Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

U.S. National Forest Service Chief Randy Moore spoke in Missoula Thursday and said $10 billion will soon help fund work in forests around the country.

Wildlife conservation groups have created an app for citizen scientists to help data collection efforts on animal movements across Montana. One of the goals of the program is to prevent wildlife collisions on roads and train tracks.

The Biden administration is urging Montana’s governor to encourage more residents to sign up for a federal program offering assistance for broadband service.

The Federal Aviation Administration yesterday announced nearly $1 billion in grants to airports around the country, funded by last year’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, and the Missoula Montana Airport is among the recipients. $11 million in federal funding will help cover costs for the airport’s ongoing terminal expansion and renovation project.

The Biden administration made good on a promised, but long-delayed pay raise for federal firefighters on Tuesday. The first of those temporary payments should be delivered next month.

Later this year, Montana tribes will receive the first round of funding for water and sewer projects on tribal land from Congress’ bipartisan infrastructure bill. On Thursday, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Lake County announced that the two governments will work to jointly fund road and infrastructure projects.

Poor housing conditions create additional challenges for an already difficult job – wildland firefighting. Firefighters and their families are trying to resolve these issues through legislation.

Interior says its five-year investment in wildfire resilience will help bolster communities and ecosystems against the mounting threat of wildfires.