Monday - November 25, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Montana Newsletter for Sunday February 18, 2024 ( 17 items )  

As ICE Considers Mass Release of Detainees Due to Republicans Blocking Bipartisan Border Security Bill, Sen. Tester Presses Congress to Pass It
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2024: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today sent a letter pressing congressional leaders to pass bipartisan border security legislation in light of new reporting detailing that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing a dangerous budget shortfall that could result in the release of thousands of detainees. According to a concerning new report today from the Washington Post, ICE "has drafted   more

Following Closure of Bigfork Historic Bridge, Sen. Tester Urges Secretary Buttigieg to 'act Rapidly' to Assist Montana Efforts to Replace, Reopen Bridge Street Bridge
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today sent a letter pressing Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg regarding Bigfork's historic Bridge Street Bridge, which safety inspectors closed in January after a troubling inspection revealed safety concerns. The bridge is one of only two roadways connecting downtown Bigfork with Montana Highway 35. Writing to Secretary Buttigieg, Tester stressed the importance of the Brid  more

Following Tester Push, Billings Clinic in Townsend to Receive $235,000, Correcting Biden Administration Error
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: A Critical Access Hospital in Townsend will receive nearly $235,000 following efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester. Due to the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) mistaking "Billings Clinic" for a billing company, Billings Clinic Townsend Health Systems recently lost out on $234,253.70 in Provider Relief Funding. After hearing of the error, Tester held Washington bureaucracy accountable and sent  more

House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Chairman Rosendale Issues Opening Remarks at Hearing on Continued VA Electronic Health Record Patient Safety Issues
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, issued the following news release on Feb. 15, 2024: Today, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the subcommittee's oversight hearing on persistent patient safety and efficiency issues with Oracle Cer  more

Rep. Rosendale Joins House of Representatives in Impeaching Alejandro Mayorkas
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02), joined the House of Representatives in Impeaching Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas. Rep. Rosendale was an original co-sponsor of the articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas that were introduced in November. The Articles of Impeachment state: "Throughout his tenure as Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas has repeated  more

Rep. Zinke Introduces Bipartisan Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2024: Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced bipartisan legislation named The Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and Congressman Donald G. Davis (NC-01) which allows those wishing to lay flowers on the graves of fallen heroes who are interred at American military cemeteries overseas to do so through the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) jurisdiction. T  more

Sen. Tester Announces Applications Open for Veteran Suicide Prevention Grant
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Following efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is now accepting applications for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. This first-of-its-kind grant program was created under the Senator's landmark Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act (Hannon Act) to provide federal funding for local  more

Sen. Tester Issues Statement on Vote for National Security Bill to Counter China and Russia, Support American Allies
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on Feb. 13, 2024: U.S. Senator Jon Tester today issued the following statement on his vote to advance a national security package that will counter China and Russia and support our ally Israel: "My top priority is protecting Montana and our nation, full stop. That's why I voted with Republicans and Democrats to advance a targeted national security package that invests in our ability to stay ahead of the threat  more

Sen. Tester Priorities for Montana Rural Airports Now One Step Closer to Becoming Law
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester successfully included his priorities for increasing affordable air service in Montana in legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that now heads to consideration by the full Senate. "Montanans rely on access to affordable air service to see their friends and families, and to keep their businesses running," said Tester. "That's why I was proud to advance sev  more

Sen. Tester Secures $2.8M to Expand Glacier Park International Airport
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2024: As a part of his continued efforts to upgrade critical infrastructure and support Montana's rural economies, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $2,800,000 to expand Glacier Park International Airport. Funding will go towards terminal expansion, gate expansion, ticketing and kiosk areas, passenger hold rooms, and drive lanes. This funding comes from Tester's bipartisan Infrastructure Invest  more

Sen. Tester Secures $6M to Expand Missoula County Airport
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2024: As a part of his continued efforts to upgrade critical infrastructure and support Montana's rural economies, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $6,000,000 to fund a new terminal for Missoula County Airport. This funding comes from Tester's bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)and is awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Terminals Program. T  more

Sen. Tester Slams USPS Postmaster Over Proposed Relocation of Missoula Facility to Spokane
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As a part of his continued efforts to improve mail delivery in Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently urged Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to halt the United States Postal Service's Mail Processing Facility Review that could result in the relocation of Missoula's Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) to Spokane, Washington. "The Missoula P&DC is a critical part of postal operations in Montana," wrote T  more

Sen. Tester, Colleagues Demand VA Improves Care for Victims of Sexual Assault
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Following a concerning Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report finding significant shortfalls in care provided by VA to veterans who seek care after experiencing a sexual assault, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester recently led a group of his Senate colleagues in urging the Department to take immediate steps to improve the readiness of VA facilities and   more

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Tester Announces Applications Open for Veteran Suicide Prevention Grant
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: Following efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is now accepting applications for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. This first-of-its-kind grant program was created under the Senator's landmark Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act (Hann  more

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Tester, Colleagues Demand VA Improves Care for Victims of Sexual Assault
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: Following a concerning Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report finding significant shortfalls in care provided by VA to veterans who seek care after experiencing a sexual assault, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester recently led a group of his Senate colleagues in urging the Department to take immediate steps to  more

VA Moves to Expand Agent Orange Veterans Benefits Using Authorities From Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Tester PACT Act
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: Following years-long efforts by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester to expand toxic-exposed veterans' access to earned health care and benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today moved to expand the locations and time frames for which VA presumes a veterans' exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. This change will make it easier   more

VA Moves to Expand Agent Orange Veterans Benefits Using Authorities From Tester PACT Act
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on Feb. 12, 2024: Following years-long efforts by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester to expand toxic-exposed veterans' access to earned health care and benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) todaymoved to expand the locations and time frames for which VA presumes a veterans' exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. This change will make it easier for veterans exposed to Agen  more