In The News

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) — Montana‘s congressional delegation wants an independent investigation of the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The Montana Standard reports Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte outlined their concerns about what they termed “alleged misconduct” within the agency in a jointly signed letter to the Inspector General of the United States Department of Agriculture. The delegation is seeking an investigation of the way the agency has treated Montana meat plants from the Inspector General’s office. The Inspector General is tasked with promoting “economy, efficiency, and integrity in U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and

Two U.S. senators are proposing to reauthorize a grant program in the 2018 Farm Bill that compensates landowners who open their property to public access. Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced legislation Monday to renew the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, which was met with cheers from sportsmen’s groups. Steve Kline, director of government relations for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership in Washington, D.C., said the VPA-HIP is the only federal program aimed at enhancing access to private lands for hunters and anglers. “One of the reasons people stop hunting and fishing is lack of

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The U.S. Senate has approved measures to protect a creek that flows through south-central Montana and to rename a peak in the southwestern portion of the state. The bills approved Wednesday had backing from Montana’s two U.S. senators — Democrat Jon Tester and Republican Steve Daines. The East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would designate a 20-mile stretch of East Rosebud Creek as part of the National Wild and Scenic River System. The designation preserves rivers as free-flowing and prevents development. The Alex Diekmann Peak Designation Act names a peak in the Madison range after

Senator Steve Daines has called Montana high school student Gabriel Jourdonnais to congratulate him on his offer to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. He also received nominations to the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. Jourdonnais is currently a student at Big Sky High School. “Jourdonnais possesses the highest ideals of Montana’s character and work ethic. I know he has great potential as a leader in our nation’s military,” Daines said. “I look forward to continuing to watch Jourdonnais as he represents Montana in his future endeavors.” Jourdonnais is also president at Big Sky High School, School

American Airlines will begin daily direct flights to Dallas and seasonal direct daily flights to Chicago from Missoula in June, the Missoula International Airport announced Monday. Both flights will begin June 7, with customers already able to book tickets, airport director Cris Jensen said. The Chicago flight will run through Aug. 20. “I think in terms of air services it’s a big step for the community,” Jensen said. James Grunke, chief executive officer of the Missoula Economic Partnership, said the new American service was brought together in part by Missoula being able to provide a revenue guarantee for the airline

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., this week questioned General Richard Myers, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for President George W. Bush, about threats to Montana’s farmers and ranchers and U.S. agriculture infrastructure and food supply. Background: •  Research from Rocky Mountain Research Lab, the state of the art biomedical research facility in Hamilton, Montana, has helped the country fight zoonotic diseases and has conducted substantial research into developing an Ebola vaccine.  •  Montana has 28,000 farms and ranches. •  Agriculture is a $4.2 billion industry in Montana and the number one economic driver in the state.

Today U.S. Senator Steve Daines questioned general Richard Myer, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff for President George W. Bush about possible threats to Montana farmers, and the infrastructure of our food supply. The senator explained how many midwestern states economies rely heavily on the agriculture industry. For Montana it’s the biggest economic power, bringing in 4.2 billion dollars a year. Daines asked how the United States would fend off man-made attacks on our agriculture industry; here is the general’s response. “Just the intelligence piece of it. Knowing what’s out there, knowing what could come this way,

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after bipartisan legislation he co-sponsored, the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act, passed out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “I am committed to ensuring that tribal members’ public safety needs are met,” said Daines. “The SURVIVE Act will provide victims with greater access to the resources and support they need to heal.” The SURVIVE Act will increase needed tribal victim assistance by creating a tribal grant program within the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime. The bill requires a five percent allocation from the Crime