacific Terminal was a proposed deep-water port to be located just north of Seattle. The project was backed by shipping company SSA Marine, along with its partners Cloud Peak Energy and Montana’s Crow Indian Tribe, who touted the terminal as a new port providing access to

Montana’s two U.S. Senators have joined a bipartisan coalition pushing to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program, which aids counties where most of the land is owned by the federal government and therefore does not create any tax revenue. The program, which in 2014 doled out more than $300 million, expired in late 2015 and the last authorized payments were sent to rural counties earlier this spring. The program is especially critical in places like Lincoln County, where the U.S. Forest Service holds a vast majority of the land. On April 29, Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines wrote a

(HELENA) Montana struck a deal with the feds allowing Montana’s five firefighting helicopters to respond to fires on federal land. Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation says that this agreement allows the helicopters to be used when lives are at risk or when the Governor declares a wildfire emergency. In 2015, state owned helicopters were not allowed to help due to policy issues. The state modified helicopters to comply with U.S. Forest Service regulations, but were still now allowed to respond. This deal has the support of Republican U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who says “It is great to see

Sen. Steve Daines and members of his staff toured the Montana Department of Veterans Affairs Equine Therapy Center near Helena on Thursday and learned about how the program helps veterans statewide. “We’re here to look at therapy that helps out veterans and experience it myself,” he said. The Montana VA Equine Therapy Center is the only center of its kind in the country and operated by the Montana VA. The facility specializes in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, which uses horses for mental, physical and behavioral health therapy and personal development and is used to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse,

While the Air Force is making a decision about replacing UH-1N Huey helicopters at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Sen. Steve Daines has requested that the Air Force consider using National Guard helicopters in the meantime. The Montana Army National Guard has eight UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters based at Fort Harrison in Helena, and Daines, R-Mont., has asked the Air Force to consider using those to augment the existing Hueys at Malmstrom. The helicopters are used by the 40th Helicopter Squadron, which provides security in the missile field and can move quick reaction teams into the field if necessary. They also