President Trump Signs Daines’ Bill Protecting GI Education Benefits During Coronavirus Outbreak
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that President Trump signed his bipartisan bill, the Emergency GI Fix for Coronavirus School Closures, into law. This legislation will stop veterans, and those who depend on them, from losing GI Bill education benefits during the Coronavirus outbreak. “During these times of uncertainty, veterans shouldn’t have to worry about losing their GI benefits. I’m glad that Congress came together to pass this important bill,” Daines said. This law authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which oversees the disbursing of the GI Bill, to keep students at their current benefit levels even
Officials working to bringing home Montanans stuck abroad
After Isacc Sturgeon was able to return to the U.S. from being stuck in Morocco, officials are now working to get Butte Pastor Mark Arbaugh and three Montana Tech students out of Peru along with Necia Erickson of Bozeman out of Cusco. A release from Senator Steve Daines’ office says Sturgeon was stuck in Morocco and trying to get back home to his family when Daines was able to secure his return to the U.S. “I’m so glad to have helped Isaac return to the U.S. from being stuck abroad during this time,” Daines said in the release. “I wish Isaac
Daines Urges President Trump to Prioritize Public Health, Montana Businesses During Northern Border Travel Restrictions
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged President Trump to prioritize the shipment of essential goods such as medical supplies, agricultural commodities, and energy, which will help local Montana businesses and border communities, during ongoing negotiations with Canada over travel restrictions in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Daines also emphasized the importance of ensuring that local communities and businesses are kept informed when exemptions are granted or restrictions considered. “These exemptions will undoubtedly evolve as the pandemic progresses, but we believe that some level of certainty regarding what businesses and individuals will be exempt from future actions is
Montana senators pushing bill to support cattle prices
Ranch state senators are pushing to prop up cattle prices in response to an expected crash in the beef economy. A bill emerging Friday morning sets minimum pricing for cattle sold in 2020. The response comes as restaurants around the country close under local and state government orders in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s the restaurant industry that buys the majority of U.S. beef graded “prime” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When those top-end sales don’t occur, the value of cattle drop considerably. “These are challenging and unprecedented times, and it is critical
Daines Secures Meritorious Unit Commendation for Montana Army National Guard Unit
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Montana Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions in 2014. “I am glad to have finally secured this long overdue recognition for the over 200 Montanans serving in the 189th Aviation Regiment of the Montana Army National Guard,” Daines said. “The 189th Aviation Regiment was recommended for this commendation for actions in 2014 while serving in Kuwait. I am honored I could work on behalf of our fighting men and women to get them the recognition they earned.” Background: In April of
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Extend the Tax Filing Deadline, Provide Additional Relief For Montanans
U.S. Senate – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the bipartisan Tax Filing Relief for America Act to extend the tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Daines’ bill would provide additional relief to Montanans during the Coronavirus outbreak. “Hardworking Montanans shouldn’t have to worry about meeting a deadline for filing their taxes when we’re in the middle of a public health and economic crisis. This will give some extra time so Montanans can focus on what they need to do to protect their health and finances.” This legislation would provide greater clarity to taxpayers and
Lawmakers push to extend tax filing season to July 15
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., has proposed giving taxpayers until July 15 to submit their 2019 income tax returns – 90 days from the original April 15 due date. The Tax Filing Relief for America Act, which Senators Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Angus King, I-Maine, are joining Thune in introducing, aims to have the filing deadline coincide with the new July 15 deadline for taxpayers to pay the IRS taxes owed for 2019. Senators Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., are co-sponsors. Earlier this week, the Treasury Department announced it would give taxpayers more time to pay what they owed, due
Daines Calls On DOJ to Investigate Price-Fixing, Market Manipulation Within Cattle Market and Meatpacking Industry
U.S. SENATE – Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the ongoing allegations of price-fixing and market manipulation within the cattle market and the beef meatpacking industry. “At a time when cattle producers are seeing record losses and bankruptcies, now exacerbated by the COVID-19, compared to the shelf price of meat at record highs – these margins fail to make sense. We ask that the Department of Justice Antitrust Division evaluate these dual concerns thoroughly and expeditiously in order to protect the integrity of America’s failing beef industry,” Daines wrote.
Daines Votes for Coronavirus Relief Bill
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted for a Coronavirus relief bill which requires free testing for the Coronavirus, ensures paid and sick family leave for Montana’s families and workers and provides emergency nutritional assistance for seniors, women, children and low income families. This bill, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, is Phase Two of Congress’ response to the Coronavirus outbreak. “My top priority is protecting the health and finances for Montanans during the Coronavirus outbreak,” Daines said. “This bill ensures Montana families don’t have to choose between their health and a paycheck, waives costs for testing and