Daines Fights to Protect Outfitter Jobs During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced today a proposal to direct funding for new trail maintenance projects to be carried out by guides and outfitters to provide economic relief amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Outfitters and guides face great uncertainty going into what is typically their peak season and some estimate as many as 70% will be forced to close down. “This is about protecting the jobs of Montanans working in our outdoor recreation industry,” Daines said. “My proposal directs funding for projects that are shovel ready to ensure folks have work this season while also improving our trails. I
Daines Successfully Secures Two Year Extension for Montana Timber Contracts During the Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be providing all timber sale contract holders with a two-year extension. This follows Daines’ direct request to USDA Secretary Perdue for relief for the wood products industry, including the two-year extension for those with timber sale contracts to provide stability during the pandemic. “It’s critical we protect Montana timber jobs and industry during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic,” Daines said. “Active forest management not only supports good paying jobs but it protects our communities from the threat of wildfires and improves the conditions of
Daines announces $31,412,577 in coronavirus care packages for Montana colleges and students
U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that the U.S. Department of Education will be directing $31,412,577 to Montana colleges and universities. $15,518,482 will go to providing direct emergency cash grants to students for expenses related to disruptions to their educations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including things like course materials and technology as well as food, housing, health care, and childcare. “Montana college students have seen their lives and education disrupted because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic,” Daines said. “This critical funding I fought to secure in the Coronavirus Economic Recovery Package will help our students get the relief they need during
Montana businesses receive $1.29 billion for payroll relief
In less than two weeks, Montana small businesses have received nearly $1.3 billion in federal aid to keep employees on payroll and out of unemployment. The U.S. Small Business Administration issued state-level numbers Tuesday, revealing that 10,372 Montana business had been approved for loans totaling $1.293 billion though Monday. All told, the SBA has spent $247.5 billion since the Paycheck Protection Program launched April 3. Congress had approved $349 billion at the end of March. It is now seeking to add another $200 billion. “This program is critical to keep Montana small businesses open and their workers employed,” Sen. Steve
Unemployment escalation has been extraordinary in Montana
March in Montana: In like a lion, out like a dude in the unemployment line. There were more than 31,000 Montanans with unemployment payment requests on Sunday, April 12, the highest single-day number since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers tend to spike every seven days, but the weekly high point before the arrival of the pandemic was rarely higher than 5,500. Since all but essential businesses shut down and people began staying home under order Montana’s governor, the number of people seeking unemployment has been extraordinary. “Between March 16 and April 7, 76,042 payments were issued, accounting
Daines visits National Guard at airport as delegation works to support troops
BELGRADE — The Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport sat largely empty when Sen. Steve Daines and his wife, Cindy, arrived on Tuesday to give lunch to the National Guard members stationed there. The National Guard has been screening and checking the temperatures of passengers at Montana airports and rail stations for the past few weeks. They have been working without the benefits many other federal employees receive. Daines, along with Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Greg Gianforte, is hoping to change that. “While many of us are working out of our homes, our National Guard members and our health care heroes are all on
Daines Announces $73.8 Million for Montana Airports to Help Handle COVID-19 Outbreak
BOZEMAN, M.T. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $73.8 million will be directed to 71 Montana airports to handle the impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak. Montana airports have seen a dramatic drop in travel and sales due to the Coronavirus. “The Coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted our Montana airports which are vital to our economy and communities,” Daines said. ”This funding is critical for Montana airports to help stay afloat and keep workers employed during the coronavirus pandemic.” Airports Receiving Funding: A full list of airports can be found HERE. Below are some of the larger grants for Montana airports. Yellowstone Airport,
Daines Urges Administration to Get Veterans Direct Checks During Coronavirus Pandemic ASAP
U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a group of bipartisan senators and sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs urging the agencies work together to get the nation’s veterans their direct checks in response to the Coronavirus as soon as possible. “We write to you regarding the financial well-being of our country’s heroes, their caregivers, and survivors, and ask that the recovery rebate checks being issued by the Treasury Department reach our nation’s veterans in as timely a manner as possible,” Daines wrote. “We believe that veterans receiving benefits through the VA
Daines Brings Local Lunch to Montana National Guard Troops, Shares Two Big Announcements
BOZEMAN, MT –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today brought lunch from Bozeman’s Chalet Market to Montana National Guard troops serving at the Bozeman airport to thank them for protecting Montana communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and to share two big National Guard announcements. For a video statement from the Senator click, HERE. For NATVOSOT of the event click, HERE. “It’s an honor to be here today to deliver some free lunches to our Montana National Guard members who are here in the front lines, the Bozeman airport. It’s important we stand with these health care heroes, whether it’s our nurses or