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(MTN NEWS-HELENA) U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) unveiled new legislation to help wildland firefighters and praised the selection of Rep. Ryan Zinke as the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior during a visit to Helena Thursday. Federal firefighters are entitled to retirement after 20 years because of the hazardous nature of their work. But if they get hurt and can’t return to a firefighting job, they’re currently forced to switch to a 30-year retirement track, like other federal workers.  Daines has introduced a bill that would let firefighters injured on the job remain on the 20-year track. It would also

(MTN NEWS-HELENA) State and municipal leaders came together Thursday afternoon to honor Lewis & Clark County Undersheriff Dave Rau, who is retiring after 20 years of service.  The Sheriff’s office organized a surprise ceremony at the county search and rescue building to recognize Rau. U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Montana Attorney General Tim Fox were among those who spoke at the event.  Rau’s family, including his wife and one of his children, were in attendance. More than a dozen deputies, including an honor guard, took part in the ceremony. Daines shared a speech he will enter into the Congressional Record

GREAT FALLS – Senator Steve Daines spent the past week visiting communities around Montana, wrapping up the 56 county tour Thursday in Chester. The senator says the tour gave him important feedback on key issues facing Montanans, including natural resource development creating more jobs along with issues farmers and ranchers are facing.     Daines says the top concern was the future of agriculture, the state’s top industry. “We have a big state, it’s a great state, and it’s the best part of my job is having a chance to sit down and have a cup of coffee with a lot of

Senator Steve Daines took a trip back in time while talking to the future. Daines visited first graders at his old elementary school which he attended in the 60s.  “I remember when I was walking these halls, I wanted to be a fireman or a farmer, and you remember the impact your teachers have. I remember my first-grade teacher here at Longfellow was Mrs. Hahn,” Daines said. He answered questions ranging from his job to his birthday and then the students presented him with a piece of handmade artwork. “We just thought it would be fun for him to have something

Calling the current system “unfair,” U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is proposing legislation reforming retirement and workers compensation payments for federal wildland firefighters and law enforcement injured on the job. The current retirement system allows firefighters working in hazardous conditions retirement after 20 years. However, if they are injured on the job and reassigned to a nonhazardous role, they are subject to a 30-year retirement track. Overtime and bonuses are not factored into workers compensation payments, meaning an injured firefighter receives only a percentage of base pay. The base is typically only a fraction of firefighters’ annual earnings as overtime pay

GREAT FALLS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines visited the Great Falls Rescue Mission’s Cameron Family Center on Thursday. The facility opened last month. Montana’s U.S. Senators Daines and Jon Tester have supported the New Markets Tax Credits Program since its start in 2000, which helped fund the Cameron Family Center through the Montana & Idaho Community Development Corporation.  The MICDC is a non-profit consulting agency; since 2009, the organization has provided more than $300 million in tax credits and has funded 26 projects in Montana and Idaho. MICDC representatives Rachel Golden and Ben Wright say the organization brought in around $1 million dollars of

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, has announced the allocation of over $1 million in grant money to Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to aid diabetes treatment and prevention efforts on the Flathead Indian Reservation. “Diabetes sadly plagues many in Montana’s Native communities, and through this funding the CSKT can continue to improve care for tribal members living with this disease,” Daines said in a press release issued on Dec. 9. Native Americans have the highest rate of Type 2, or adult onset, diabetes in the country, the release states. The $1,040,808-grant will come as part of the Special Diabetes Program