In The News

KALISPELL, Mont. — Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember Americans who died in active duty in the military, but one group in the Flathead does that year-round. Residents of the Lighthouse Christian Home participate in the Shining Honor Project, which gives jobs to developmentally challenged adults. Their job is to keep veterans’ gravesites clean and tidy at Glacier Memorial Gardens and Whitefish City Cemetery. “It’s a great way to get Memorial Day headstones ready for this important day,” U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) said. “It’s a day of remembrance, and to have these Montanans who have developmental challenge

BILLINGS- Agriculture and business are the reasons the U.S. Customs and Border Protection decided to not cut hours at ports entries on Montana’s northern border, U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte and Sen. Steve Daines announced jointly Friday. In February, the CBP announced it was decreasing hours that ports would be open. However, after meetings with U.S. citizens living along the border, the agency will hold pat with its original schedule, according to a news release from Daines and Gianforte, both Montana Republicans. The Port of Raymond will be open 24 hours. Ports in Morgan, Opheim and Scobey will be open from 9

Those who jump from planes, provide initial attack deep in the forest or staff an engine line all have a common set of issues related to their federal job classification, which mentions nothing about being a firefighter. Retaining qualified crew members and staying within the hours that wildland firefighters are permitted to work have also emerged as problems, according to Montana and Idaho firefighters who met with Sen. Steve Daines on Friday at Neptune Aviation in Missoula. “We need Congress to understand the issues and address them, because we’re having a serious issue of retention among our firefighters,” said Casey

Montana Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester reacted favorably Friday on new terms that eliminate Japan’s restrictions on U.S. beef exports, saying it would be good for the Treasure State. It’s a deal the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates could increase U.S. beef and beef product exports to Japan by up to $200 million annually. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Friday the United States and Japan have agreed on new terms to eliminate Japan’s longstanding restrictions on U.S. beef exports. The new terms take effect immediately and allow U.S. products from all cattle, regardless of age, to enter Japan for

MISSOULA- Friday morning Senator Steve Daines joined wildfire preparedness officials and wildland rural firefighters for a round table discussion on this coming fire season, as well as new legislation to benefit wildland firefighters. Issues that were heard today ranged from having the proper job classification, to retirement benefits, as well as compensation during an injury. Wildland fighter fighters and Federal Wildland Fire Service association executives had the chance to sit down with Senator Daines to share concerns and desires for Daines to take back to Washington D.C., with him. Currently working on a bill with Washington Senator Maria Cantwell to

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on May 9 proposed a bicameral Republican measure that would extend the tax credit for production of refined coal to protect critical energy jobs in Montana and around the country. “This bill will protect good-paying energy jobs, support refined coal production, and reduce emissions,” Sen. Daines said on May 10. “This is a win for Montana, this is a win for the environment, and this is a win for American energy dominance.” Sen. Daines introduced S. 1405 with lead cosponsors including U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Cory Gardner (R-CO). The companion bill, H.R.

Montana’s congressional Republicans are backing a tax break on refined coal, in hopes of sparking investment in Colstrip Power Plant. Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte are among several lawmakers calling for an extension of a tax credit for “refined coal,” meaning coal that’s been screened or pre-treated to lower pollutants when burned. The two Republicans mentioned Colstrip specifically Thursday in an email calling for a renewal of the tax credit. “Colstrip and energy jobs are a critical part of our Montana way of life,” Daines said. “This bill will protect good-paying energy jobs, support refined coal production, and

26 Billion Robocalls were placed in the United States last year. Congress recently passed the Traced Act. The legislation extends the time frame in which the Federal Communications Commission can catch companies or individuals that intentionally break telemarketing restrictions from one year, to three. This week Senator Steve Daines asked the FCC Chairman when he can expect the FCC to implement its additional power. Daines: “When do you think we can do that? Pai: “Soon Hopefully. I defer to you on the Traced Act.” Daines: “We’ve passed the legislation. You’ve seen the text. How long will it take us? How

Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines is set to introduce legislation on Wednesday that would require the census to include a citizenship question, Fox News has learned, in an aggressive new effort that could bolster the Trump administration’s legal case for querying residents on their citizenship status. With just weeks to go until the Census Bureau’s July 1 deadline to print out the forms, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of the Trump administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census in June. The decision will affect how many congressional seats states have and how federal dollars are distributed for