Water compact squeezes into congressional spending package
A century-long debate over water rights in the state is nearing an end, providing certainty for farmers and ranchers in southwest Montana. The Montana Water Rights Protection Act passed the U.S. Congress this week as part of a major coronavirus relief and year-end appropriations package. It next needs President Donald Trump’s signature, which isn’t yet certain because he objected Tuesday to some of the package. It may have to return to Congress for revisions and another vote. Once the act becomes law, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will ratify it. The tribes will then relinquish thousands of water rights across the state, including
Daines Delivers Big Wins for National Defense, Troops, Veterans
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines yesterday voted to support and fund several critical defense and veterans priorities. “This critical funding ensures America maintains the best military in the world, gives our troops a much needed pay raise, provides support for Montana veterans and strengthens Montana’s defense priorities,” Daines said. Strengthens Montana’s and the Nation’s Defense Forces: $180 million for Air Force C-130 propeller upgrades (4-blade to 8-blade) $368 million for Army’s CH-47 Chinook helicopters $923.4 million for National Guard Counter-Drug Program, which includes an increase of $100 million for the National Guard State Plans program and $20 million
Daines, Leahy Bipartisan Bill Promoting Affordable Health Insurance Passes Senate, Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Patrick Leahy (Vt.) announced that their bipartisan bill promoting access to affordable health care by increasing transparency and enhancing consumer protections in the health insurance passed the U.S. Senate and will be headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. 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 allow for greater transparency and oversight into the health insurance
Daines, Tester bipartisan bill settling century long water dispute heads to Trump’s Desk
U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today celebrated Senate passage of their bipartisan bill, the “Montana Water Rights Protection Act.” The bill will permanently settle the century long CSKT water dispute, support Montana jobs, modernize rural infrastructure and protect the water rights of all Montanans. “After years of hard work, the U.S. Senate just passed our bipartisan bill that permanently resolves the century long CSKT water dispute, and will soon become law. Without our bill, thousands of Montanans would be forced into very expensive litigation and our ag economy would’ve taken over a one billion dollar hit,” Daines said.
CSKT Chairwoman pays tribute to “the many” who helped craft water settlement
PABLO — The chairwoman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) is acknowledging the many people who helped craft the settlement over water rights in the Flathead Basin. She’s expressing enthusiasm about what the agreement means for water users, wildlife and fish habitat and the thousands of jobs that will be created in the years to come. On Tuesday, Congress approved the Montana Water Rights Protection Act, a bipartisan effort to resolve the decades-long dispute over the water rights granted under the 1855 Hellgate Treaty. The $1.9 billion measure is a sweeping piece of legislation that heads off litigation and provides a
Congress passes historic CSKT water compact with massive spending bill
Tucked in the mammoth spending bill that Congress passed Monday night is a historic pact that will resolve thousands of water-rights claims by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, provide nearly $2 billion for a major irrigation project and return the 19,000-acre National Bison Range to tribal ownership, more than a century after the federal government illegally carved it from the middle of the Flathead Indian Reservation. The passage of the compact, which moved through Congress as the Montana Water Rights Protection Act, comes five years after the Montana Legislature narrowly approved a similar agreement with the CSKT. It was
Daines, Tester Bipartisan Bill Settling Century Long Montana Water Dispute Passes Senate, Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today celebrated Senate passage of their bipartisan bill, the “Montana Water Rights Protection Act.” The bill will permanently settle the century long CSKT water dispute, support Montana jobs, modernize rural infrastructure and protect the water rights of all Montanans. “After years of hard work, the U.S. Senate just passed our bipartisan bill that permanently resolves the century long CSKT water dispute, and will soon become law. Without our bill, thousands of Montanans would be forced into very expensive litigation and our ag economy would’ve taken over a one billion dollar hit,” Daines said. “That’s why we’ve worked so hard to pass
Daines Delivers Targeted COVID-19 Relief for Montana
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted for a COVID-19 relief package to help support Montana small businesses, workers, families, schools, Tribes, and farmers and ranchers impacted by the pandemic. The relief package also includes nearly $20 billion for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. To download the full statement, click HERE. “This bipartisan targeted COVID-19 relief package is going to help Montana small businesses, workers, families, healthcare heroes, schools, Tribes and farmers and ranchers. It also provides billions of dollars for vaccine manufacturing and distribution which is critical to ending this pandemic once and for all. This has been a tough
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Larry “Skip” Ahlgren of Petroleum County
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Larry “Skip” Ahlgren of Petroleum County for his dedication to his community and volunteer efforts. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, each week Daines will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE. The following is a statement submitted to the Congressional Record: TRIBUTE TO LARRY “SKIP” AHLGREN Mr. DAINES. Mr.