Daines Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Bipartisan Forestry Bill at Flathead National Forest
KALISPELL, MONTANA – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hosted a roundtable discussion with local Montana leaders, conservation groups, leaders in the timber industry, and fire officials on his bipartisan forest management reform bill at Flathead National Forest. Daines’ bipartisan bill will create good paying timber jobs, reduce frivolous litigation, protect air and water quality, and wildlife habitats, and reduce the risk of wildfire in at-risk communities. Daines’ bill is also critical during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic because wildfires could make conditions worse for Montanans with health risks and respiratory illnesses and wildland firefighters are at a greater risk than usual. To
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 Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act on Aug. 4. It has since picked up two
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 actively managing them. At the end of the day, we’re either going to manage our forest or the forest is
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 the program has helped them recover, after years of addiction and family trauma. Daines said he’s a big proponent of treatment courts which sometimes
Daines’ Bipartisan Bill to Support Families of Fallen First Responders Due to COVID-19 Signed By President Trump
U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that President Trump signed his bipartisan legislation that would guarantee benefits for families of any first responder who tragically dies from contracting COVID-19 while in the line of duty. “Our brave first responders need to know that their families will be supported if they contract COVID-19 while in the line of duty,” Daines said. “This bipartisan effort was about protecting those and their families who keep us all safe during these challenging times. I’m grateful to President Trump for signing this important bill into law.” Infectious diseases are considered line of duty deaths as
Daines Urges Administration to Improve Access to Vaccines for Montana Seniors
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma stressing the need to ensure Montana’s vulnerable, elderly, and disabled Medicare beneficiaries have the tools and treatments they need to stay healthy during the pandemic, including access to vaccines. “As the current COVID-19 pandemic rages on around the globe, researchers are racing to find a vaccine to protect and prevent further morbidity and mortality as a result of this novel virus. Older adults and persons with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are especially vulnerable
Daines Urges USPS to Investigate the Removal of Post Office Collection Boxes in Montana
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to investigate the removal of post office collection boxes in Montana and to express concerns about potential impacts on service times. “The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an essential service for Montanans in both urban and rural towns and is relied upon by Montana veterans, the elderly, and rural communities across the state,” Daines wrote. “Recently, I have received concerning reports that collection boxes have been removed in many Montana communities, including in Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, and Livingston and
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 them and the trust so it’s been really difficult with our group of people,” says Layla Eichler, First
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. “I think this is such a great investment in taxpayer dollars because we’re literally seeing men and women on paths to incarceration get into