News

Chabad.org: U.S. Senator From Montana Calls ‘Champion Child’ Zeesy Bruk ‘Courageous’

It’s been just weeks since Zeesy Bruk was appointed the 2016 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion Child from the state of Montana. Yet already, the 5-year-old child of Rabbi Chaim and Chavie Bruk, co-directors of Chabad-Lubavitch of Montana, has been hailed by fans near and far, including U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who released a video statement in which he called her a “very special” and “very courageous” little girl. Since birth, Zeesy has battled a rare genetic metabolic disorder characterized by the deficiency of a protein required for glucose to cross the blood-brain barrier, something that was only recently diagnosed and is now

Great Falls Tribune: Lawmakers push AF to expedite new helicopter

Members of the Montana congressional delegation are pressing the Air Force to make a decision regarding the planned replacement of the UH-1N Hueys flown at missile bases, including Malmstrom Air Force Base. Last week, Rep. Ryan Zinke sent a letter, with 14 other lawmakers, to the House Armed Services Committee and House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee requesting that funds be included in the fiscal year 2017 defense appropriations and authorization bills to replace the Hueys. The Hueys at Malmstrom are flown by the 40th Helicopter Squadron, which is part of Air Force Global Strike’s 582nd Helicopter Group. The group includes the

KLYQ: Caitlin Gillespie is Appointed to Air Force Academy

Hamilton’s Caitlin Gillespie has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy. She had been nominated by all three Montana Congressmen earlier. Caitlin, a senior at Hamilton High School, already has completed her first solo flight as a pilot (see photo) and will continue to head to the sky with classes at the academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She has been captain of track and basketball teams, is an honor student and is a delegate to American Legion’s Girls State. Senator Steve Daines said in a news release, “I was proud to personally congratulate Caitlin on her appointment to the

Tester and Daines’ East Rosebud bill receives Senate hearing

Bipartisan legislation will preserve the free-flowing condition of the East Rosebud Creek  (U.S. Senate)—Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines’ bill to designate the East Rosebud Creek as Wild and Scenic received a hearing today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks.  Tester and Daines’ bill was built through on-the-ground collaboration and will preserve the free-flowing condition of East Rosebud Creek under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.  When S. 1577 becomes law, it will be the first Wild and Scenic designation in Montana in 40 years. “This legislation proves that on-the-ground collaboration works,” Tester said.  “Preserving

Montana Congressional Delegation Congratulates Caitlin Gillespie on U.S. Air Force Academy Appointment

U.S. CONGRESS – Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Representative Ryan Zinke congratulated Hamilton High School student Caitlin Gillespie on her appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Gillespie was nominated to the academy by the entire Montana Congressional delegation. Gillespie is a senior at Hamilton High School and was captain of both her Track & Field and Basketball teams, and is a proud member of her State Champion Class A Basketball Team. She is on the Honor Roll, homecoming royalty and is a delegate for the American Legion’s Girl’s All State. Gillespie has also accomplished her first solo

Tester, Daines Legislation Honoring Montana’s Medal of Honor Recipients Passes Senate

Senators’ bill will rename Reserve Center in Great Falls (U.S. SENATE) – Earlier today, the Senate passed Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines’ legislation to rename the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Great Falls to the “Captain John E. Moran and Captain Willian Wylie Galt Armed Forces Reserve Center.” Tester and Daines introduced this legislation last year to honor Captain Moran and Captain Galt, the only two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from Montana.  “Both our state and our nation owe a huge debt of gratitude to Captain Galt and Captain Moran,” Tester said. “Their courage and commitment to the ideals of

Daines Secures Necessary Reforms to Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization

U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today secured important provisions to improve Montana air travel for passengers, pilots and the aviation industry.  During today’s Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation mark-up on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016, Daines fought to secure important provisions for Montana.  “It’s important that Montanans have reliable, safe and affordable access to air travel,” Daines stated. “This is a step in the right direction in securing our skyways by prioritizing necessary infrastructure improvements for our airports. ” Daines secured the following provisions in the FAA reauthorization: Maintains Essential Air Service (EAS) serving seven Montana communities.

Sidney Herald: Amtrak eyes Culbertson stop

Oil and gas may be in a downturn, but communities in the area continue to make positive strides forward when it comes to regional development and infrastructure. One of those strides could include a new Amtrak stop in Culbertson. Amtrak officials have confirmed they have been evaluating the neighboring community for a stop for about three years now. “We know that it makes business sense to stop at Culbertson,” said Marc Magliari, a spokesman with Amtrak. “There’s a long distance between Wolf Point and Williston. Where we are now is talking with Culbertson about where the stop would be. It

National Journal: Congress Chips Away at Net Neutrality as Court Decision Looms

Law­makers are push­ing ahead with two bills that would tweak cer­tain parts of the Fed­er­al Com­mu­nic­a­tions Com­mis­sion’s con­tro­ver­sial net-neut­ral­ity rules—the sig­na­ture In­ter­net-policy achieve­ment of the Obama ad­min­is­tra­tion. But even as Re­pub­lic­ans try to chip away at the sweep­ing In­ter­net reg­u­la­tions, the real at­ten­tion re­mains fixed on the D.C. Cir­cuit Court of Ap­peals, which is ex­pec­ted to soon rule on the broad­band in­dustry’s law­suit against the FCC. As long as a Demo­crat is in the White House, the courts pose the only real threat to the reg­u­la­tions, which re­quire that In­ter­net traffic be treated equally. Demo­crats con­sider the rules cru­cial for