Montana

Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act Passes Senate

November 4, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today applauded the Senate for passing his bill to extend the $8,000 tax credit to more of Montana’s first time homebuyers.

The bill also includes tax help for Montana’s military families who must sell their homes because of a reassignment. Both measures were added to the unemployment extension bill that passed the U.S. Senate tonight.    » read more »

Two Montanans scheduled to testify during November 5 hearing

October 30, 2009 -- (BIG SANDY, Mont.) – At the request of Senator Jon Tester, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing next week to address better health care for American Indian veterans.

Those testifying at the November 5 hearing will include Kevin Howlett, Director of Tribal Health for Montana’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Buck Richardson, Minority Program Coordinator at Ft. Harrison.

Tester—a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee—requested the hearing last month.    » read more »

Finds Insufficient Evidence to Acknowledge the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – There is not enough evidence to meet the legal requirements for federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs George T. Skibine said today. The Department of then Interior, therefore, has issued a final determination not to acknowledge the petitioner group as a federally-recognized Indian tribe.

“Though the Little Shell cannot meet the mandatory criteria for federal acknowledgment through Interior’s administrative process, the U.S. Congress has the authority to recognize the Little Shell under pending legislation,” Skibine said.    » read more »

10/15/2009 -- (HELENA) - The Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Department of Labor and the Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) have partnered to make the BEAR (Business Expansion and Retention) Program available statewide.

The Montana BEAR project provides economic development teams with the tools to help local business owners and operators access resources to improve and/or expand their businesses. The State’s purchasing the rights to the BEAR program has made it far more affordable for Montana communities.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Montana’s economy,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “I’m proud to be able to offer this development tool to help our communities prosper.”    » read more »

10/14/2009 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $13,017,176 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Montana. The state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by adding provisions that allow part-time workers and individuals who are upgrading skills to receive unemployment compensation.    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- HELENA – Montana's two U.S. Senators and Attorney General have joined forces to combat the growing misuse of over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester along with Attorney General Steve Bullock announced their support Tuesday for designating October as National Medical Abuse Awareness Month. Baucus and Tester have signed on as co-sponsors of a measure in the Senate that will raise awareness of the misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medications and urge communities to implement educational programs associated with medicinal abuse.    » read more »

Funding is for critical infrastructure investments and energy research

October 2, 2009 -- (GREAT FALLS, Mont.) – Montana will receive significant funding to invest in critical energy and water infrastructure thanks to a bill expected to be approved by the Senate in the coming days, Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus announced today.

Tester was chosen to negotiate a final version of the Energy and Water Appropriations Act as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Negotiators from the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives agreed on the final version, which includes more than $65 million for Montana energy and water projects.

Both Tester and Baucus plan to vote for the final bill. The measure already passed the House.    » read more »

Senator's Plan Will Ensure Quality, Affordable Health Care For All Montanans

September 16, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) -After more than a year of preparation, and holding more than 40 health care events in the state, Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today introduced the America's Healthy Future Act, his landmark health care reform legislation that will lower costs and provide quality, affordable health care coverage for all Montanans and all Americans.

Baucus, chairman of the powerful U.S. Senate Finance Committee, released his plan- known as a 'Chairman's Mark'- this morning during a nationally televised news conference.    » read more »

9/17/2009 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today released a report on Montana’s restoration economy. This study estimates the economic benefits from restoration by completing a case study on the Silver Bow Creek Superfund site in the Upper Clark Fork Basin to determine what types and how many jobs are involved in the restoration industry. The results of this research will provide a baseline for the economic benefits of other mine restoration work, such as the restoration of Milltown Dam.    » read more »

9/15/2009 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today released the 2009 Tribal Relations Report highlighting the major accomplishments of the State of Montana and Tribal Nations working together during the past year. The full text of the report is available online, at http://tribalnations.mt.gov.

“This report embodies the State of Montana’s commitment to strong, long-term state-tribal relationships,” Governor Schweitzer said. “We look forward to our continued work ahead in forging more agreements and strengthening government-to-government relationships”.    » read more »

9/14/2009 -- (HELENA) – In his first official trip overseas, with the exception of visiting troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Governor Brian Schweitzer met with companies in Germany and Spain last week to build more business and economic activity in Montana, especially in the renewable energy sector of the economy. He was accompanied by Chief Business Development Officer Evan Barrett.

“It was a great opportunity to build and grow energy business in Montana and create more high paying jobs for workers in our state,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “The trip brought new opportunities and investments to our state including cementing a deal with NaturEner to bring an additional $800 million investment to Montana.”    » read more »

6/17/2009 -- (Helena) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) praise the decision by the Obama Administration to declare Libby a public health emergency.

“At last Washington D.C. is fully recognizing the plight of the communities of Libby and Troy,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “The designated funds will be used to make the communities healthier.”

The declaration, nearly ten years in the making, was announced this morning in Washington D.C. during a joint news conference with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Health and Human Services and Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester.    » read more »

6/19/2009 -- (Helena) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have chosen the City of Billings water and wastewater systems for low interest loans and funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

The funds will be used to replace old and undersized water and sewer mains within the city. The new lines will reduce leakage and improve the reliability of the water distribution and wastewater collection systems.

“Upgrading infrastructure to meet growing demand is a good investment for the City of Billings,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “I’m pleased that the ARRA funds are available for this important project.”    » read more »

6/19/2009 -- (Helena) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have chosen the City of Conrad’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade for a low interest loan and funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009(ARRA). The new facility should dramatically improve the quality of the treated water which is discharged to the Marias River.

"Improving the City of Conrad’s wastewater treatment will keep the Marias River clean and protect the water for decades to come," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "This is a good project that needed reinvestment."    » read more »

EPA to Move Aggressively on Cleanup and HHS to Assist Area Residents with Medical Care

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today announced the agency has determined that a public health emergency exists at the Libby asbestos site in northwest Montana. Over the past years, hundreds of asbestos-related disease cases have been documented in this small community, which covers the towns of Libby and Troy.

The announcement was made today at a joint press conference with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester.    » read more »