USDA Announces Financial Assistance for Montana Producers Impacted by Natural Disasters
U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines shared that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that Montana’s farmers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 will be eligible to apply for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program to receive funds that will help alleviate financial loss due to severe weather incidents. “This is long overdue for our farmers in Northeast Montana who have faced excessive rain and substantial flooding in the past few years,” Daines said. “I am thankful that the USDA has granted access to this vital program that will help our producers get back on their feet after devastating
Montana music venues, theaters see ‘glimmer of light’ in relief bill
The COVID relief bill passed by Congress in late December includes $15 billion that could aid eligible independent music venues and movie theaters in Montana that have been shuttered since March. The passage was like “finally getting a sigh of relief,” said Sean Lynch, the owner of the Pub Station concert venue in Billings. He helped the push for the Save Our Stages Act through the National Independent Venue Association, a group formed at the beginning of the pandemic. Its members estimated that up to a thousand venues could close without more relief. Here in Missoula, Logjam Presents, the owners
Daines Condemns Today’s Violence, Will Certify Electoral Votes
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement: “Today is a sad day for our country. The destruction and violence we saw at our Capitol today is an assault on our democracy, our Constitution and the rule of law, and must not be tolerated. As Americans, we believe in the right to peaceful protest. We must rise above the violence. We must stand together. We will not let today’s violence deter Congress from certifying the election. We must restore confidence in our electoral process. We must, and we will, have a peaceful and orderly transition of
Daines’ Bipartisan Bill Providing Reliable, Clean Drinking Water for Rural Montanans Signed into Law
U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced his bipartisan “Clean Water for Rural Communities Act” has been signed into law. Daines’ bipartisan bill ensures thousands of Montanans have safe, reliable drinking water. “Water is the most basic human necessity, yet every single day there are Montanans with undrinkable, contaminated water coming from their faucets. That’s why I’m very glad to see my bipartisan, commonsense bill signed into law which will ensure rural communities in Central and Eastern Montana have access to reliable, clean drinking water,” Daines said. Daines’ bill advances two rural water system projects including the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System
Daines Bills Supporting Veterans Pensions, Women Vets Signed Into Law
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today celebrated two of his bipartisan bills supporting Montana’s veterans being signed into law by President Trump. Daines’ bills, included in a broader veterans legislative package, will expand opportunities and programs for female veterans at the VA as well as help protect veterans pensions from being exploited. “I’m glad the President has signed these important bipartisan veterans priorities into law that will expand opportunities and programs for female veterans at the VA and take steps to protect veterans pensions from being exploited,” Daines said. More details on the Senator’s legislation below: Deborah Sampson Act: Empowers women veterans by
Daines Announces Grant for Grizzly Bear Management
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 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.
Sen. Daines announces grant for grizzly bear management
U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced Tuesday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 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
Tonix Plans Vaccine Development Plant In Hamilton
A New Jersey biopharmaceutical company, Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp., has purchased 44 acres on the northeast edge of Hamilton and plans to build a vaccine development and commercial manufacturing facility. According to a news release on its website, the company will use the Montana plant and a new facility in Massachusetts to help develop and produce vaccines. The Tonix statement said their vaccine candidates are “led by modified horsepox vaccines, TNX-1800, a potential COVID-19 vaccine and TNX-801, a potential smallpox and monkeypox vaccine.” The City Of Hamilton and the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority also worked with Tonix. Hamilton has
Congress Repeals Anti-Trust Exemptions Over AHIP Objections
Both houses of Congress have voted to repeal an anti-trust exemption in the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945 which protects payers from federal competition laws. The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020 amended the McCarran-Ferguson Act to include the following statement: “Nothing contained in this Act shall modify, impair, or supersede the operation of any of the antitrust laws with respect to the business of health insurance (including the business of dental insurance and limited-scope dental benefits).” The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020 received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, with sponsorship from Representatives Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Peter