Daines Secures Over $300,000 for Vaughn Volunteer Fire Department
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program will be directing $333,333.33 to the Vaughn Volunteer Fire Department. “This is about ensuring our firefighters in Vaughn have the critical support needed to keep our communities safe during this fire season,” Daines said. “I will continue working to ensure all of our brave firefighters have the help they need as they work to battle wildfires across Montana.” For more information on the funding, click HERE. The AFG program makes funds available directly to fire departments, State Fire Training
Western Senators Urge Colleagues to Delist Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bears
At a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, several western senators advocated for grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to be removed from the list of endangered species and for states to manage the species. The hearing focused on S.614, the Grizzly Bear State Management Act, which U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. introduced in February 2019. The bill would direct the Department of the Interior to re-issue its 2017 decision to delist the grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and prohibit further judicial review of this decision. “Wildlife experts and federal officials agree that the grizzly
Senator Daines on the Friday Montana Morning News Program
Montana Senator Steve Daines made a brief appearance on the KGVO Montana Morning News show on Friday to talk about a number of subjects. After saying he would be speaking later in the day at a 9-11 ceremony in Bozeman, Daines then spoke of the fires burning throughout the state, especially in Gallatin County, and how a bill he is sponsoring in the U.S. Senate may bring relief. “We’re going to have a hearing on this bill that I introduced with Dianne Feinstein,” said Daines. “Now, it’s kind of hard to believe that you’ve got a liberal Senator
U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Steve Daines Announce Senate Hearing for Bipartisan Wildfire Bill
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced their bipartisan Emergency Wildfire and Dianne FeinsteinPublic Safety Act has been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on September 16, 2020. Feinstein and Daines recently wrote to the committee requesting a hearing for their bill. “More than 2 million acres have already burned this year in California, and the situation is getting worse by the day,” said Feinstein. “This is a crisis all across the Western United States. We need the ability to responsibly clear dead trees and other biomass that will otherwise feed these
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week Virgil Gust of Sweet Grass County
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Virgil Gust of Sweet Grass County for his commitment to raising entrepreneurial spirits. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week 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 VIRGIL GUST
Daines Secures Over $150,000 For Montana Law Enforcement in Missoula, Billings for School Safety Programs
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the City of Missoula and Billings School District #2 will be receiving over $150,000 in grant funding as part of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) within the Department of Justice. This program provides funding to improve security at schools and on school grounds through evidence-based school safety programs. “This funding will help support our local law enforcement and provide critical resources to ensure that our Montana schools are protected and students are kept safe,” Daines said. Funding: City of Missoula – $43,679 Billings School District
Daines Urges Administration to Provide Support for Montana Census, Ensure All Montanans are Represented
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines yesterday sent a letter urging the Administration to direct additional Census resources to Montana in the final weeks of the field data collection operations to ensure all Montanans are represented. “Given the rural nature of Montana and the additional challenges brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Montanans may go uncounted and entire communities could be underrepresented at the federal level,” Daines wrote. “I am requesting that trained Census personnel from states which are nearing full enumeration be relocated to Montana as soon as possible.” To read the full letter, click HERE.
Daines Statement on Schumer Blocking Passage of COVID-19 Relief Package
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after Senate Minority Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats blocked a targeted COVID-19 relief package that would have provided relief for Montanans and millions of American workers, families, schools, small businesses and expanded access to testing and promoted vaccine development. “This targeted relief package would have provided critical support for Montana families, workers and small businesses, as well as support our schools and provide strong funding for the development and manufacturing of a COVID-19 vaccine,” Daines said. “It’s beyond disappointing to see Schumer block this bill when there are Montanans who are in need of targeted relief right
Daines Secures Over $11 Million for Billings Infrastructure Project
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the City of Billings will receive $11,656,765 in Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant funding for a major infrastructure project. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao called Daines with the good news this morning. Daines talking to Chao about the BUILD grant. “This BUILD grant funding will help modernize infrastructure in Billings, and is a big win for the community and jobs,” Daines said. “I’m glad to have secured these funds and I look forward to seeing these projects get started.” This funding will go towards completing the Northwest