Daines’ Bipartisan Bill Promoting Affordable Health Insurance for Montanans Signed Into Law
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that his bipartisan bill promoting access to affordable health care for Montanans by increasing transparency and enhancing consumer protections in the health insurance industry has been signed into law by the President. “My bipartisan bill will now ensure greater transparency and oversight in the health insurance industry and help make health insurance more affordable for Montanans and Americans across the country. I’m glad the President has signed this commonsense bill into law,” Daines said. A Bozeman Dentist praised Daines’ bill and work getting it signed into law. Watch the full video HERE.
Daines, Leahy, Gosar, DeFazio Bipartisan Bill Promoting Affordable Health Insurance Signed Into Law
U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Patrick Leahy (Vt.) and Congressmen Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Peter DeFazio (Ore.) announced that their bipartisan bill promoting access to affordable health care by increasing transparency and enhancing consumer protections in the health insurance industry has been signed into law by the President. The “Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act” will ensure that health insurance issuers are subject to the same federal antitrust laws prohibiting unfair trade practices, such as price fixing and collusion, as virtually every other industry in our economy. “Our bipartisan bill will now ensure greater transparency and oversight in the health
Montana to receive $71M+ for COVID testing, vaccine distribution
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines announced that Montana will receive more than $71 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to combat COVID-19 through large-scale testing and vaccination efforts. The year-end bipartisan COVID-19 relief and stimulus package allocates $61,517,133 for COVID-19 testing and provides $9,657,321 for vaccine distribution. Tester said, “With the news this week that Montana has passed the grim milestone of more than 1,000 COVID-19 deaths, these critical resources are needed more now than ever to help get this virus under control once and for all and get folks back
Fish and Wildlife Service proposes ESA rule changes meant to speed timber projects
Federal officials on Monday proposed revisions to consultation rules under the Endangered Species Act that could streamline the process for approving timber projects on critical habitat. If enacted, the revisions would allow the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to circumvent consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials over land management plans when new species are listed as threatened. Land management plans are broad documents that guide agency decisions on public lands. The plans don’t authorize specific projects like timber sales, though such projects must be consistent with the plans’ standards. The Endangered Species Act mandates that
UM starts on-campus COVID-19 vaccinations
Dr. Kenneth Chatriad took a break from his work to wipe down the 12 smooth, light blue plastic chairs spaced out in a Curry Health Center hallway. Chatriad, the center’s pharmacy manager, walked through his newly constructed immunization center. Though it was hard to tell under his mask and face shield, he was probably smiling. “It is an exciting day today, finally,” Chatriad said as he brought his attention back to new faces coming down the corridor. They were frontline healthcare workers, including Curry doctors and test takers at the University of Montana, and they quietly picked a socially-distanced seat
$250,000 grant to continue addressing grizzly-human conflicts
MONTANA — U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service renewed a $250,000 grant to help reduce grizzly bear and human conflicts in Montana. “This funding is critical to help reduce grizzly-human conflicts in Montana as we continue working to delist the grizzly bear and return management to the state,” Daines said. The USFWS grant to the Montana Wildlife Services will include: Additional support through the Wildlife Services contract to address bear and human conflict. Leveraging existing Federal programs, such as grants provided under the Pittman-Robertson Act, to restore, conserve and manage animals and their habitat. Continually
Daines Statement on SCOTUS Decision to Stop Mail Delivery of Abortion Drugs
U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today as Chairman of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus released the below statement following the United States Supreme Court’s ruling to stop the delivery of abortion-related drugs through the mail: “This is an important win in our continued fight to protect the unborn and their mothers,” Daines said. “I’m glad that our country’s highest court in the land has reinstated critical safety measures to stop the supply of dangerous abortion drugs being sent through the mail without the recipient ever seeing a doctor in person.”
Daines Statement on the Passing of Sheldon Adelson
U.S. Senate—U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement on the passing of Sheldon Adelson: “Sheldon Adelson was a titan of our time. He embodied the American dream, served our country, created thousands of jobs and proudly advocated for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. I am saddened to learn of his passing but thankful for his legacy of philanthropy and patriotism. Condolences to his family.”
Following Daines’ Work, USFWS to End Burdensome Regulations Harming Montana Forest Projects, Jobs
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on their proposed rule to strike down a burdensome requirement resulting from the Cottonwood decision that yields no conservation benefit and has delayed forest projects while killing Montana timber jobs. The change comes as a result of Daines’ work and efforts. “This is a great step in reducing unnecessary red tape that has tied the hands of our land managers and diverted resources for a paperwork exercise that has no real conservation benefits,” Daines said. “This change will help improve the health of our forests,