JULY 2019
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| Breaking ground for the Butte Veteran’s Home. |
TOP STORY – FIGHTING FOR ELDERLY VETERANS
• The number of pension poachers have steadied increased in Montana. To address this problem, I’ve introduced S.2407 the Financial Refuge for Every Elderly (FREE) Veteran Act to punish those responsible for taking advantage of Montana’s veterans. I introduced this bill after hearing from Pat Purdue, the widow of a World War II Navy Veteran from Kalispell who had a company illegally steal the majority of her pension. Read more about Pat’s story in the Daily Inter Lake.
SUPPORTING THE MILITARY, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES
• On July 22nd, I had the pleasure of meeting Major General Barbara Holcomb, U.S. Army from Miles City prior to her retirement after 32 years of service. MajGen Holcomb was the first female Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. A summary of her achievements were inserted into the Congressional Record.
• On July 2nd, I spoke at the ground breaking ceremony for the new South West Montana Veterans Home. From the moment I began serving Montana as a member the House of Representatives in 2013, I have fought to build the Butte home and ensure that the VA prioritizes its construction. I’m glad the efforts of many have brought about this important victory for Montana veterans.
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| Meeting with Major General Barbara Holcomb. |
MY RECENT BIPARTISAN VETERANS’ LEGISLATION
• To support our warfighters battling the compulsion of gambling, I co-led S.2060 Gambling Addiction Prevention Billwith Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA). This bill implements programs that prevent and treat gambling disorders among members of the Armed Forces.
• Focused on improving Montana’s STEM program enrollment, I cosponsored Senator John Cornyn’s (TX)S.2011 Veteran STEM Scholarship Act of 2019 to lower the scholarship eligibility from a 128 credit hour requirement to 120 credit hour requirement.
• To expand the reach of services aimed at preventing veterans’ suicide, I sponsored Senator Elizabeth Warren’s (MA) S.1906 Improve Well Being for Veterans Actto create a new grant program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve coordination of veteran mental health and suicide prevention services.
• As a strong supporter of growing the economy, I cosponsored Senator Jacky Rosen’s (NV) S.2100 Veterans Job Opportunities Act to provide veterans starting a small business with a 15% tax credit on the first $50,000 of their small business’ startup costs in underserved communities.
Best Wishes,
Steve Daines
United States Senate
