In The News
Daines Helps Secure $480 Billion for Hospitals – Small Business
Montana Senator Steve Daines held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon from his office in Washington just after the U.S. Senate voted on more funding to provide help for Montanans struggling during the COVID 19 crisis. "Just literally minutes ago the U.S. Senate passed a very important package of over $480 billion of additional relief," he said. "This will be targeted in some key areas. There's $25 billion for testing, and Montana will be receiving over $16 million for developing, administer… Continue Reading
04.21.20
Senate approves $500 billion COVID-19 relief bill after bipartisan deal
(AP) - Congress has reached a tentative agreement with President Donald Trump on a nearly $500 billion coronavirus relief bill. The US Senate voted in favor of the bill on Tuesday with a small group of senators pushing the bill through in whats known as a "pro forma session." Sen. Rand Paul spoke up to say he objected to the bill being voted on without the full Senate, but stopped short of forcing the entire Senate to return to Washington. The bill now moves to the House. The measure would re… Continue Reading
04.20.20
Montana Ag Network (Mon Apr 20)
Lane Nordlund has the Montana Ag Network report for Monday, April 20, 2020. #1 Friday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide $19 Billion dollars to provide relief for farmers, ranchers, and consumers. "This new $19 Billion program will take several immediate actions to assists farmers, ranchers and concerns in response to the COVID-19 national emergency," Perdue stated during a White House COVID-19 press conference. North Dako… Continue Reading
04.20.20
Daines discusses re-opening Montana's economy in virtual town hall
Sen. Steve Daines R-Mont., held a virtual town hall Friday to provide and update on the COVID-19 pandemic and what he's been doing to combat it, as well as hear from the public. "I want to hear your opinions and get your voices on these issues that are important during this pandemic and also to help you get answers about protecting your health, your safety, your finances, not just for yourself, but for your family, your friends, your loved ones," Daines said. Daines started with the latest dea… Continue Reading
04.18.20
Daines: Montana Meets Requirements to Begin Safely Reopening Economy
BOZEMAN - U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined Wake Up Montana Weekend live Saturday morning after being named to President Trump's bipartisan task force on safely reopening America. The senator tweeted out that he was honored to be selected by President Trump to serve on the historic task force to safely reopen America. Daines expressed that Montana has met the federal requirements to beginning phase one of safely reopening the economy, and that he looks forward to bringing the voice of Mon… Continue Reading
04.18.20
Daines announces $3.5 million for Montana law enforcement due to COVID-19
Montana U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced Saturday that nearly $3.5 million will be directed to the Montana Board of Crime Control. "This funding will play a critical role to ensure our law enforcement on the front lines have the resources they need to protect our communities during the coronavirus outbreak," Daines said in press release. The Department of Justice is providing the funding to ensure law enforcement across the country is prepared for any criminal activity that may occur follow… Continue Reading
04.18.20
Early rush for small business relief lowered demand in Montana as funds ran out
There are Montana businesses socked by the pandemic who are waiting on help from the now-exhausted Paycheck Protection Program, but the demand is thinning after a crush of early borrowing. There's a need for more than $100 million in loans to help Montana businesses keep workers on payroll, said Cary Hegreberg, Montana Bankers Association CEO. That estimate of remaining demand is a fraction compared to the $1.47 billion awarded to Montana businesses in the past two weeks. "These community bank… Continue Reading
04.18.20
WATCH: U.S. Senator Steve Daines live on Wake Up Montana
BOZEMAN - U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined Wake Up Montana Weekend live Saturday morning after being named to President Trump's bipartisan task force on safely reopening America.… Continue Reading
04.17.20
Montana COVID deaths climb to 8; Daines seeks funding for senior living facilities
Coronavirus claimed another Toole County resident on Thursday, bringing the number of deaths in Montana to eight while the number of cases across the state surpassed 415, including 35 in Missoula County. Toole County has a population of less than 5,000 people, though it accounts for half of the state's COVID-19 deaths. Missoula County has a population of 120,000 residents and has reported one death. "As we learn of the loss of another Montanan due to COVID-19, my heart aches for the community,… Continue Reading
04.17.20
Daines pleased to see business help from first round of stimulus funds
Sen. Steve Daines says it's been "nice for a change to see government move at the speed of business", with more than $1.4 billion flowing to Montana businesses to help with COVID-19 impacts. And he's confident Congress can reach agreement to provide another round of assistance, now that the original pot of money has been expended. New numbers from the Small Business Administration today show more than 13,456 loans have been approved for Montana businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program.… Continue Reading
04.16.20
Tavern's now qualify for COVID-19 aid
The members of Montana's congressional delegation have announced that most taverns have been added to businesses eligible for federal assistance in the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Montana taverns were not eligible because of the income they received from gaming machines, but the U.S. Small Business Administration has expanded eligibility for aid like the Paycheck Protection Program to include taverns that make one-third of their income from gambling will now qualify as long as the profit is less… Continue Reading
04.16.20
Daines chosen for White House Task Force on reopening country
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced he was chosen by President Trump to join a bipartisan White House Task Force to provide counsel to President Trump to safely reopen America in the wake of COVID-19. "I am honored to be selected by President Trump to serve on this historic task force to safely reopen America," Daines said. "We can prioritize our public health and our workers, families and small businesses. Let's get this done for Montana and America." One of Daines' top priorities durin… Continue Reading
04.16.20
Senators Seek Coronavirus Relief for Small Businesses That Were Shut Out of Loan Program
As Congress stands at an impasse over how to replenish funds for a now-depleted small business loan program, Sens. Steve Daines and Cory Booker are pushing for the next round of coronavirus aid to allocate money that would enable local communities to assist very small firms. Mr. Daines (R., Mont.) and Mr. Booker (D., N.J.) are working to finalize a measure, outlined broadly in a letter they sent Thursday to Senate leadership, that would give $50 billion to cities, counties and states for crea… Continue Reading
04.15.20
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 bec… Continue Reading
04.15.20
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 … Continue Reading
04.15.20
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 … Continue Reading
04.15.20
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 c… Continue Reading
04.14.20
Senator Daines surprises service members at airport with lunch
BOZEMAN - The Montana National Guard is at the Bozeman International Airport making sure nobody is coming through who is sick, but today they got an unexpected visitor. "We're screening passengers who are incoming making sure they're not bringing home any symptoms of COVID-19," said Drew Wajer, a technical sergeant with the Montana Air National Guard Keeping COVID-19 out of Montana is no easy task. The Montana National Guard has been hard at work since the beginning of April and today they had… Continue Reading
04.14.20
Lawmaker serves good eats, good news amid COVID-19 pandemic
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines has been bringing good news to Montanans every chance he gets. Amid disheartening stories surrounding the coronavirus across Montana, Sen. Daines brought catered lunch to the state's National Guard troops serving at the Bozeman airport. The meals, he stated, were an expression of appreciation for protecting Montana communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Montana's U.S. senator also shared two big National Guard announcements. "It's an honor to be here today to deliver… Continue Reading
04.14.20
Republican Senators Demand Answers From WHO For Its Role In China’s Coronavirus Coverup
Seven Republican senators are demanding answers from the World Health Organization surrounding its "role in helping the Chinese Communist Party cover up information regarding the threat of the Coronavirus." "Ahead of an anticipated congressional hearing, we write today to request information regarding the WHO's failed and delayed response to the Coronavirus," the senators wrote in a letter Tuesday addressed to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Information demanded from the senat… Continue Reading
