Havre Daily News: Little Shell recognition moves forward in Congress
The Little Shell Band of Chippewa Cree Indians won a key victory Thursday in their longtime effort to become a federally recognized tribe. The Little Shell Tribe of the Chippewa Cree Restoration Act of 2015, introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont ., would grant the Montana tribe federal recognition. It passed through the House Committee on Natural Resources Thursday. The same legislation passed the Senate Indian Affairs Committee last year. “I am fairly happy with today’s outcome, and I am happy that we were able to move it forward in a significant manner,” Zinke said during a telephone press conference. The legislation is part
Daines Announces Funding for Veteran Horse Therapy Program in Billings
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – United States Senator Steve Daines today announced that Horses Spirits Healing, Inc., based in Billings, received funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help assist veterans and improve the ability of returning service members to integrate back into their communities. The funding is part of the VA Adaptive Sports Program for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces. Daines wrote a letter of support for the grant which is available to read here. The funds will cover 700 session hours for veterans. “When the men and women return from their service to their communities
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today recognized Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel. Thanks to Sheriff Rummel’s initiative and hard work, Montanans affected by the Copper King Fire have been kept safe and up to speed on the latest fire activity. 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
Billings Gazette: Zinke bill to end coal leasing ban, add community input, advances
A bill to overturn a temporary ban on federal coal leases — while also giving state and local governments a bigger say in leasing — was approved Thursday by the House Natural Resources Committee. Western lawmakers have been demanding for months that federal officials end the coal-leasing ban, which Department of Interior officials imposed last spring while they tried to determine whether the public is getting a fair royalty payment on federal coal. U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., authored the bill, which added a twist to the leasing ban debate by creating a royalty policy committee from which state, tribal and energy
Great Falls Tribune: Mont. Indian tribe closer to recognition by federal govt
WASHINGTON – A House panel approved legislation Thursday that would grant Montana’s Little Shell Tribe recognition by the federal government. The House Committee on Natural Resources voted 23-13 to approve legislation that includes the Little Shell federal recognition bill, bringing the tribe headquartered in Great Falls one step closer to receiving the designation it has spent more than 35 years trying to obtain. The Little Shell recognition was introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont. If the legislation is eventually signed into law, the Little Shell would become the last tribe in Montana to be federally recognized. Instead of being an
Montana Delegation Formally Requests Hearing to Name Peak in Alex Diekmann’s Honor
U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke today worked to move their bill to honor the life of renowned Montana conservationist, Alex Diekmann by naming an unnamed peak in his memory through the legislative process. The delegation wrote to the leaders of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources urging them to hold a legislative hearing on their bill. “We respectfully request that S. 3192 and H.R. 5778, the Alex Diekmann Peak Designation Act of 2016, be included in a legislative hearing before your respective Committees
KLYQ: Hamilton’s Community Health Clinic Receives More Funds
The Bitterroot Valley’s Sapphire Community Health Clinic has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding was announced by U.S. Senator Steve Daines of Montana this week. The funding is part of over a million dollars awarded to 17 Montana community health centers. Other centers included facilities in Billings, Livingston, Chinook, Miles City, Shelby and Hardin. The Sapphire health center is at 303 North 3rd Street in Hamilton and has recently added mental health services. They also offer many medical services including: acute care for minor illnesses and injuries, urgent care, DOT
Great Falls Tribune: Shelby to get funds for Amtrak improvements
The Amtrak stop in Shelby will get $953,954 from the Federal Railroad Administration for safety improvements, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., announced Wednesday. This project will upgrade two pedestrian and motor vehicle crossings in Shelby, by extending the existing Amtrak platform and installing fencing, signage, two quadrant gates and a wayside horn advance warning systems. The project is located along Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway’s east-west mainline with 45 to 50 BNSF freight trains and two Amtrak trains — the Empire Builder — operating through Shelby. “Improving the safety and reliability of Montana’s rail network is critical to connecting people
Daines Announces $200,000 to Improve Healthcare in Lewistown
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $200,000.00 in funding for Central Montana Medical Facilities, Inc. to improve healthcare services in Lewistown. “I want to congratulate Central Montana Medical Center on earning this funding for their delivery of quality healthcare,” Daines stated. “This funding will help them to continue to improve as one of the top Critical Access Hospitals not only in Montana, but the nation.” The Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program provides three years of funding support to rural primary care providers for implementation of quality improvement activities. The program is administered by the Health Resources and