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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.

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.

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

With the award, Montana CDC will continue to fund business start-ups and expansions in Montana and Idaho that create jobs and significant community impact. This is the sixth award Montana CDC has received since 2008, and it brings their cumulative total to $341 million.

Universal is a Bozeman success story. Started in the back of a car by Larry Aasheim and Dick Hart in 1971, the partners wanted to provide high quality, specialty sporting goods for Montana’s young athletes. Today, Universal has 13 locations in five states. The three Bozeman locations are at capacity, and the new, consolidated facility on 7th will allow the business to continue to grow

Senator Jon Tester today announced that Frontier Communications will receive a $6.8 million award to expand broadband access to as many as 2,300 homes and businesses in northwest Montana.

Tester's bill streamlines the permitting process for wind, solar and geothermal development on public lands and also ensures that funds generated by energy development benefit various conservation efforts. The legislation also establishes a revenue sharing system that aids local communities that are home to these energy projects and helps mitigate the impact that construction could have on land, water, and wildlife.

Governor Steve Bullock and the Agriculture Development Council announced the recipients of $110,718 in grant funds through the Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program. In all, seven agriculture businesses were awarded funds to assist with their development and growth.

As part of a tour highlighting several completed, ongoing and planned redevelopment projects in Missoula, Mont., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional administrator Shaun McGrath today presented Mayor John Engen with $400K in EPA Brownfields grant funds. The EPA grants will be used to expand local efforts to assess, clean up and redevelop properties throughout Missoula, including Urban Renewal Districts and properties along the Clark Fork River waterfront.