WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 15, 2024: As part of his continued efforts to secure the southern border and keep Montana safe, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today called on President Biden to strengthen asylum screening standards and utilize the full extent of his executive authorities to get the border crisis under control. In a new letter to President Biden, Tester specifically called on the Administration to raise the asylum screening st  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 16, 2024: During a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing yesterday on improving rural veterans' access to health care, Chairman Jon Tester pressed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials to ensure the Department continues to hire mental health providers in rural areas amid VA's decision to implement a strategic hiring pause at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). "Mental health is a big i  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: During a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing yesterday on improving rural veterans' access to health care, Chairman Jon Tester pressed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials to ensure the Department continues to hire mental health providers in rural areas amid VA's decision to implement a strategic hiring pause at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Today, Chairman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) of the House of Representatives Veterans' Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Technology Modernization exposed Oracle Cerner's destructive efforts to lobby politicians and buy votes on Capitol Hill instead of fixing their software while veterans are experiencing ongoing issues with receiving the care they have earned and deserve. A recent article referencing Oracle Cerne  more

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Today, Chairman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) led the House of Representatives Veterans' Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Technology Modernization's evaluation of the Biden administration's budget request for the VA's Office of Information and Technology for Fiscal Year 2025. You can see his full remarks by clicking on the image below: "I have no doubt there is waste in the VA budget and there is at least 3% of  more

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Today, Chairman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) led the House of Representatives Veterans' Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Technology Modernization's evaluation of the Biden administration's budget request for the VA's Office of Information and Technology for Fiscal Year 2025. You can see his full remarks by clicking on the image below: "I have no doubt there is waste in the VA budget and there is at least 3% of  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: * * * Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Repeal Tax on Certain Firearm Purchases Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act, legislation that would remove a burdensome tax imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) and Steve Daines (R-Montana) introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) recent Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process. This new rule would significantly raise royalties, rates, minimum bids, costs and bonding requirements for oil and gas producers on federal lands making it virtually impossible for small energy  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines, ranking member of the Senate National Parks subcommittee, today highlighted the story of Blackie Wetzel and the origins of the Redskins logo. Daines then demanded that the Washington Commanders football team and the National Football League (NFL) work with the Wetzel family to honor this legacy and Native American communities. Watch Daines' remarks HERE. For TV elements click HERE.  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) led a group of his Republican colleagues in introducing a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) recent Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process. This new rule would significantly raise royalties, rates, minimum bids, costs and bonding requirements for oil and gas producers on federal lands making it virtually impossible for sm  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines today delivered remarks at the weekly Republican Senate Leadership press conference, calling on President Biden and Senate Democrats to prioritize American security over appeasing pro-Hamas protestors. Watch Daines' remarks HERE. "President Biden, stop letting the American Left dictate your foreign policy. Campus protests and threats and intimidation of Jewish students has now turn  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Congressman Ryan Zinke and Congressman Matt Rosendale today released the following statements after the Biden administration released a new Resource Management Plan Amendment prohibiting future coal leases in eastern Montana through 2038. "Since Day One the Joe Biden administration has been on an anti-energy war path in an attempt to appease far-Lef  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Following a push from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Office of Research and Development gave the VA Montana Health Care System approval this week to establish a VA research site in Montana. This will be the first VA research site in the state of Montana. "Veterans in Montana and rural America face unique barriers to accessing the health care they've earned, and expanding rese  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: Following a push from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Office of Research and Development gave the VA Montana Health Care System approval this week to establish a VA research site in Montana. This will be the first VA research site in the state of Montana. "Veterans in Montana and rural America face unique barriers to accessing the he  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement on May 16, 2024: * * * Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced updates to Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for millions of acres of BLM-managed land in Wyoming and Montana, eliminating all new coal leasing until 2038. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response: "The Biden ad  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, issued the following news release: 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 to assess the Biden Administration's budget request for VA's Office of Information a  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) joined the House Natural Resources Committee Federal Lands Subcommittee in a hearing titled: "Examining the Council on Environmental Quality Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request and Related Policy Matters" to examine and expose the Biden administration's use of taxpayer dollars to push their radical climate agenda on Montanans. You can see his full remarks by clicking o  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) joined a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing titled: "Ensuring VA's Security: How Can Congress Best Support VA's Law Enforcement" to show to support for VA police officers and analyze the increase in crime at VA facilities despite the number of veterans frequenting VA facilities going down due to telehealth and comm  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) voted against the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3935, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024. Although the bill protects the Essential Air Service, which is critical for Montana, he could not accept the approximately $10 billion cost increase over the next five years as well as grants to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that focus on mino  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) joined the House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee Budgetary Hearing titled: "Examining the President's FY 2025 Budget Request for the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service" to expose the BLM's radical efforts compromising Montana's way of life. You can see his full remarks by clicking on the image below: "The BLM plays a vital role in the  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02), Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Senator Steve Daines, and Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statements after the Biden administration released a new Resource Management Plan Amendment prohibiting future coal leases in eastern Montana through 2038. "America lost more energy independence today due to a stroke of a pen by the Biden administration," said   more

HELENA, Montana, May 18 -- Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-issued the following news release on May 16, 2024: Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, and Congressman Matt Rosendale released the following statements after the Biden administration released a new Resource Management Plan Amendment prohibiting future coal leases in eastern Montana through 2038. "This is another punitive targeted attack on Montana and will result in higher energy prices and low  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As part of his continued efforts to secure our borders and crack down on the deadly flow of fentanyl impacting Montana communities, U.S. Senator Jon Tester took multiple new actions this week calling on Congress to boost critical funding to secure the northern border, and to install fentanyl scanning technology in order secure the northern and southern borders and keep Montana safe. In a new bipartisan letter   more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester congratulates Missoula's Hannah King on her appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. King attends Big Sky High School, where she is the president of the Key Club and captain of the soccer team. She is a member of National Honor Society and earned first place at a Model United Nations competition in 2022. King also participated in Ecology Research with the University of Montana in 2021. "  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 16, 2024: In response to the Bureau of Land Management today proposing an end to coal leases on federal land in Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester issued the following statement: "I will always stand up to President Biden's energy policies when they don't make sense for Montana. I'm reviewing the Administration's proposal and encourage Montanans to make their voices heard during the public comment period."  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jon Tester has been recognized as one of the top 10 most bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate and as the most bipartisan member of Montana's congressional delegation in 2023 for his successful work defending Montana and fighting on behalf of our nation's veterans. Tester received high marks from The Lugar Center's Bipartisan Index (BPI) rankings, a nonpartisan tool which measures the degree to wh  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- 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 passed the Senate this past Thursday. "Reliable and affordable air service is essential for Montanans to run their businesses, see their friends and families, and stay connected with the rest of the country, but too often rur  more

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on May 13, 2024: After U.S. Senator Jon Tester repeatedly called on the United States Postal Service to halt plans to move Missoula's Processing and Distribution Center's (P&DC) outgoing processing operations to Spokane, Postmaster Louis DeJoy announced today that he would pause all processing center consolidation plans. Postmaster DeJoy's announcement was directly in response to a bipartisan letter led by Test  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As part of his continued push to address the public safety crisis facing Indian Country, U.S. Senator Jon Tester led a bipartisan letter to his colleagues charged with funding public safety initiatives in Indian Country, urging them to support robust funding for Tribal law enforcement in upcoming appropriations. "As you know, Tribal communities are experiencing a major uptick in violent and drug-related crime   more

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: As part of his continued efforts to support law enforcement officers and keep Montana communities safe, U.S. Senator Jon Tester will lead a bipartisan resolution marking National Police Week and reiterating support for the men and women in law enforcement. Tester's resolution designates the week of May 13 through May 19, 2024, as "National Police Week," honors 222 officers killed in the line of duty, and expre  more

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Cynthia M. Lummis, R-Wyoming, issued the following news release: United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy agreed to pause the planned changes to the mail delivery network that would have closed the Cheyenne and Casper Processing and Distribution Centers following repeated calls from U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). The USPS agreed to temporarily pause the reforms that would have left the Cowboy State without a single Processing and Distrib  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Rep.) -- The Congressional Western Caucus issued the following news release on May 16, 2024: Today, Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Vice Chairs Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Representatives Matt Rosendale (MT-02) and Representative Harriet Hageman (WY-AL) released the following statements on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) resource management plans (RMP) for Montana and Wyoming. These RMPs remove millions of acres of Federal lands from c  more