Billings Gazette: A lot of Montana work has gone into lifting China beef ban
Cattle prices were losing value faster than autumn sheds daylight when the unexpected happened. China announced it was lifting its 13-year ban on U.S. beef. If you don’t think a cowboy or two cried with joy, think again. China is the second largest beef customer in the world. It’s expected to import 825,000 tons of beef this year. That’s the kind of shopper that could turn current prices around. “The beef industry has suffered huge losses in the last 12 to 14 months,” said Jim Peterson, who ranches near Buffalo. “There are a lot of ag producers in both cattle
The Western News: $750K to fund rail line at business park
The Kootenai Business Park is getting a boost. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines announced on Friday that $750,000 from the federal Economic Development Administration is being awarded to the 400-acre Kootenai Business Park, which is located south of town limits. The grant will be used to fund development of a railroad, according to a press release from Daines’ office. “The investment will support the creation of additional wood product manufacturing jobs in the distressed region of Lincoln County and will help the Lincoln County Port Authority to redevelop its defunct rail spur, which serves the business park,” the release states. “Completion
KULR: Alternative medicine for veterans
BILLNGS, Mont. –It’s a program for veterans to help heal their chronic pain without opioids. Those with the Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic say they’re committed to the cause, offering alternative therapy to help veterans live a more productive life. George Blackard was injured during active duty in 1988 and dealt with chronic back pain for years, until he was introduced to the hard working and caring staff at the clinic. Blackard says the treatment offered at the clinic has changed his life for the better. He tells us it’s programs like this that all veterans need to know about. He says
KTVQ: Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic helps veterans treat pain through alternative medicine
BILLINGS – Service members, both active duty and veterans, have a lot to deal with upon returning home. Many come back with chronic pain, PTSD and lasting injuries. To cope, veterans are often prescribed a number of different medications, but in some cases, those medications end up causing more problems. On Friday, Senator Steve Daines visited the Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic, where doctors have been working on a program to provide veterans with alternatives to medication. Instead, the clinic uses methods like chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, massage and exercises to help alleviate chronic pain and ongoing pain from injury. Currently, some chiropractic and acupuncture services are covered
Daines Announces $750,000 for Kootenai Rail Development
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $750,000 in funding for the Kootenai Business Park in Libby. “Through these additional funds Lincoln County will be able to create and save good-paying Montana jobs,” Daines stated. “The Kootenai Rail Development Project will invigorate the region and be a boon for local business.” Daines authored a letter of support for this project on April 21, 2016 to the Economic Development Administration (EDA), “Completion of the new rail spur will reassure current businesses in the Kootenai Business Park that economic rail transportation will be available to them, and is considered vital to attract new businesses with good-paying jobs.” This EDA
Tester, Daines Fight for Montana Counties on Capitol Hill
(U.S. Senate) – Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are calling on Congress to support Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) which are critical to helping Montana counties balance their budgets. If Congress doesn’t act before the end of the year, PILT payments will run dry. PILT supported 55 Montana counties last year to the tune of $30 million. Additionally, SRS expired September 30, 2015 and counties have been waiting for nearly a year for Congress to reauthorize this critical initiative. SRS provided $18 million to more than half of Montana’s counties last year.
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Joan Eliel of Broadwater County
BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Joan Eliel, Investigator/Program Specialist with the Montana Department of Justice for receiving one of three 2016 Outstanding Crime Victim Advocate of the Year Awards. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form
Daines Leads 29 Senators Urging President Obama to Refrain From ‘No First Use’ Nuclear Weapons Policy
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today led 29 Senators in urging President Obama to refrain from implementing the dangerous and irresponsible ‘no first use’ nuclear weapons policy. In a letter to President Barack Obama, the Senators underscore the strategic importance of the nuclear arsenal to domestic safety and geopolitical strength. “While no American wishes to employ nuclear weapons in conflict, establishing a no first use policy would weaken the nation’s security and make the world less safe by crippling America’s nuclear deterrence posture—a stabilizing agent for the cause of peace across decades—and further incentivize allies and enemies alike to develop nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction and
Daines: Chinese Market Opens to Montana Beef
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today welcomed news that China would be ending the ban on U.S. beef that began in 2003: “This is game-changing news for Montana ranchers,” Daines stated. “The beef market is critical to Montana jobs and the economy. With over 95% of the world’s consumers living outside the US, opening markets abroad for Montana agricultural exports is essential. Having the ability to access a new market, especially one as large and significant as China, will help keep Montana in business where there are two times as many cattle as people. I was recently in China and repeatedly raised this