Trump, Daines press for improved forest management to prevent wildfires
President Donald Trump is pushing better forest management as a big part of his plan to stop the number of large wildfires that have caused devastation in the western United States in recent years. In a speech at the White House this past week, the president touted an executive order signed last December promoting more active forest management. “You can’t have dirty floors. You can’t have fallen trees. After the first 17 months, they say a tree is like a piece of tinder,” said Trump, a Republican. Wildfires have gotten worse in recent years — burning up a large part
Daines, Gianforte Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Fix PILT for Montana Counties
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte yesterday introduced the bipartisan Small County Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Parity Act. “Far too often our rural communities are pushed aside and not given the resources they need,”Senator Daines said. “These PILT payments deliver critical services to folks in rural Montana, and I’m glad to introduce this important legislation to increase those resources in Montana’s small counties.” “In Montana, 55 of our 56 counties receive PILT funding. As the largest landowner in our state, the federal government must keep its commitment to our communities and make them whole,” Congressman Gianforte said. “The existing
Glacier Park International Airport Receives $5.7 Million for Terminal Expansion
Glacier Park International Airport has received $5.7 million in federal funds to help pay for its ongoing terminal expansion and the purchase of new firefighting equipment. The money was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program and comes on the heels of two other major FAA grants GPIA has received in recent years: a $7.5 million grant in 2017 and a $2 million grant in 2018. GPIA is currently in the midst of a three-year expansion project that will add about 40,000 square feet to the terminal area. “This grant is critical to Glacier Park International Airport’s capital
Daines Bill Set to Generate $6.6 Billion in Federal Revenue
U.S. SENATE– U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced his bill, the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act of 2019, will generate $6.6 Billion in federal revenue, according to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Tax, by restoring integrity back to the conservation program. “My bipartisan bill will protect this critical conservation tool by stopping abuse from bad actors,” Daines said. “The massive $6.6 billion revenue estimate shows that, despite previous IRS guidance, abuses have continued and it demonstrates the need to bring integrity back to this program so it can be used for years to come.” The bill limits qualifying conservations contributions,
Daines Secures Over $47 Million in Funding for Montana Airports
U.S. SENATE– U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $47,798,711 will be directed towards strengthening Montana’s air travel infrastructure. “It’s critical Montana has the best air travel infrastructure in the country,” Daines said. “These grants will lead to more jobs and development in Montana’s rural communities.” The funding is part of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) under the Department of Transportation. As a member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, Daines was instrumental in securing funding for the Airport Improvement Program. To read which airports the $47,798,711 will be distributed towards, please click HERE. Background: Daines has been active
Billings Logan International Airport to receive $1 million grant
BILLINGS – The Billings Logan International Airport will receive about $1 million of federal grant money to buy new aircraft rescue and fire equipment, as well as partially fund the upcoming terminal expansion project in 2019. “This grant will help us secure new equipment that will be good for the next decade or so,” said Billings Airport Director of Aviation and Transit Kevin Ploehn. This money will allow the Billings airport to purchase about $200,000 worth aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment. Ploehn said some of the current firefighting equipment has expiration dates that are about to be reached. The remaining $800,000 will
Daines Announces $188,717 for Telehealth Network in Bighorn County
U.S. SENATE– U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $188,717 will be directed towards the Bighorn Valley Health Center to create a new Telehealth network addressing substance abuse. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the agency’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. “A strong telehealth network is vital to Montana’s rural communities,” Daines said. “This grant will boost our investments in rural development and help to increase access to limited primary care, oral health care, behavioral health care and substance abuse treatment.” The program was reauthorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, which Daines fought for as the
HHS responds to Daines’ push to revoke pension of convicted pedophile doctor
Efforts by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) to revoke the government pension of a retired federal medical doctor convicted of sexually assaulting minors gained ground last week. The head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps assured Sen. Daines that his call for action against convicted pedophile Stanley Patrick Weber, a retired doctor with the U.S. Indian Health Service, was under consideration. “I’m glad to see HHS respond to my demand and take action in finding a way to prevent this convicted pedophile from receiving a dime of his government pension,”
2 Montana airports to share $9.7M in federal funds
Two Montana airports will share $9.7 million in federal funds, to help with airport expansion, terminal reconstruction, safety and aircraft parking. Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell will receive $3.5 million in federal funds to help it buy an airport rescue and firefighting vehicle, expand the commercial terminal apron for more airplane parking and help with design work for upcoming terminal expansion, an airport official said Wednesday. And $6,283,353 will be distributed to Missoula International Airport to help with construction of a new terminal. Sen. Steve Daines announced that $9.7 million in Airport Improvement Program funds, under the U.S. Department