AG Barr unveils plan on missing, murdered Native Americans
PABLO — U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced a new federal strategy to address missing and murdered Indigenous people Friday during a visit to the Flathead Indian Reservation. On his visit, Barr also discussed methamphetamine-related problems with Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, expressed support for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai water compact, and visited an overlook of the National Bison Range, where he heard the tribes’ goals for the area. A report released last year by the Urban Indian Health Institute said there were 5,712 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous girls in 2016, but only 116 of those cases
Daines, Tester, Gianforte Celebrate Senate Passage of Travis Atkins Bill
U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Greg Gianforte today celebrated the U.S. Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to rename the VA clinic in Bozeman after fallen Montana war hero, Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins. “Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins’ bravery and service in to our nation is a true inspiration for Montanans and Americans nationwide,” Daines said. “I’m happy to see my colleagues in the U.S. Senate support this important bill recognizing Atkins’ bravery by renaming the VA clinic in his hometown of Bozeman in his honor. His selfless sacrifice will never be forgotten.” “Today, with
Daines Announces Over $740,000 for Rural Education and Telemedicine in Montana
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $742,904 in Montana to support distance learning and telemedicine projects at the University of Providence and Benefits Hospitals, Inc. “Expanding access to telemedicine is critical for getting Montanans the health care they need in our rural communities,” Daines said. “This funding will help expand wireless and telehealth services that will improve access to specialty medical care for 164,000 rural Montanans. It will also create a distance learning system to help educate our nurses and nursing students in rural Montana.” $441,357 will be designated
Daines Helps Secure $1,350,088 for Billings, North Central Montana Bus Transportation
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $1,350,088 will be designated towards bus transportation in Billings and North Central Montana. “This funding will further strengthen Montana’s travel infrastructure needs and help Montanans get around their communities,” Daines said. “This funding will also help ensure we have the resources needed to help improve the quality of life in Billings and North Central Montana.” $840,000 will be designated to Billings’ MET buses and bus facilities. $510,088 will be designated to North Central Montana Transit buses and bus facilities. The purpose of the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program is to
Daines: Too Many Montanans Impacted by Alzheimer’s
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today in a U.S. Senate Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Daines stressed the need to do more for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia in Montana and across the nation. Daines highlighted his work on bipartisan legislation that will help families and patients living with the diseases. Click HERE to download video of Daines’ opening statement Daines also told stories of the heart wrenching conversations he’s had with Montanans living with both diseases. To download full video of Daines’ remarks, click HERE. More than 21,000 Montanans currently live with Alzheimers. And by 2025, that number is expected to
Daines Votes for Bipartisan LWCF Funding, Park Maintenance Backlog Bills in U.S. Senate Committee
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today advanced a slate of key Montana priorities out of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee including bipartisan bills that permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and help fix the maintenance backlog issue facing national parks. “What a great day in the United States Senate and what a great day in Montana. With today’s vote we are one step closer to fully funding the Land Water Conservation Fund and addressing the growing maintenance backlog in our national parks…” Daines said. Click HERE to download full video
Bills to fund LWCF, national parks pass committee
Two pieces of major conservation legislation reached a “milestone” Tuesday, Republican Sen. Steve Daines told the Montana media after a Senate committee advanced legislation that would fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and address the maintenance backlog at national parks. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing Tuesday morning to consider the two bills and offer amendments. Tuesday’s action follows the passage of a lands package earlier this year. That package was pushed by Montana’s delegation and included permanent reauthorization of LWCF. If it receives the president’s signature, Senate Bill 1081 considered Tuesday would
Daines helps push funding for LWCF, national park maintenance to Senate floor
With the help of Sen. Steve Daines, the U.S. Senate has the chance to finally consider full funding for a public land and parks grant program and some funding for overdue national park maintenance. On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, of which Daines is a member, passed more than a dozen bills out of committee, but two may be of particular interest to Montanans. The first would require Congress to allocate $900 million to the Land and Water Conservation Fund every year, the full amount allowed by law. That would provide more matching funds for states and
Mountain-Pacific secured $15.5 million in federal funding for operations
Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, of Helena, has secured $15.5 million in federal funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester both provided aid to the organization in securing this competitive funding over the next five years. However, according to Sara Medley, CEO of Mountain-Pacific, this is about half of the funding the organization received in 2014. Medley described the funding as “insanely competitive” and noted that there are comprehensive evaluation metrics at play in this “value-based contract.” Medley explained this means the organization “has to perform well” in its efforts to promote better health