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Tag: Transportation and Infrastructure

Daines Leads St. Mary’s Milk River Project Roundtable with DOI Assistant Secretary, Local Officials, Community Members

July 13, 2020

CUT BANK, MT – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a roundtable discussion in Cut Bank with community members and top administration leaders on the St. Mary’s Milk River Project following a tour of the damaged drop sites 2 and 5. Daines has actively been working on a solution to fix the St. Mary Milk River Project to protect Montana jobs and the ag operations on the Hi-Line. Daines was joined by U.S Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Dr. Tim Petty, Phillips County Economic Growth Council Co-Chair, Marko Manoukian and Milk River Joint Board of

Daines Secures DOI Response on St. Mary’s Milk River Next Steps

July 8, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) has determined the Drop 2 and Drop 5 of the St. Mary’s River Project qualify as emergency work which will allow repairs to go forth with less strain on Montanans. This follows Daines’ request to Department of the Interior Secretary Bernhardt to make this decision expeditiously. “I’m glad the administration responded to the St. Mary’s Joint Board and my request to make this decision and do everything in their power to lessen the burden on water-users ,” Daines said. “The St. Mary’s Milk River Project is

Daines Secures $3 Million for Great Falls Transit District

July 1, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Federal Transit Administration will be directing $3 million to the Great Falls Transit District to support transit operating assistance and preventative maintenance during the COVID-19 health emergency.   “This critical funding will help support the transportation infrastructure needs of the Great Falls community and ensure our transit system in the city has the resources needed to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak,” Daines said. “I will continue working to support Montana infrastructure as we safely reopen the economy.” Daines fought to secure this funding through the CARES act which passed through

Daines Announces Over $35 Million in PILT Funds for Montana’s Small and Rural Counties

June 29, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) will be directing $35,166,221 in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to Montana’s small and rural counties. “PILT payments provide critical support to Montana’s rural counties,” Daines said. “I’ve worked hard to support the PILT program which provides critical resources for essential services like emergency response efforts and transportation in Montana’s rural counties. Given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, this funding is more important than ever.” The federal government directs PILT funds to local governments to offset the loss of property taxes from

Daines Urges Senate to Pass Bipartisan Bill to Restore St. Mary River Project

June 25, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee urging quick consideration and passage of his bipartisan St. Mary’s Reinvestment Act which would help to repair the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works system. “The St. Mary Milk River project has been coined the life-line of the Hi-Line, supplying up to 90% of water for the Milk River Basin during a dry year and providing food for over one million people,” Daines wrote. “Reliable water infrastructure is critical for rural economies, recreation, wildlife habitat, and irrigation. I ask for

Daines Leads Bipartisan Letter to Amtrak Opposing Job Cuts, Reduced Hours of Service

June 24, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a bipartisan letter to the President of Amtrak opposing their plans to terminate one out of every five employees, putting thousands out of work, and reducing the hours of operation of the National Network long distance trains. Daines stressed the need to protect these jobs and the local economy they support on the Hi-Line. “We are deeply concerned by the downsizing plan outlined in your supplemental funding request and believe it to be contrary to public interest. These cuts would not only dramatically reduce the utility of the nation’s passenger rail network,

Daines, Gianforte Urge DOI to Rapidly Respond to St. Mary’s River Project Amid Drop Five’s Failure

June 12, 2020

U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today sent a letter to the Department of the Interior’s Secretary Bernhardt urging him to continue to address and monitor the St. Mary’s Drop 2 and Drop 5 reconstruction projects.  “We are grateful for the Bureau of Reclamation’s responsiveness to this crisis, but would encourage you to continue monitoring reconstruction closely to ensure timely completion.” Daines and Gianforte wrote. “We would appreciate any help your office can lend to ensure we minimize the burden placed on stakeholders as we pursue reconstruction of Drop 2 and Drop 5 of the

Daines Announces Passage of Consent Decree for Superfund Cleanup of Butte Priority Soils

May 21, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines applauded last night’s passage of the historic Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (BPSOU) Consent Decree. This historic agreement presents a clear path forward to the final delisting of this Superfund site, closing this chapter of Butte’s history and spurring future economic growth.  “The Butte Superfund Site has languished for decades while the people of Butte have waited for comprehensive cleanup. It is due time this restoration gets done,” Daines said. “With today’s consent decree vote, we are one step closer to final clean-up and the ultimate delisting of this site. I will continue

Daines Secures Over $3 Million to Strengthen Montana Infrastructure, Community Development During Coronavirus Pandemic

May 6, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $3,325,357 will be directed to Montana through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to support housing needs and infrastructure development for Montana communities during the coronavirus outbreak “This critical funding is about strengthening Montana’s infrastructure and building our communities during the coronavirus pandemic,” Daines said. “I’m glad to have worked to secure these critical resources for our local and rural communities and I will continue fighting to ensure Montana’s needs are met during this crisis.” Daines fought to secure $5 billion for the CDBG in the Phase Three Coronavirus

Daines Secures Over $1.8 Million to Support Disabled Adults, MT Housing Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

April 28, 2020

U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $1,820,929 will be directed towards supporting disabled adults and Montana public housing during the Coronavirus pandemic.  “It is important we have the resources needed to support those with disabilities who are at a high risk for Coronavirus and to protect the health of Montanans in public housing during this pandemic,” Daines said. “I’m glad to have fought for these critical funds and I will continue working to ensure all Montanans have the resources needed as we work to overcome this crisis.” For more information on the funding, click HERE. Daines fought to