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
Daines measure ending tribal water dispute becomes law
A bipartisan bill offered by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) that permanently settles a century-long tribal water dispute in his home state recently became law as part of the roughly $1.4 trillion omnibus appropriations package signed by the president. “I’m very glad I could play a direct role in getting this done, and I thank President Trump for signing our bill into law,” said Sen. Daines on Dec. 27. The Montana Water Rights Protection Act, S. 3019, which Sen. Daines sponsored in December 2019 with cosponsor U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), authorizes, ratifies and confirms a specified water rights settlement
Daines Calls for Election Commission to Restore Trust Following Irregularities in 2020 Presidential Election
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called for an election commission to review the November 3rd, 2020 presidential election process. Daines issued the following statement: “An unprecedented number of Americans have significant doubts about the integrity of 2020 presidential election results. Fewer than 45,000 votes spread across three states would alter the vote of the Electoral College. Couple that with the fact that the processes and the way Americans voted was altered at a scale never before imagined outside what the state legislative process intended. There have been continued reports of irregularities with signature verification, different rules for mail-in ballots versus in-person ballots, delayed receipt of ballots, inconsistent
Historic Water Rights act becomes law
PABLO — Time crawls by until it’s passed — then it has flown by. Such is the case of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Federal Reserved Water Rights Compact (FRWRC), officially known as the Montana Water Rights Protection Act (MWRPA). After decades of discussions and official negotiations with the Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission (MRWRCC), the CSKT’s FRWRC was signed into law by the president of the United States Monday. All that was needed to ratify the MWRPA was the signature of the leaders of the Flathead Nation, and on Tuesday, that happened. The Montana Water Rights Protection
Slate of Energy Job Bills Championed by Daines Signed into Law
U.S. SENATE — Last Sunday, four bipartisan energy bills, as well as a tax extension for carbon capture, championed by Senator Steve Daines were signed into law. The bipartisan bills, the “EFFECT Act,” “American Mineral Security Act,” “Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act,” and “USE It Act,” all help protect Montana energy jobs and support Montana’s energy industry. “These bipartisan bills will help create and protect Montana energy jobs, promote renewable energy on public lands, and provide reliable, affordable energy to all Montanans,” Daines said. “I’m glad to have worked across the aisle to accomplish these major wins for Montana’s energy industry.” Supporting Montana energy jobs
Daines bill provides relief for breweries, distilleries
The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act was just signed into law, providing permanent tax relief and supporting jobs across Montana to small, locally-owned breweries and distilleries. The bill was created by Montana Sen. Steve Daines. “In Montana, we’re home to some of the best craft breweries in the country,” Daines said in a press release. “Now, with my bipartisan bill being signed into law, these small businesses will have permanent tax relief which will create jobs across Montana and support our Montana barley growers.”
What They Are Saying: Montana Leaders Praise Montana Water Rights Protection Act Being Signed into Law
U.S. SENATE – On Sunday, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester celebrated their bipartisan bill, the “Montana Water Rights Protection Act,” being signed into law by President Trump. The bill permanently settles the century long CSKT water dispute, supports Montana jobs, saves taxpayer dollars, modernizes rural infrastructure and protects the water rights of all Montanans. Several Montana leaders issued statements in support following the President’s signing of this critical legislation. “After years of effort, our bipartisan bill that settles the century long CSKT water dispute is now law. This is a huge win for all Montanans. Our bill protects