Press
Daines Urges Approval and Production of Antibody Tests in Fight Against COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to Vice President Pence urging the White House Coronavirus Task Force to continue prioritizing the deployment of widespread diagnostic tests and accelerating the approval and production of antibody tests, which can help play a critical role in the fight against COVID-19. "I would encourage the FDA to continue utilizing all available resources and expertise to be able to quickly move forward with approving additional antibody tests to ensure … Continue Reading
04.15.20
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 dire… Continue Reading
04.15.20
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… Continue Reading
04.14.20
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 coronavir… Continue Reading
04.14.20
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 … Continue Reading
04.14.20
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 fron… Continue Reading
04.14.20
Daines: Montana National Guard Members Should Get Hazardous Pay for Responding to Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to grant Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay to the Montana National Guard who have been activated to support the nation's response to COVID-19. "As of today, 127 members of the Montana National Guard are on duty screening people who could potentially carry COVID-19," Daines wrote. "These citizen-soldiers are jeopardizing their own health and safety to keep us safe…I hope you will support my request to… Continue Reading
04.14.20
Daines Secures Over $10 Million for Montana Child Care Providers During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be directing $10,113,887 to support Montana child care providers during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. "It is critical we have the funding necessary to support Montana working families who rely on child care services during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic," Daines said. "This critical funding strengthens our access to child care and supports our child care providers during this… Continue Reading
04.13.20
Daines Urges Support for Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a group of bipartisan senators and sent a letter to Senate Leadership requesting that any future legislation to address COVID-19 includes support for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. "We appreciate that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $45 million for domestic violence services funded through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and $2 million for the National D… Continue Reading
04.13.20
Daines to POTUS: Break China Dependence, Bring Back Drug Manufacturing, Jobs to America
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to President Trump urging him to end the U.S. government's reliance on medical supplies and equipment from China and bring back drug manufacturing jobs to America in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear how relying upon China for medicine or essential medical equipment and components is detrimental to our national security and endangers public health," Daines wrote. "It is critically important to ensure th… Continue Reading
04.10.20
Daines Announces $31,412,577 in Coronavirus Care Packages for Montana Colleges and Students
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senator Steve Daines today 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 disrupte… Continue Reading
04.10.20
Daines Secures Over $400,000 in Funding For the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation to Respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $411,135 will go to the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation to improve the capacity of Montana's health care system to plan for and respond to medical surge events during the coronavirus public health emergency. "Montana hospitals need the resources and funding necessary to help protect public health during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic," Daines said. "I fought to secure this critical funding to ensure our hospitals ha… Continue Reading
04.10.20
Daines Secures Over $100 Million in Funding for Montana Hospitals and Providers from HHS During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be providing $111,503,248 for Montana hospitals and providers during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, a portion of this funding will go towards covering costs of uninsured patients for coronavirus related care. "This is about ensuring we have the critical resources needed to provide our hospitals and healthcare professionals on the front lines the tools they need to … Continue Reading
04.08.20
Daines Successfully Pushes for MT Ag Producers to be Eligible for Coronavirus Small Business Loans
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana's farmers and ranchers will be eligible for the Paycheck Protections Program (PPP), which provides $350 billion in loans and grants to small businesses impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic if they maintain or rehire their employees. This announcement follows Daines' push to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure ag businesses are eligible for Coronavirus relief loans. "Montana farmers and ranchers are facing tough ch… Continue Reading
04.08.20
Daines Secures Expanded Telehealth Services for Indian Country During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Indian Health Service (IHS) will be expanding telehealth services across IHS federal facilities for tribal members. This follows Daines' request to President Trump to include funding for IHS, including for telehealth, so that Montana tribes have the same treatment as their non-tribal entities during the Coronavirus pandemic. "Expanding tele-health services in Indian country is critical to getting folks access to care during the Cor… Continue Reading
04.07.20
Daines Secures over $12 Million for Health Centers and Workforce Expansion in Montana During the Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $12,181,409 will be directed to various health centers and workforce expansion across Montana to help the state respond to the Coronavirus pandemic, including $616,070 to Marias Healthcare Services in Shelby, one of the hardest hit Coronavirus spots in Montana. "This is about getting our health care professionals on the front lines the resources they need to combat the Coronavirus pandemic," Daines said. "I fought to ensure our health … Continue Reading
04.06.20
Daines: Montanans are Eligible to Receive Expanded Unemployment for Coronavirus This Week
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montanans will be eligible, as soon as this week to receive expanded unemployment benefits made possible through the Coronavirus Economic Recovery package. Daines led the fight in the U.S. Senate to expand federal unemployment insurance for Montana workers who lost their job due to COVID-19. "This is about getting Montana workers who lost their job because of the Coronavirus pandemic the relief they need to help pay the bills and put f… Continue Reading
04.06.20
Daines Calls On State Department to Investigate China’s Role in Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to work with our allies around the world and fully investigate China's response to the emergence of the virus causing COVID-19. "As you are well aware, China's initial response to reports of an atypical pneumonia being detected by medical personnel in Hubei province in late 2019 were ham-fisted with government officials hiding cases, punishing doctors who dared to speak-up, and resulted in del… Continue Reading
04.03.20
Daines Urges HHS, CMS to Protect Montana Medicare Beneficiaries During the Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE -U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to Secretary Azar and Administrator Verma encouraging both the U.S Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to consider solutions to protect Medicare beneficiaries and ensure they receive the care they need in the safest possible setting during the COVID-19 public health emergency. "As we seek additional options for protecting the lives of those most negatively affected by the pandemic… Continue Reading
04.03.20
Daines Urges Forest Service to Provide Relief to Outdoor Recreation Industry Impacted by Coronavirus
U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen to provide immediate relief to folks in the outdoor recreation industry amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. "As the Forest Service continues enacting measures in response to the COVID-19 National Emergency, I request you also exercise appropriate authorities to provide immediate relief to guides, outfitters, and the outdoor industry, that now face uncertainty and economic hardship due to a shortened se… Continue Reading
