Daines Announces $350,000 in Grants to Improve Rural Montana Mental Health Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On National Rural Health Day, Senator Steve Daines announced more than $350,000 in funding for rural Montana telehealth and mental health services. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants have been awarded to Western Montana Mental Health Center and St. Patrick Hospital Foundation. Daines wrote a letter of support for St. Patrick Hospital’s plan to build the Western Montana Telepsychiatry Network – a partnership between St. Patrick Hospital and rural Montana hospitals. By providing access to high-quality behavioral health professionals and services through telepsychiatry and distance learning, St. Patrick Hospital can address
Daines Helps Move Forward Key Legislation to Reauthorize LWCF, Expand Access to Public Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today helped move forward critical bipartisan solutions to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and protect and preserve Montana’s outdoors heritage. The Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this morning on a large bipartisan vote. This bill promotes and protects access to Montana’s public lands and increases recreational opportunities for hunters and anglers. Additionally, the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 would shine a light on how the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) payments are empowering obstructionists who frequently litigate forest management projects in Montana and the
Daines, Capito, King Call on FCC to Increase Transparency, Enforcement for Rural Broadband Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Angus King (I-ME) today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider strict enforcement measures and increase transparency for the recently announced Connect America Fund funding. The FCC recently announced more than $1.5 billion in annual funding as part of the second phase of the Connect America Fund to expand and support broadband service in rural areas. “We believe strict enforcement measures, coupled with transparency around how, where, and when the funds are used are necessary to ensure the integrity of the [Connect America Fund] program and the success
Daines: UM BBER Report Reaffirms Devastating Impact of Obama’s War on Affordable Energy
Announces telephone townhall to discuss alarming UM report, Daines’ efforts to block anti-coal regulations WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today called a new report on the impact of President Obama’s anti-coal regulations “devastating for Montana” and announced that he will hold a telephone townhall meeting this evening to discuss the alarming report with Montanans. The University of Montana (UM) Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) today released a study on the economic implications of implementing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan in Montana. The study shows that the EPA’s new regulations will likely lead to the full
Daines, Zinke Urge Governor Bullock to Block the Relocation of Syrian Refugees to Montana
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Montana Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke today urged Montana Governor Steve Bullock to block any efforts from the federal government to move Syrian refugees to Montana until exhaustive and comprehensive background checks can be completed. In a letter to Bullock, Daines and Zinke stressed the importance of prioritizing Montanans’ safety and security by refusing Syrian refugees until there is 100 percent confidence in these refugees’ backgrounds. At present, the state of Montana has not disallowed Syrian refugees from settling in Montana. “We write to urge you to object to any efforts by the federal government to place
Tester, Daines urge Senate to permanently reauthorize and fully fund LWCF
Senators: LWCF is “one of the country’s best conservation programs” (U.S. Senate) – Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are urging Senate leaders to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to protect more of Montana’s best outdoor places. LWCF, which expired October 1, funds conservation projects in all 50 states using offshore oil and gas receipts. Tester and Daines, in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), called LWCF “one of the country’s best conservation programs,” pointing out that the fund has supported over 41,000 state and
Great Falls Tribune: New study of EPA rules shows dire results, sparks debate
HELENA — The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan could mean the loss of thousands of jobs, millions in income and cause a population decline, bringing about “the most significant economic event to occur in Montana in more than 30 years,” according to a study released Wednesday that was challenged by several audience members. The report commissioned by NorthWestern Energy and the Montana Chamber of Commerce was done by the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Patrick Barkey, BBER director, presented his findings at the Red Lion Colonial Inn while on one side of the room people
MTN News: Heart Butte and Lodge Grass schools get construction grants
GREAT FALLS – A $2.5 million grant will will be used to help fix what are described as “emergency health and safety conditions” in two Montana tribal schools. On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) announced that Lodge Grass Elementary School District and Heart Butte School District will receive the money in construction grants for fiscal year 2016. It’s estimated that more than 350 students will benefit from the projects. Heart Butte will receive $1.7 million and contribute just over $1 million to fund the cost of the project, which includes replacing deteriorated and leaking roofs to both the high school and elementary portion of
Great Falls Tribune: Daines announces $2.5M for tribal schools
HELENA — Sen. Steve Daines announced Wednesday that Lodge Grass Elementary and Heart Butte school districts were awarded nearly $2.5 million in construction grants for fiscal year 2016 to be used for emergency health and safety conditions in school facilities. They are among seven educational agencies nationwide to receive Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grants. “This additional support will help students on the Blackfeet and Crow reservations to have the resources they need to learn,” Daines, R-Mont., said in a news release. Heart Butte School District will receive $1,764,973 to replace deteriorated and leaking roofs of the high school and elementary