Amazing diversity in my Senate district

From railroaders to farm workers, rural and city, hills to the flats, and irrigated lands vs dryland farming, I continue to be in awe of the diversity we see throughout Montana Senate District 14. Ever so evident in the ag community experience this year. Harvest has been finished for over a month in the east and south parts of the district. The northwest area of the district is currently in full harvest mode. It seems the east and south were a couple of weeks ahead and the northwest is about that much behind on average. Of course, this is one small example of the diversities I see.

In my last letter, I mentioned I was going to a meeting of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. As a group, we encouraged the U.S. Federal Government to open the Canadian border to Canadian travelers. It does not make sense to allow U.S. visitors to go north and Canadians not be able to come south. Like myself, I have visited with many, many folks who have not been able to visit family members in person for going on two years. Other subjects discussed were bears, water, invasive plants, animals, and disease, along with many other topics. It seems our area’s challenges are not unique problems; other states and provinces have some of the same issues.

I will be attending the quarterly Interim Education Committee this coming week, which will be held both in person and by Zoom. These meetings are always open to the public and give opportunity for public comment. We will be getting updates from the Office of Public Instruction, including Career and Technical Education, and survey results from a survey completed on Youth Risk Behavior. The Department of Public Health and Human Services will also weigh in on the mask rule for schools. I know everyone has their views and opinions on the mask issue, so it will be interesting to hear what DPHHS has to say about House Bill 702. This was the governor’s bill that limited mask mandates.

The Education Committee is still grappling with how to proceed with HJ 47, a resolution to study a program to educate incarcerated individuals. We will also hear an update from the Montana Heritage Center, as they are in the middle of a big construction project. It should be interesting. We will end with a joint meeting with the Education Budget Committee. If you have interest and want to comment, just go to mtleg.gov and find the education committee.

Be safe.

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State Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, can be emailed at Russ.Tempel@mtleg.gov .