Sen. Daines, who helped secure $10B in vaccine funding, calls Moderna approval ‘early Christmas present’
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel’s endorsement of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine on Thursday had special significance for Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. Daines, a chemical engineer with experience launching FDA-regulated products, championed an effort in March for $10 billion in federal funding to accelerate the development and manufacturing of the coronavirus vaccines. The funding jumpstarted Operation Warp Speed, the unprecedented effort to develop and distribute vaccines at a record pace. “It will be the best $10 billion we’ve ever spent,” Daines told Fox News Thursday shortly after an FDA advisory panel voted to endorse the Moderna vaccine, which got $483
Upstart Moderna takes on outsized role in U.S. vaccine effort
The nation’s second coronavirus vaccine, produced by Moderna, could be on its way to thousands of sites nationwide by this weekend — a major accomplishment for a company that has never before brought a product to market. An independent Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Thursday endorsed the shot for adults 18 and over, and the agency said later that day that it planned to authorize the shot. But while the maker of the first authorized shot, Pfizer, is a global pharmaceutical giant that has pumped out dozens of blockbusters including Viagra and even ChapStick, Moderna had never had
Upstart Moderna takes on outsized role in U.S. vaccine effort
The nation’s second coronavirus vaccine, produced by Moderna, could be on its way to thousands of sites nationwide by this weekend — a major accomplishment for a company that has never before brought a product to market. An independent Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Thursday endorsed the shot for adults 18 and over, and the agency said later that day that it planned to authorize the shot. But while the maker of the first authorized shot, Pfizer, is a global pharmaceutical giant that has pumped out dozens of blockbusters including Viagra and even ChapStick, Moderna had never had
Initial shipments of the Pfizer vaccine began Monday, bodes well for combatting COVID-19
The COVID-19 vaccine road show began in earnest Monday with the mass shipments of the Pfizer vaccine to all points on the compass in the United States and its territories. However, the initial shipments are aimed at the frontline healthcare personnel. It will be a long wait in line before the general public at large is vaccinated – current estimates are in late June or early July. The CSKT Tribal Health Department expects to receive the Pfizer or the presently being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration Moderna vaccine doses by late December or early January, said Chelsea Kleinmeyer,
Daines, Stabenow, Grassley, Wyden Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to End Abuse of Conservation Easements
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) reintroduced a bipartisan bill, the “Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act,” to stop the abuse of conservation easements, save taxpayers billions of dollars and promote conservation in the U.S. “Our bipartisan bill will promote conservation in Montana, save taxpayers billions of dollars and stop scam artists from abusing a critical conservation program used across the country,” Daines said. “This will help protect Montana farmers and ranchers who want to conserve our lands, and hold individuals accountable who are looking to game the system and pad their
Covid: Fauci says U.S. could return to normal by mid-fall if most people are vaccinated
After months of political sniping, Congress has finally come within reach of a deal to send more help to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. The top four leaders on Capitol Hill have come close to a $900 billion pandemic aid agreement, CNBC and NBC News confirmed. The lawmakers will put aside liability protections for businesses and state and local government relief, the two biggest hurdles to reaching a deal in recent months. The developing rescue package would include a direct payment to Americans, which could come out to about $600 per person. It would also have about $300 billion for
Both MT Senators Continue Work on Bills For Rural Montana
Senator Jon Tester (D) introduced a bill last month with Senator Deb Fischer, Neb., that seeks to improve safety at rural train crossings. As of right now, railroad crossing arms are only installed at locations where a road is wide enough for two vehicles. A second bill to address the dangers of parked trains on highway-railroad crossings was also introduced by the same two senators. Valley County has reported two cases of vehicle-train collisions this year at rural crossings. The first occurred on July 18 in Hinsdale at the crossing with crossing arms. There were no injuries. The second occurred
Plains gets grant for new wastewater plant
U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced Friday that following his direct request, Plains, Montana will receive a $5.1 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant will help complete a major infrastructure project for the community by relocating the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which is currently at risk of a catastrophic failure due to its vicinity to the Clark Fork River. “This grant is a critical investment for the Plains community as they work to improve their sanitation infrastructure by moving the wastewater treatment plant away from the Clark Fork River,” Daines said. “I’m glad that I could help
Coronavirus relief deal at $900B is at hand, Daines says
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders have agreed to provide about $900 billion in COVID-19 aid in a tentative deal that could end months of stalemate, a GOP senator confirmed Wednesday morning. The emerging pact, reached in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, would funnel about $300 billion in relief to small businesses, provide more money for vaccine distribution and health care workers, and offer a new round of tax rebate checks to households, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said on CNBC. “I’m cautiously optimistic we’re going to see this $900 billion package released today, and this will likely get passed before we