In The News
WATCH NOW: Missoula's new family crisis shelter nears completion
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and community leaders sang the praises of a federal tax credit program Friday during a tour of Missoula's still-under-construction shelter for homeless families and those experiencing domestic violence. "Everything you see today would not have happened if not for the New Market Tax Credits," said Cindy Weese, executive director of YWCA Missoula, which will partner with the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative's Family Promise program to run the new Meadowlark facility on Sou… Continue Reading
08.18.20
Daines details bipartisan forest reform bill
Conservationists, forestry leaders and local elected officials met with Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in Kalispell Monday morning to discuss the introduction of a new bipartisan reform bill that aims to reduce environmental litigation, increase active forest management on federal lands, accelerate post-wildfire restoration and more. Daines recently introduced the bill, known as the Emergency Wildlife and Public Safety Act of 2020, with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Daines told local leaders d… Continue Reading
08.18.20
Officials offer thoughts on 100th anniversary of 19th Amendment
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.: "Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. One of the trailblazers that led the #WomenSuffrage movement was MT's very own Jeannette Rankin, the 1st woman to serve in Congress. Let us honor her legacy and leaders like her today."… Continue Reading
08.17.20
Daines discusses bipartisan bill in Kalispell
KALISPELL, Mont. - Sen. Steve Daines made a trip to the Flathead Valley Monday morning to talk about a bipartisan forest management reform bill. Daines was joined by elected officials as well as conservation and timber leaders. The bill is about addressing wildfires, wildlife, watersheds and workers. Daines is working with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, on the bill. "Montanans are tired of breathing smoke during fire season, and they want to see people back in the forest … Continue Reading
08.17.20
Daines rallies support for wildfire logging bill
After meeting with timber, fire and wildlife supporters in Kalispell on Monday, Sen. Steve Daines predicted a new forest management bill he's co-sponsored could be law in four months. "We spent the time to get a strong, bipartisan launch," Daines said on Monday. "There's a high probability we'll have a hearing when we go back in September, and the goal is to get the bill signed into law by the end of the year." Republican Daines and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California introduced the… Continue Reading
08.16.20
Sen. Daines hears case for additional MT drug court funding
HELENA - State judges presiding over Montana's drug-treatment courts said they're a much better route than throwing addicts in prison. But, late last week, treatment court officials told U.S. Senator Steve Daines that they could use more resources for more courts and that the pandemic isn't helping either. Members of Helena's drug-court treatment team met with Senator Daines on Friday to talk about successes and struggles. Two drug-court treatment graduates, Dawn Knowles and Joe Wolhers, said … Continue Reading
08.14.20
MT delegation raises more questions on mail delays, drop boxes
HELENA - Montana's congressional delegation Friday continued to raise questions about U.S. Postal Service actions they feared could delay mail service in the state - including the removal of mail drop-boxes from several cities. The Postal Service said Friday it's putting on hold the removal of any of the traditional blue drop-boxes in Montana - although it has also said removal of some boxes is fairly routine, in response to mail volume. The drop-box-removal issue was raised first by U.S. Sen.… Continue Reading
08.14.20
Daines requests more funding to support senior living during pandemic
Senior living providers should be included in future federal funding allocations from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF), wrote U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) in an Aug. 12 letter sent to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar II. "The healthcare heroes in these communities are on the front lines of this crisis, and while they continue to do everything they can to care for our nation's seniors and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, they need fin… Continue Reading
08.14.20
Treatment court in COVID: Daines, Lewis and Clark County talk lessons learned during pandemic
Treatment courts have seen success in Montana but faced significant struggles during the coronavirus pandemic, Lewis and Clark County officials told U.S. Sen. Steve Daines on Friday. Daines joined a roundtable with treatment court staff, graduates and veterans' advocates at American Legion Post 2 in Helena. The group came to discuss the value of treatment courts and the struggles they faced during COVID-19 when many of the face-to-face interactions the programs are based on became impossible. … Continue Reading
08.14.20
Treatment Court members discuss how to navigate COVID-19 challenges
HELENA - Members of Montana's treatment court program met for the first time since the start of the pandemic at the Helena American Legion to discuss the best ways to get Montanans help during these isolated times. Representatives from Great Falls and Missoula treatment courts were in attendance to discuss concerns of COVID-19 and its impact on Montanans participating in treatment court programs. "The ones that came into the program right before the pandemic, we just don't have that by in with… Continue Reading
08.10.20
MT Congressional delegation condemns U.S. Postal Service delays
HELENA - As the U.S. Postal Service faces another funding crisis, Montana's congressional delegation is united in its condemnation of moves by President Trump's new postmaster general to delay mail service. The delegation's two Republicans - U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte - wrote letters to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy last week, demanding he reverse new policies that will delay mail delivery. And Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester had even stronger words, saying DeJoy want… Continue Reading
08.07.20
Congress urges Postal Service to undo changes slowing mail
(AP) - Lawmakers from both parties are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to immediately reverse operational changes that are causing delays in deliveries across the country just as big volume increases are expected for mail-in election voting. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that changes imposed by the new, Republican postmaster general "threaten the timely delivery of mail - including medicines for seniors, paychecks for workers and absentee… Continue Reading
08.07.20
Daines’ bipartisan bill prioritizes forest management to prevent wildfires
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on Aug. 4 introduced bipartisan legislation that would increase wildfire preparedness and response throughout the United States. "We must manage our forests, so they don't manage us," Sen. Daines said. The senator signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the untitled S. 4431, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), to provide the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) with the necessary tools to protect communities from wildfires, according to a bill summa… Continue Reading
08.07.20
Daines urges Postmaster General to rescind delayed mail directive; medications vital
Sen. Steve Daines this week urged the nation's postmaster general to reverse a decision to hold mail for a full day if distribution is running behind. The U.S. Postal Service is facing a projected $13 billion revenue deficit and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has made a number of moves to shore up funding, including the elimination of overtime pay for postal workers. DeJoy, a former Republican Party fundraiser, also issued a directive to hold mail for delivery until the next day for any pieces… Continue Reading
08.06.20
Congress urges Postal Service to undo changes slowing mail
(AP) - Lawmakers from both parties are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to immediately reverse operational changes that are causing delays in deliveries across the country just as big volume increases are expected for mail-in election voting. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that changes imposed by the new, Republican postmaster general "threaten the timely delivery of mail - including medicines for seniors, paychecks for workers and absentee… Continue Reading
08.06.20
Feds open Billings office to solve missing Indigenous people cold cases
A federal task force to investigate cold cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people opened an office Thursday in Billings. This was the third of seven offices of Operation Lady Justice Task Force, Tara Katuk Sweeney, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, said. President Donald Trump established the Operation Lady Justice Task Force on Nov. 26, a multi-agency effort co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr. It will focu… Continue Reading
08.06.20
Bureau of Indian Affairs Cold Case Team Office opens in Billings
BILLINGS- A Bureau of Indian Affairs Cold Case Team Office was opened in Billings that will be dedicated to reanalyzing and investigating cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. This office is the third of seven offices established under the Operation Lady Justice Task Force to investigate cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The cold case teams will be staffed with law enforcement personnel and newly appointed special agents from the Bureau … Continue Reading
08.06.20
Montana lawmakers push for census deadline extension, urge completion
MISSOULA, Mont. - Montana politicians are urging the U.S. Census Bureau to reconsider a new deadline to end data collection, which is one month earlier than planned. The announcement came Monday, with the bureau saying field data collection will stop Sept. 30 to meet an end-of-year deadline. Gov. Steve Bullock and Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney sent a letter to the U.S. commerce secretary urging the Census Bureau to stick with the original extended October deadline. They say 525,000 Montanans haven't ye… Continue Reading
08.06.20
Daines co-sponsors bill to reduce wildfire, halt 'frivolous' environmental lawsuits
Montana Sen. Steve Daines has introduced new legislation meant to reduce the risk of large wildfires on federally managed lands, and to make it harder for environmental groups to halt permitted timber harvests by obtaining federal court injunctions. Daines announced his submission of the Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act during a news briefing on Wednesday, describing it as "a major bi-partisan breakthrough" in the effort to reform forest management practices. "This is a Democrat from C… Continue Reading
08.05.20
Daines Works with Dianne Feinstein on new Forest Safety Act
Fresh off his success in passing the Great American Outdoors Act which was signed by President Trump on Tuesday, Senator Steve Daines resumed work on yet another Forest Management bill along with California Democrat Dianne Feinstein. The bill is called the Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020, and with the fatal fires that have occurred in California and that have destroyed millions of acres of Montana forests, Daines explained the bill. "It's about addressing the four 'W's', wildf… Continue Reading
