Groundbreaking ceremony held for new V.A. clinic in Missoula
MISSOULA — A crowd gathered on Friday to celebrate the start of construction on the new David J. Thatcher Veterans Affairs clinic. The event brought together Montana’s U.S. senators, veterans, the Salish-Kootenai tribe and more. The facility will be 60,000 square feet, covering eight acres. That’s about a 40,000 square foot increase from the current clinic. The $48 million dollar clinic is named after Montana veteran, David J. Thatcher, who received the silver star for his service in the Doolittle Raid. The facility will have tele-medicine technology. Health care professionals will be able to treat patients virtually, who are unable
Groundbreaking on VA’s new Missoula clinic one step closer to “the care vets deserve”
Service veterans across western Montana will say goodbye to the cramped confines of the Department of Veterans Affairs current Missoula medical clinic next winter when a new integrated care center opens on West Broadway. VA officials joined veterans, Native Americans and members of Montana’s congressional delegation on Friday to break ground on that new $31 million facility, which will double the size of the antiquated clinic off Palmer Street. “Today marks our first next step forward for Montana veterans, both those with us today and future veterans,” said Dr. Judy Hayman, director of the VA Montana Healthcare System. “This new
Groundbreaking ceremony set for new VA clinic in Missoula
MISSOULA, Mont. — A groundbreaking ceremony will take place Friday, for the new Missoula Veterans’ Affairs Clinic. The Community-Based Outpatient Clinic will be built on a vacant lot at Mary Jane Boulevard and West Broadway. It received federal funding in the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017. Both U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester will attend the groundbreaking. The CBOC will have an estimated 52,557 energy efficient net usable square feet and serve approximately 47,000 area veterans with Primary Care, Mental Health, and Specialty Care services. The following was sent out by U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs:
Daines: We Must Ban Funding for Cities, States that Allow Anarchy in the Streets
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sponsored the Ending Taxpayer Funding of Anarchy Act which would restrict federal funding to cities and states that allow “anarchist jurisdictions” when local or city governments give up their duty to protect its citizens from non-governmental actors and protestors and no longer provide police, fire, or emergency medical services. “We cannot let mob rule dominate our cities and communities. Our tax dollars should go towards restoring public safety, not enabling chaos and destruction,” Daines said. This legislation follows the shooting and killing of a 16 year old minor in the Seattle anarchist jurisdiction, called
Daines to Air Force Secretary Barrett: Come to Montana
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged United States Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett to visit Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard in Great Falls to discuss Montana’s defense priorities and the work Malmstrom Air Force Base is contributing to our national security. “Considering your visit was canceled due to the pandemic, I would like to invite you to Montana again to observe the outstanding work of the men and women of the Montana Air National Guard and Malmstrom AFB,” Daines wrote. “We would love the opportunity to show you the unsurpassed airspace Great
Daines Statement on Helena Cutting Law Enforcement Budget
HELENA, MT – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement ahead of the Helena City Commission’s work session to cut $300,000 from the Helena Police Department’s personnel budget and remove School Resource Officers (SROs) from all school campuses. To download the full video, click HERE. “I’m deeply troubled by efforts to defund local police departments and strip vital school safety resources like SROs from our schools. These divisive actions take us further away from real reform and jeopardize the safety of both officers and the communities they serve,” Daines said. “Cutting resources at a time when law enforcement is
BOR declares emergency funding for St. Mary Diversion repairs
With repairs ongoing on parts of the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works that supplies much of the water in the Milk River, the water users found out they are getting a break on the repairs. Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., announced Wednesday that U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees operation of the system, has determined the repairs qualify as emergency work, reducing the cost to the users. Tester and Daines each had sent letters requesting the designation. The system is part of the Milk River Project irrigation system and normally has 75 percent of the cost
Daines Secures DOI Response on St. Mary’s Milk River Next Steps
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 introduces bill to provide federal emergency relief for nation’s nursing homes
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on July 2 introduced legislation that would provide nursing homes with resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and would reauthorize funding for programs under the Elder Justice Act of 2009. “This bill is critical to ensuring that our senior care facilities have the resources necessary to continue serving and keeping Montana’s seniors safe especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sen. Daines. The Emergency Support for Nursing Homes and Elder Justice Reform Act of 2020, S. 4182, introduced by Sen. Daines along with U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Martha McSally (R-AZ), would provide