Daines Advances the Bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act in the Senate
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured a successful vote to advance his bipartisan bill, the “Great American Outdoors Act,” in the U.S. Senate. This is the first procedural vote needed to get the legislation passed out of the Senate. The bipartisan bill provides full, mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and addresses the maintenance backlog facing the nation’s public lands and national parks. For a video statement from the Senator click, HERE. Ahead of the vote, Daines also spoke on the Senate floor to highlight this historic moment for conservation. To download Daines’ full remarks,
Justice Department looks at competition in beef industry
The U.S. Department of Justice wants information about cattle market competition from the four largest meat packers in the country. Last month President Trump, U.S. Senators, State Attorneys General and the U.S. Department of Agriculture asked for an investigation. The Justice Department issued subpoenas to the four largest meat packers concerning allegations of price fixing livestock markets, according to the office of Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. Four companies control more than 80 percent of the processed beef market. A fire at the Tyson Beef plant in Holcomb, Kan. last August and more recently, COVID-19 have illustrated the concerns. “That revealed
Daines Urges Congress to Provide Additional Funding for Community Health Centers in Next COVID-19 Package
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a bipartisan letter to Senate Leadership to provide additional funding for Community Health Centers in the next COVID-19 funding package. “We write to express our support for additional emergency funding for community health centers in the next COVID-19 relief package. Community health centers are vital to our response to the coronavirus pandemic and need appropriate funding to continue their front-line health care work,” wrote Daines. “Community health centers provide affordable care to more than 29 million patients, including 385,000 veterans and 8.7 million children nationwide. These centers play a critical role in responding to the
President Trump Signs Daines’ Bipartisan Bill for Greater PPP Flexibility to Support MT Small Businesses, Workers Into Law
U.S. SENATE – Today, President Trump signed Senator Daines’ bipartisan bill giving greater flexibility under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to support and provide more relief for Montana’s small businesses and workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “The Paycheck Protection Program has already been very effective in Montana, and now with President Trump signing my bipartisan bill increasing flexibility for small business owners and workers under the program, it’ll be even better,” Daines said. “Under the PPP program, Montana small businesses will now have greater access to relief they need to stay open, support our workers and protect jobs. I’m
Small business loan program extended
The Paycheck Protection Program has been given new life just ahead of the “use it, or pay it back” deadline for the small business loans. Part of the economic response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Paycheck Protection Program offered businesses no-payback loans to cover eight weeks of payroll and other select expenses. Provided 75% of the money went to payroll and the other 25% to things like rent and utilities, business owners didn’t have to pay the money back. Money spent outside those parameters has to be paid back at 0.5% interest within five years. But the money had to
Daines Secures $360,187 for MT’s Upcoming Flu Season Preparation
U.S. SENATE – Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced Montana will receive $360,187 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to prepare for the upcoming flu season, given the increased risk of COVID-19. “As we continue to invest in efforts to develop life-saving drugs to treat and prevent COVID-19, we must also prepare for the upcoming flu season in the fall,” Daines said. “I’m glad to have secured this funding to help protect vulnerable Montanans and will continue working to ensure our communities are equipped to combat COVID-19.” The funding source for this award is through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
Bill for greater PPP flexibility to support Montana small businesses heads to President’s desk
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured Senate passage of his bipartisan bill giving greater flexibility for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to support and provide more relief for Montana’s small businesses and workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The bipartisan bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. “I’m glad to have secured passage of my bipartisan bill to increase flexibility in the Paycheck Protection Program to ensure Montana small businesses have the relief they need to stay open, support our workers and protect jobs,” Daines said. “My bipartisan proposal is the result of listening to
Lands package reaches Senate floor. Now comes the hard part
Conservation advocates have been working for months to build a coalition capable of pushing a multimillion-dollar public lands package over the finish line. They anticipate seeing the culmination of these efforts in the coming days. Today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is expected to officially schedule S. 3422, the “Great American Outdoors Act,” for floor consideration next week (E&E Daily, June 1). The bill would permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the first time since its creation in 1964 — $900 million annually, paid for by offshore oil and gas lease revenue. The legislation would
Daines’ Bipartisan Bill for Greater PPP Flexibility to Support Montana Small Businesses, Workers Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured Senate passage of his bipartisan bill giving greater flexibility for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to support and provide more relief for Montana’s small businesses and workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The bipartisan bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. “I’m glad to have secured passage of my bipartisan bill to increase flexibility in the Paycheck Protection Program to ensure Montana small businesses have the relief they need to stay open, support our workers and protect jobs,” Daines said. “My bipartisan proposal is the result