Yearly Archives: 2015

As lawmakers draft budget bills ahead of the December 11th deadline, Senator Jon Tester is urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide critical support for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the final appropriations bill of the year.

After unanimously passing the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Jon Tester's rural water bill is on its way to the President's desk and is set to become law

U.S. Senate After Congress last month finally agreed to a bipartisan budget deal that prevents devastating across-the-board spending cuts, Senator Jon Tester is pushing the Senate to support water projects that could mean life or death for communities in rural Montana.

Since 2008 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has administered the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) initiative to support homeless veterans. But prior to 2015 tribes and tribal housing authorities had been unable to receive HUD-VASH funds.

Governor Mark Dayton announced the following appointments to the Clean Water Council, the ClearWay Minnesota Board of Directors, and the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Senator Jon Tester today issued the following statement of opposition in response to Congressman Rob Bishop's bill to overhaul the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

Governor Steve Bullock and Montana Department of Commerce Director Meg O’Leary today announced the award of $281,519 in Big Sky Film grants to support the production of 21 new film and multimedia projects taking place in Montana.

Governor Steve Bullock today released a letter to Congressman Ryan Zinke, Senator Jon Tester, and Senator Steve Daines urging them to support the reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which is set to expire in September of this year. The LWCF uses royalties from the depletion of offshore oil and gas to create and protect natural areas and water resources across the nation. Bullock encouraged Montana’s federal delegation to join the large bipartisan support behind S. 338 which would permanently reauthorize the LWCF

As you know, the LWCF was created by Congress in 1965 as a bipartisan commitment to safeguard natural areas, water resources, wildlife, and our cultural heritage, and to provide outdoor recreational opportunities. Now, in 2015, the program is set to expire unless Congress takes action. Congress must act quickly to reauthorize the program, at funding levels that meet or exceed the currently-authorized levels.

Leading brokerage and premier real estate office Trails West Real Estate announces its merger with leading brokerage West Venture Real Estate and PureWest Christie’s Real Estate, located in Bozeman, MT.

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox and 12 other states filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) over the new regulation broadly expanding the definition of “Waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act. The case was filed in the U.S. district court for the District of North Dakota

In a letter to the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee Chairman Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Tester and Franken urged the committee to provide additional infrastructure resources to Indian Country as they continue work on the Highway Bill.

Kennedy Funding Financial LLC has closed a $1.41 million loan to American Land Development-Sidney, LLC, owner of a 22.59-acre development site along E. Holly Street in Sidney, Montana, announced Kevin Wolfer, CEO of the Englewood Cliffs, NJ-based direct private lender. The three-year interest-only loan will be serviced by Kennedy Funding Financial

Tester offered an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill that would provide $400 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which supports conservation easements, land acquisition, and state and local efforts to increase public access for outdoor recreation.

Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Corporation for National and Community Service will grant Montana $3 million to support four nonprofits across the state. The AmeriCorps grants will support Montana Conservation Corps in Bozeman, Justice for Montanans and Montana State Park AmeriCorps in Helena, and FoodCorps Montana in Butte