{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", party = \"Democrat\" and state = \"MT\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7896", "Tester Votes to Override Presidential Veto of Annual Defense Bill [press_release]", "2021-01-01", "2021", "2021-01", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Votes to Override Presidential Veto of Annual Defense Bill \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after voting to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act:\n Today I voted to override the President's reckless veto of critical legislation that will support Montana's servicemembers, veterans, and their families. The President's recent move to undermine our national security, block pay for troops, and deny veterans their earned benefitsparticularly those suffering from conditions associated with their exposure to Agent Orangewas nothing more than a political stunt. I'm glad that both Democrats and Republicans came together as they have for more than 50 years to do what's right on behalf of our national defense and military.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7895", "Tester Statement on Signing of Coronavirus Economic Stimulus and Government Funding Package [press_release]", "2020-12-27", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Signing of Coronavirus Economic Stimulus and Government Funding Package \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed the coronavirus economic stimulus and the 2021 government appropriations package:\n This critical economic stimulus package isn't perfect, but it's the result of bipartisan compromise that will do some real good for families and businesses in our state. It's good news the President finally signed it into law, and I'm thankful we were able to secure this badly-needed relief for Montana's workers and small businesses that will help reopen our economy and get folks back to work.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7894", "Tester Statement on Presidential Veto of Annual Defense Bill [press_release]", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Presidential Veto of Annual Defense Bill \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the President vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act:\n This political stunt undermines our national security, defense installations in Montana and across the globe, and it delays the delivery of critical care and benefits for our servicemembers and veteransparticularly those suffering and dying from conditions associated with their exposure to Agent Orange. Democrats and Republicans came together to overwhelmingly pass this critical legislation earlier this yearjust as Congress has done for more than fifty years. Now we must move quickly in a bipartisan manner to override this veto, provide for our national defense, and deliver for our troops, veterans, and their families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7892", "Tester Secures Key Veteran and Montana Defense Priorities in Government Funding Bill [press_release]", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Secures Key Veteran and Montana Defense Priorities in Government Funding Bill \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Ranking Member delivers resources for medical care and benefits for troops and veterans; Montana's military research and defense priorities \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFollowing weeks of bipartisan negotiations, Senate Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester successfully helped secure billions for critical programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) as part of the annual federal spending package to support veterans and servicemembers and enhance our national security.   \"For weeks, my colleagues and I worked across the aisle to secure these resources to support veterans, servicemembers, and communities across the country in need of critical relief during the COVID-19 pandemic,\" said Ranking Member Tester. \"Although far from perfect, I'm proud that Congress came together to deliver this spending bill that will make critical investments in Montana's defense capabilities and provide veterans and troops with the medical care and benefits they've earned.\" Tester advocated for the following VA provisions in the bipartisan deal:\n \n$104.4 billion for VA, including $12.5 billion in emergency funding to address the rapidly increasing cost of health care for veterans.\n$90 billion for VA medical care, including $10.3 billion for mental health; $1.3 billion for telehealth services; $1.2 billion for the Caregivers Program; $504 million for opioid misuse prevention and treatment; $815 million for medical and prosthetic research; $660.7 million for women veterans health care; and $300 million for rural health initiatives. \n$138.7 billion for veterans benefits, including veteran disability compensation, education benefits, vocational rehabilitation and job training.\n$94.2 billion in advance funding for veterans health care, and $145.3 billion in advance funding for veterans benefits. \n$278.3 million for related agencies including the American Battle Monuments Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home.\n$25 million under the Department of Justice for veterans treatment courts.\nLanguage to allow $150 million for COVID-related medical construction projects at State Veterans Homes, as well as $100 million in additional funding for COVID-19 prevention and response at State Veterans Homes.\nLanguage requiring the Veterans Crisis Line to adhere to all requirements of the American Association of Suicidology and requiring VA to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line and referrals to VA mental health care.\nLanguage dedicating funds for expanding VA's child care program to decrease barriers to care for veterans receiving essential health services from the Department. \n \n  Tester also championed the following defense wins in the federal spending bill:\n \nMalmstrom Air Force Base: Investments to support Air Force nuclear modernization, including $1.4 billion for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program and $81 million for Minute Man III modernization and maintenance, and $41 million for the replacement of the Vietnam-era Huey helicopters with the MH-139 Grey Wolf.\nNational Guard: \n$950 million for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA) to modernize reserve forces and ensure interoperability with the active duty force.\n$797 million for eight additional C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, and $180 million for engine and propeller upgrades of existing C-130H aircraft.\n$914.4 million for the Counter-Drug program, which includes an increase of $100 million for the National Guard State Plans.\nMilitary Personnel: Includes a 3 percent military pay raise.\nMedical Research: The bill includes $1.7 billion for medical research, including $370 million for the competitively peer-reviewed medical research program.\nMontana State University: \n$10 million for the Army Research Laboratory to support Montana State University's research in extreme battery production; improving battery materials and chemistry to make them inherently more rugged while meeting energy and power requirements.\n$4 million to help small businesses partner with DOD research laboratories through Techlink at Montana State University. \n$7 million for Montana State University's research into Quantum Cryptography to develop cutting edge technologies to ensure future technological advantages for the military.\n$3 million to support the University of Montana's partnership with the Marine Corps to assist with technology scouting, and rapid capabilities development.\nUniversity of Montana:  \n$15 million for critical language and culture training at the University of Montana for Special Operations forces and members of the intelligence community.\n$5 million to support the University of Montana's research into new systems to prevent noise induced hearing loss in war fighters.\n$5 million to develop sensor technologies to monitor the physiological conditions of warfighters in order to measure physical performance.\n$8.1 billion for critical military construction projects across the nation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7777", "Tester Statement on Court Order Requiring USPS to Reverse Harmful Policy Changes [press_release]", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Court Order Requiring USPS to Reverse Harmful Policy Changes \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement following a ruling from a U.S. District Court determining that policy changes implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) are harmful to voters and deliberately suppress their right to vote:\n This ruling is five-alarm fire for Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, but it's a victory for the Postal Service and everyone who is fighting to protect it from partisan attacks. It's disgraceful that DeJoy intentionally delayed delivery of Montanans' ballots, essential prescription medications, Social Security benefits, and more to try to help his political cronies, but this decision means Montanans can rest a little easier knowing a return to regular mail delivery is on its way. \n  \nTester has led the charge to hold Postmaster General DeJoy accountable after USPS undertook policy changes that have delayed mail and threatened to undermine the agency. More than 7,000 Montanans have contacted Tester to express concerns about mail delays since the pandemic began in March.\nTester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election. He recently announced legislation that would prevent USPS from removing any further mail collection boxes across the country, force the agency to reinstate the boxes that were removed, and require DeJoy to submit a report to Congress explaining why collection boxes were removed in the first place. After receiving inadequate responses from USPS, Tester doubled down on his push for answers last week.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7774", "Tester, Colleagues Demand Answers on unacceptable VA Data Breach Affecting More Than 60,000 Veterans and Health Care Providers [press_release]", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester, Colleagues Demand Answers on unacceptable' VA Data Breach Affecting More Than 60,000 Veterans and Health Care Providers \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t It is imperative VA take aggressive and decisive action to address this current incident and lay out a strategy to prevent such problems from arising in the future \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, is leading his colleagues in demanding answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following a recent data breach that compromised 46,000 veterans' personal information. VA officials informed the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs that approximately 17,000 VA community care providers were also impacted by the cybersecurity breach.\nThis most recent data breach is unacceptable, Tester and his colleagues wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. It also exposes the fact that VA has not taken the necessary steps to ensure oversight, accountability, and security of the vast financial, health, and other personal data it collects and processes to perform its critical services for America's veterans. Incidents such as these impact individual veteran's lives as well as those who partner with VA to provide services to them. It is imperative VA take aggressive and decisive action to address this current incident and lay out a strategy to prevent such problems from arising in the future.\nThe Senators also highlighted concerns over VA measures to protect other important data within its vast data systems and networks. They laid out a series of direct questions to ensure that the Department takes necessary steps to address vulnerabilities and protect the information of veterans and community providers in the future.\nRead the Senators' letter to VA Secretary Wilkie HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7770", "Tester Secures More Than $450,000 to Combat Rural Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence in Big Horn County [press_release]", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his sustained push to combat violence against women, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the YWCA of Billingsin partnership with the Big Horn County Best Beginnings Coalition, Little Big Horn College, and the Crow Tribal Domestic Violence Programwill receive $453,103 for their Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Stalking Program.\nThe program has been set up to identify, assess, and appropriately respond to child, youth, and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in rural communities by establishing and expanding victim services and providing crisis intervention to victims across Big Horn County.\nRural and Native American communities, are facing a crisis of domestic violence and sexual assaultparticularly against womenthat is significantly higher than the rest of the United States, said Tester. Every Montanan, whether they live in a city or a small community, deserves to be safe under their own roofespecially with the coronavirus pandemic forcing folks to stay home. This funding will help YWCA better address the needs of victims of violence in Big Horn County, and ensure that those living in rural communities have the resources they need to stay safe and get help if they need it.\nThe grant will fund a rural crisis coordinator and a rural advocate to staff a help line and provide crisis intervention, support emergency shelter and transportation assistance for victims of violence, and conduct six community trainings addressing domestic and sexual violence\nTester has championed efforts to combat sexual assault and domestic violence, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. In response to recent reports that domestic and sexual violence had increased during the pandemic, he urged his colleagues to secure additional support for victims and survivors. He is also a strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), cosponsoring the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 which would increase protections, services, and funding for domestic violence service providers and survivors, and he continues to push Leader McConnell to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote after it passed the House of Representatives more than a year ago with bipartisan support.\nAs a longtime member and former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has led the charge in the fight to secure resources for Tribes to combat sexual assault and domestic violence. He recently helped create a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Cold Case Team in Billings, and he pushed two bills aimed at improving public safety in Indian Country through the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7771", "Tester Statement on VA Secretary Wilkies Visit to Montana [press_release]", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on VA Secretary Wilkie's Visit to Montana \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the announcement that Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie will visit Montana later this month:\n Secretary Wilkie and I have enjoyed a good relationship by focusing our work on veterans, not politics. That's why I'm so frustrated he would make his first official visit to Montana in the midst of a contested political campaign less than three weeks before Montanans start voting. Equally troubling is the lack of a single public event during this visit, robbing our state's veterans of the opportunity to ask questions and hear from him directly. \n  \nSince arriving in the Senate in 2007, Senator Tester has brought every Senate-confirmed VA Secretary to Montana for public events with local veterans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7772", "Tester Announces $10 Million for Great Falls Aquatic-Recreation Center [press_release]", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Announces $10 Million for Great Falls Aquatic-Recreation Center \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Senator secured legislation authorizing funding for the new project under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program that will serve Malmstrom servicemembers and families \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFollowing sustained efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Great Falls and Malmstrom Air Force Base will receive $10 million for the construction of a new aquatic and recreation facility that will serve servicemembers and families in the area.\nThis is exciting news for Great Falls and the Malmstrom community, soon to be the new home of this state-of-the-art aquatic-recreation center,\" said Tester. I was proud to champion the creation and funding for this program because as the folks at Malmstrom know better than anyone, the backbone of family readiness means a strong foundation rooted in the communityand this facility is a welcome addition for our servicemembers and their families. \nIn 2019, Tester partnered with Senators Jerry Moran and Heidi Heitkamp to include Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) funding in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a must-pass annual bill that sets funding levels and policies for the Department of Defense (DOD). Tester again led the charge alongside Moran, successfully securing $50 million through the defense appropriations bill to support critical public infrastructure and quality of life initiatives. Earlier this year, Tester doubled down his efforts by urging the Office of Economic Adjustment to provide funding for the DCIP, as part of his overall push to support military members and families at Malmstrom.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7773", "Testers Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act Receives Boost in Senate Hearing [press_release]", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester's made-in-Montana legislation, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, received a big boost when the U.S. Forest Service signaled it would work to achieve the goals of this collaborative proposal during a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\nThe Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is the result of more than a decade of collaboration from local stakeholders who know what's best for their communities and how to best manage their public lands, said Tester. I'm glad the Forest Service committed to keep working with me to find a path forward on this bill, and now it's time for the Senate to take its lead from the three out of four Montanans who support this made-in-Montana legislation and vote the BCSA out of Committee.\nIn the wake of the successful public lands investments secured through the passage of the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, Tester wrote to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leaders, urging his colleagues to hold a hearing on the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. He argued that the BSCA is commonsense legislation that provides a natural next step to the billions in public lands investments, outlining the collaborative land management necessary to protect thousands of acres of public land while strengthening Montana's outdoor economy.\nHere's what Montanans are saying about Tester's Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act:\nWhat I'm most proud of with the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is the process we took to get here, said rancher Jim Stone. Ranchers, timber mills, business owners, wilderness advocates and recreationalists of all varieties really came to the table and focused on what we could agree upon. A big thank you goes to Senator Tester for taking our proposal to Washington, D.C., and continuing to push for it to become law. I'm sure looking forward to riding the northeast bowls in the Otatsy on my snowmobile!\nFolks think a mountain biker might not have much in common with loggers, outfitters and snowmobilers, said Ben Horan, MTB Missoula Executive Director. Turns out, we sure do. I'm proud to represent mountain bikers and work shoulder to shoulder with a wide variety of interest groups to increase recreational access to Montana's backyard through support of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. I encourage our Montana delegation to follow suit, and work together to pass a bill that 75% of Montana's support.\nThe Blackfoot River and surrounding landscape provides unparalleled opportunities to hunt, fish and recreate outdoors, said Alec Underwood, Federal Conservation Campaigns Director with the Montana Wildlife Federation. The BCSA will not only protect outdoor recreation, it will protect our local economies while helping keep Montana the Last Best Place. We thank Senator Tester for his steadfast commitment to protecting our outdoor heritage and we urge our congressional delegation to get this legislation done for Montanans.\nOur family-owned mill is proud to be with the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project from the beginning,  said Gordy Sanders, Chief Contract Manager for Pyramid Mountain Lumber. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act reflects our values of being good stewards to the land, and working together with broad partners to get more accomplished. We are looking forward to the entire Montana delegation working together to see the BCSA across the finish line.\nWith the addition of 80,000 acres to the Scapegoat, Mission Mountain, and Bob Marshall Wilderness Areas, we can ensure permanent protections to the headwaters streams that feed the storied Blackfoot River as well as Grizzly Basin  one of the wildest places we have left in Montana, said Jordan Reeves, Conservation Program Manager for The Wilderness Society Now is the time for Senator Daines to join Senator Tester and show his support for the BCSA, a grassroots bill that over 75% of Montanans support. The time is now to get this done.\nFor nearly two decades, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project has brought together wilderness advocates, snowmobilers, foresters and mill operators, business owners, outfitters, guides, and other community members to secure the future of this unique place, said Erin Clark, Field Director for Montana Wilderness Association. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is a durable legislative solution that honors this commitment to collaboration. We thank Sen. Tester for championing the BCSA, and we urge the rest of Montana's delegation to join him in supporting this crucial piece of public lands legislation.\nThe Blackfoot and Clearwater valleys hold special places where generations of Montanans have escaped to on weekends and holidays to camp, fish, float, snowmobile, and ski with families and friends, said Becky Edwards, Executive Director of the Mountain Mamas. We applaud Sen. Tester's efforts to permanently protect Montana's backyard to ensure our rivers stay clear, our forests stay healthy, and our economy stays strong. Montana women and families urge our entire delegation to pass the BCSA.\nThere's a reason 80 percent of sportsmen and women support this bill. Clean water, wild landscapes, healthy habitat and multiple use  the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act has it all, said Kevin Farron, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers' Montana Chapter Coordinator. The prime hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities found in the Blackfoot corridor and permanently protected by this bill will continue to fuel local outdoor economies long into the future. Senator Tester is once again proving that he's a champion for public lands, hunters and anglers. We strongly encourage Senator Daines to stand with Montana public land owners by supporting this legislation.\nThe result of a collective effort between ranchers, recreationists, loggers, mountain bikers, and business owners, Tester's BCSA is a multi-use proposal that would protect thousands of acres of public land, ensure future generations can access outdoor recreational opportunities, and strengthen Montana's outdoor economy in the Blackfoot River Watershed.\nSpecifically, the bill would protect 79,060 acres of wildlife habitat in the Bob Marshall, Mission Mountains, and Scapegoat Wilderness Areas, open 2,013 acres of currently closed land to snowmobiling, and protect 3,835 acres for mountain biking and hiking. It would also require the Forest Service to prioritize its review of future recreational trail proposals from the collaborative group, and to conduct a forest health assessment that will help identify new timber projects on the landscape.\nTester first introduced the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act at the request of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project with the support of the local timber industry.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7766", "Tester Declares Postal Service Explanations for Box Removal unacceptable, Continues Push for Answers [press_release]", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After weeks of silence and followed by inadequate explanations from U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy regarding the removal mail collection boxes from communities across Montana, U.S. Senator Tester is doubling down on his push for answers.\nThis week, USPS government affairs officialsnot Postmaster General DeJoyfinally responded to Tester's August 13th letter blowing the whistle on collection boxes being removed from Montana communities. However, the USPS response did not provide a full accounting of all boxes removed from across the state, something Tester has sought aggressively in his effort to secure answers for Montanans.\nMy office also received information that was subsequently reported by local press that numerous mail collection boxes were removed from Missoula, however, USPS has not disclosed any removed boxes from that city, wrote Tester in a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy. These gaps in transparency are unacceptable.  I ask that you provide the following details for the entire calendar year of 2020:\n \nThe number of boxes that were removed across Montana, including a breakdown of business and residential boxes. \nThe address of each box removed. \nThe date each box was removed. \n \nAdditionally, USPS officials wrote that the removals were based on density tests performed in late June, raising questions about the accuracy of data collected during the summer months of a global pandemic.\nI ask you to provide additional information about the density tests that informed USPS' box removal process, Tester continued. In Bozeman, for example, several of the business boxes that were removed were located on the Montana State University (MSU) campus.  It is not surprising that density tests conducted in June when there are very few students on the MSU campus would show these boxes aren't being highly trafficked as opposed to when school is in session.  Additionally, as these tests were apparently conducted in the middle of a global pandemic that has dramatically altered the normal course of life across the country, I am skeptical that this information could produce an accurate assessment of whether a box was eligible to be removed.  I ask that you provide the specific test information for the business boxes in Montana and how that information compares to any previous tests conducted in previous years.\nTester has led the charge to hold Postmaster General Louis DeJoy accountable after USPS undertook policy changes that have delayed mail and threatened to undermine the agency. More than 7,000 Montanans have contacted Tester to express concerns about mail delays since the pandemic began in March.\nTester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election. He recently announced legislation that would prevent USPS from removing any further mail collection boxes across the country, force the agency to reinstate the boxes that were removed, and require DeJoy to submit a report to Congress explaining why collection boxes were removed in the first place.\nTester has also urged DeJoy to correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to prescriptions and pushed back on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following reports that it was scaling back its relationship with USPS, urging VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to address any concerns with the status of prescription deliveries for veteransespecially in rural states like Montana.\nIn July, Tester introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help USPS recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses. He has also pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the agency a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nRead Tester's full letter to Postmaster General DeJoy HERE.\nRead USPS's response to Tester's August 13 letter HERE.\nRead Tester's August 13 letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7767", "Tester Secures Hearing Next Week for Landmark Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act [press_release]", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After pushing his historic public lands package that fully and permanently funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund through Congress and into law, U.S. Jon Tester is continuing his aggressive efforts to advance Montana's public lands priorities by securing a hearing for his landmark Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) next week.\nThe hearing will take place before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining on Wednesday, September 16 at 2:30pm.\nThis bill wasn't drafted in a dark backroom or influenced by D.C. lobbyists, said Tester. Montana sportsmen and women, loggers, bikers, and conservationists alike spent over a decade working together on the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Actit's the perfect example of what happens when folks come together to bring Montana commonsense to Washington. This hearing will give my colleagues the chance to understand how this critical legislation will create jobs, strengthen our outdoor economy, and give us the tools we need to break the land management stalemate and protect thousands of acres of public land.\nIn the wake of the successful public lands investments secured through the passage of the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, Tester wrote to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leaders, urging his colleagues to hold a hearing on the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. He argued that the BSCA is commonsense legislation that provides a natural next step to the billions in public lands investments, outlining the collaborative land management necessary to protect thousands of acres of public land while strengthening Montana's outdoor economy.\nThe result of a collective effort between ranchers, recreationists, loggers, mountain bikers, and business owners, Tester's BCSA is a multi-use proposal that would protect thousands of acres of public land, ensure future generations can access outdoor recreational opportunities, and strengthen Montana's outdoor economy in the Blackfoot River Watershed.\nSpecifically, the bill would protect 79,060 acres of wildlife habitat in the Bob Marshall, Mission Mountains, and Scapegoat Wilderness Areas, open 2,013 acres of currently closed land to snowmobiling, and protect 3,835 acres for mountain biking and hiking. It would also require the Forest Service to prioritize its review of future recreational trail proposals from the collaborative group, and to conduct a forest health assessment that will help identify new timber projects on the landscape.\nTester first introduced the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act at the request of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project with the support of the local timber industry.\nA live webcast of the hearing will be available on the committee's website here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7769", "Tester Secures $4 Million in Housing and Rental Assistance Investments for Montanans [press_release]", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $4,039,203 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support public health, housing, and economic disruption needs as a result of the pandemic.\nFolks across Montana are getting squeezed hard, and these funds will help them keep the wolf away from the door, said Tester. But let's be absolutely clear, we are facing an unprecedented housing crisis across our state, and it is indefensible that Congress can't come together and work in a bipartisan way to get real, long-term relief to the folks that are hurting. I'll continue to work with anyone from either side of the aisle to find solutions because we can't stick our heads in the sand when homes and livelihoods are on the line.\nThe funds secured by Tester will be used to provide rental assistance to low-income and at-risk Montanans facing eviction. The money will be allocated to the following communities in Montana:\n \nBillings: $522,153 \nGreat Falls: $236,375 \nMissoula: $365,227\nMontana Department of Commerce Community Development Division: $2,915,448\n \nFollowing a sustained push led by Tester, the Trump Administration last month agreed to extend the foreclosure and eviction moratoriums for Americans who receive certain types of federal housing assistance through December 31, 2020.\nAdditionally, Senator Tester is a cosponsor of the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020, which would establish a $100 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program to help families and individuals pay their rent and utility bills while remaining stably housed. It would also help rental property owners of all sizes continue to cover their costs.\nThe CARES Act provided $5 billion in supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This last allotment of funds from that supplemental appropriation will be allocated to state and local governments. Earlier this year, Tester secured more than $3 million in housing relief to help Montanans through the program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7765", "Tester Bipartisan Bill Will Provide Tribes Better Access to Public Health Data [press_release]", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his ongoing efforts to ensure Montana Tribes have the resources they need to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that Tribes are able to better access public health data that will help keep their communities safe and healthy.\nTester's Tribal Health Data Improvement Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to give Tribes direct access to public health data, directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen relations with Tribes and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) in order to improve accuracy of health data, and encourages data sharing agreements between states and Tribes/TECs.\nNative American communities across Montana are struggling to access public health data that is crucial to their ability to fight the coronavirus pandemic, as well as other health conditions that disproportionally impact Tribal communities, said Tester. This bill will ensure that Tribes, as well as Tribal Epidemiology Centers, are no longer denied access to the public health data they need, and will help improve overall data quality through direct coordination with the CDC and state governments.\nNative American communities often face glaring disparities across many health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, and, more recently, coronavirus. Despite these health inequities, public health data systems at the Federal, state, and local levels indicate high levels of misclassification and undersampling of these communities, and Tribes additionally face significant challenges in accessing this public health data to correct these discrepancies.\nUnder federal law, Tribal governments and TECs are designated as public health authorities, allowing them to access public health tracking data at the Federal, state, and local levels. However, Tribes are routinely denied access to health data systems, limiting their ability to exercise their public health authority and address issues in data equality. They also have difficulty accessing CDC data to carry out their duties as sovereign nations, and continue to be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.\nTester's Tribal Health Data Improvement Act would specifically:\n \nRequire the HHS to give direct access to public health data to Tribes, the Indian Health Service (IHS), and TECs\nRequire the CDC to develop guidance for states and local health agencies on improving the quality and accuracy of birth and death record data for American Indians/Alaska Natives \nRequire the CDC to enter into cooperative agreements with Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and TECs to address misclassification and undersampling of American Indians/Alaska Natives on birth/death records and in health care/public health surveillance systems\nEncourage states to enter into data sharing agreements with Tribes and TECs to improve access to public health data\n \nTester has worked tirelessly to ensure that Montana Tribes have the tools they need to support their communities in response to the coronavirus pandemic. He recently requested that HHS Secretary Azar and CDC Director Redfield immediately share public health data with TECs, and he pressed IHS Director Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee to strengthen the COVID-19 response in Indian Country as the Trump Administration continues its efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. He also demanded that the U.S. Department of Agriculture provide emergency food assistance to Tribes in the wake of the pandemic.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7763", "On Senate Floor, Tester Blasts Trump for Unconscionable Remarks on American War Heroes [press_release]", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Senate Floor, Tester Blasts Trump for Unconscionable Remarks on American War Heroes \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Senator leads resolution honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star families and denouncing the President's disparaging comments \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, took to the Senate floor today to condemn President Donald Trump's disparaging of Americans who lost their lives in war.\nThis President has crossed the line, said Tester. Suckers' and losers' do not belong in the same sentence as our military, especially when you are talking about the Greatest Generation that gave their lives for this country. It is not time for resolutions that are political gamesit is time to tell this President he screwed up. And if we don't, it will affect this country's future long after he steps out of the presidency. \nTester also joined his Senate colleagues today in introducing a resolution to denounce the President's shameful remarks, and honor the service and sacrifice of members of the U.S. Armed Forces  and veterans. Tester quickly blasted Trump's remarks last week following initial reporting.\nTester's full resolution is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7762", "Tester Statement on Bridger Foothills Fire [press_release]", "2020-09-06", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Bridger Foothills Fire \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement on the fire in Bridger Canyon:\n \"I am closely monitoring the fire in Bridger Canyon. This situation is rapidly evolving and it's critical that folks in the area listen to directives from local officials and first responders as they work to keep Gallatin County safe.\" \n\nFind up-to-date fire information HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7761", "Tester Statement on Trump Disparaging American War Heroes [press_release]", "2020-09-04", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Trump Disparaging American War Heroes \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, released the following statement on reporting that President Donald Trump insulted, disparaged, and belittled Americans who lost their lives in war:\n Our nation's fallen servicemembers gave their lives to defend the freedoms that all Americans, including the President, share today. This President's attack on our men and women in uniform, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, is offensive and deeply unbecoming of America's commander in chief. It is a slap in the face of our servicemembers, veterans, and military families who have given everything to their country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7759", "Tester  Colleagues to Defense Department: Reinstate Funding for Stars and Stripes Newspaper [press_release]", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, joined a bipartisan group of Senators yesterday in calling on the Defense Department to reinstate funding for the Stars and Stripes newspaper. The Defense Department currently plans to stop publishing the newspaper at the end of this month and dissolve the organization by January 31, 2021.\nStars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation's freedom of the press that serves the very population charged with defending that freedom, the Senators wrote to Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Therefore, we respectfully request that you rescind your decision to discontinue support for Stars and Stripes and that you reinstate the funding necessary for it to continue operations.\nStars and Stripes is a historically significant publication in the United States, providing independent, nonpartisan, and award-winning journalism to more than 1.4 million readers among active duty forces, veterans, civilians, and their families.\nIn addition to Tester, the letter is signed by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine).\nRead the Senators' full letter to Esper HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7760", "Tester Calls on USDA to Expand Assistance to Wheat Producers Left Out of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program [press_release]", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on agriculture production across the country, U.S. Senator Jon Tester and a bipartisan group of his colleagues are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional support for wheat farmers facing major losses.\nIn a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Tester outlined the need to expand eligibility for assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to include COVID-19 losses for all classes of wheat.\nWhether it's wheat farmers who wrapped up harvest in May, those in the field harvesting their crops now, or those looking ahead to harvest in the coming weeksthe economic impact of COVID-19 has been experienced and felt by all wheat farmers across the country, wrote Tester and his colleagues. The average price for wheat in 2020 is shaping up to be the worst in the last 13 years. \nAuthorized through the Coronavirus, Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, CFAP provides $16 billion in direct aid to farmers and ranchers, including $3.9 billion for non-specialty crops such as wheat. Eligible producers can receive direct aid for commodities that experienced at least a 5 percent price loss as related to COVID-19. CFAP currently provides assistance to some wheat producers impacted by the pandemic, including at-risk 2019 crop losses for hard red spring and durum wheat. However, these classes of wheat represent approximately 30 percent of 2019 wheat production, leaving a majority of wheat farmers without access to assistance through the program.\nThe deadline to apply for assistance through CFAP is September 11th, 2020. Eligible producers can do so by contacting their local FSA office.\nAs a small scale producer in rural Montana, Tester has been fighting tooth and nail to bring critical relief to farmers and ranchers across the Treasure State. Earlier this year, he laid out his three-plank Rancher Relief Plan that aims to provide certainty to Montana producers and give consumers more access to the products they buy at the supermarket. Additionally, Tester successfully expanded the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Relief Loan and Emergency Economic Injury Grant Programs to include ag businesses, farms, and ranches, and secured $1 billion in USDA loan guarantees through the CARES Act to help rural businesses meet working capital needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nTester's full letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7758", "Tester Secures Nearly $6 Million in Pandemic Relief Funds for Montana [press_release]", "2020-09-02", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To help offset costs incurred through Montana's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, today announced the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) will receive $5,713,604 in federal reimbursements through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund. Tester secured an additional $45 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund as part of the Coronavirus, Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which he helped negotiate and pass into law in March.\nMontanans look out for one another, so as this virus hit, it's no surprise that Governor Bullock quickly stepped up to the plate to provide supplies, protective equipment, and public health information to help keep folks healthy, said Tester. But while we can't put a price on public safety, the costs incurred by our state during this pandemic are very realand the federal government must continue providing assistance to states that have borne the brunt of this crisis. I'll keep holding the Administration accountable to ensure the Treasure State has the resources necessary to continue combating this virus and keeping folks safe. \nIn response to the immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Montana DPHHS expedited the purchase and distribution of materials to provide medical care for COVID-19 patients, including critical supplies and personal protective equipment. In addition, Montana DPHHS disseminated public health information to Tribal governments, providing focused attention to native wellness in the context of the pandemic.\nFEMA's Disaster Relief Fund will reimburse Montana DPHHS $5,713,604 of the $7,618,138 in total costs of the State's protective measures, totaling 75 percent in federal cost sharing.\nTester has worked relentlessly to bolster public health in Montana and to ensure the state is equipped to handle the COVID-19 crisis. He recently announced nearly $2 million for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Laboratory to help with testing and immunization support. He also secured $3 million for 14 Montana community health centers to expand COVID-19 testing, and delivered nearly $200 million in relief funding for 121 rural Montana hospitals, health centers, and clinics. In addition, Tester has fought to hold the Trump Administration accountable to Montana and ensure that critically-needed supplies for front line health care workers go where they are needed most, leading his colleagues in urging Trump to increase production and distribution of personal protective equipment and improve the nation's contact tracing capacity.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7757", "Tester Secures $15.7 Million for Six Montana Airports [press_release]", "2020-09-01", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Continuing his years-long push to improve transportation infrastructure across Big Sky Country, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $15,716,071 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds for six Montana airports to improve safety, make repairs, expand terminals, and purchase low-emission equipment.\nAirports in Billings, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Hamilton, and Thompson Falls will receive funding.\nMontana's airports are the gateways to Big Sky Country, for Montanans traveling for business or to see family, or for folks coming to experience our state's $7.1 billion outdoor recreation economy, said Tester. But these airports have been hit hard by the pandemic, and I'm proud to have secured these funds so our airports have the resources they need to make critical safety improvements and upgrades across the board.\nAdditionally, $1,571,602 of the funds are a part of expansions to the AIP secured by Senator Tester in the Coronavirus, Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act after he pressured the Trump Administration to ensure rural airports did not get left behind in any COVID-19 relief packages.\nThe following airports will receive funding:\n \nBillings Logan International Airport: $4,764,805, including $476,480 in funds, to expand the terminal.\nHelena Regional Airport: $4,903,905including $490,390 in CARES Act fundsfor fire safety equipment and repairs to the Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Training Center.\nGlacier Park International Airport: $2,641,842including $264,184 in CARES Act fundsto expand the terminal building.\nRavalli County Airport in Hamilton: $1,915,248including $191,523 in CARES Act fundsto reconstruct the taxiway, for various repairs to aprons and runways, and to purchase safety equipment.\nMissoula International Airport: $756,995including $75,699 in CARES Act fundsto acquire low-emission airport equipment.\nThompson Falls Airport: $733,276including $73,326 in CARES Act fundsfor safety equipment and reconstruction.\n \nTester has worked tirelessly to ensure that Montana's transportation infrastructure is not left behind during the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently urged the Trump Administration to provide robust assistance to the Airport Improvement Program and ensure local airports aren't left behind in any new coronavirus aid packages. Additionally, he secured nearly $74 million for more than 70 airports across Montana to cover operational expenses and development projects during the crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7756", "Tester Secures $400,000 to Combat Elder Abuse Against Montanans [press_release]", "2020-08-31", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today continued his push to eradicate exploitation of older Montanans by securing $400,000 in Department of Justice funding to the Montana Board of Crime Control to help combat elder abuse.\nAt a time when older Montanans are stuck inside with a greater risk from COVID-19, it is absolutely critical we do everything we can to help stop the scourge of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, said Tester. These critical funds will help continue and expand ongoing efforts to combat elder abuse and provide services to victims across our state.\nThese funds will allow the Montana Board of Crime Control to continue the collaboration with the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation and the Attorney General's Office of Legal Services, the Montana Department of Health and Human Services' Adult Protective Services, and new partner, YWCA of Missoula to address abuse in later life. In addition to continuing services in the initial project area, with this funding they will expand the project to cover Missoula, Ravalli, Lake, and Toole Counties.\nProject partners will support a multidisciplinary community response to elder abuse and review policies and procedures to identify gaps in the response to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. They will expand on existing victim services to improve program outcomes and develop an outreach and services plan for the new counties.\nSenator Tester is a cosponsor of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, which would increase funding, training, and services to end abuse later in life. Tester is also the cosponsor of the Stop Senior Scams Act, the Senior Fraud Prevention Act, and the Stopping COVID Scams Act to prevent financial fraud and scams aimed at seniors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7693", "Tester: USDA Cannot Put Funding Meant for Veteran  Minority Farmers and Ranchers Out to Pasture [press_release]", "2020-08-28", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is leading a group of his colleagues in demanding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stop diverting congressional funding away from a program aimed at supporting the specific needs of veteran, Native American, Black, Asian American, and Latino family farmers and ranchers.\nTester and his colleagues are sounding the alarm on USDA moving funding away from the critical Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (Section 2501) program, which works to provide support to rural America's historically underserved communities by using innovative outreach and technical assistance programs through community-based organizations, Tribes, and educational institutions.\nVeterans, Indigenous populations, and other folks of color are majorly underrepresented in production agriculture, both in Montana and across the nation, said Tester. The 2501 program has long been a critical tool for bringing more diverse voices into farm and ranch country, and Congress has made it clear as crystal that this program is worth the money. This Administration cannot put Section 2501 out to pasture, because these folks need our support, especially now during a global public health and economic crisis.\nCongress provided mandatory funding to the 2501 program in the 2018 Farm Bill as part of the new Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach program, and in recent years, the body has provided additional funding to the program through annual appropriations. Recently, USDA redirected funding meant for the 2501 program to a new initiative called the Centers for Community Prosperity (CCP) without taking input or consultation from stakeholders or communities of color and veterans serviced by the 2501 program.\nIn a bicameral letter to Mike Beatty, Director of the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement within USDA, Tester and his colleagues expressed their concern about the move, and demanded that appropriated funding for Section 2501 be used as intended.\nDuring this difficult time, farmers across the U.S. face unprecedented challenges in keeping their farms afloat and their livelihoods intactWe are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of our nation's most underserved farmers who often have the fewest resources to draw on and who most need our support in these challenging times, wrote Tester and his colleagues. We were therefore concerned to learn that instead of directing FY 2020 2501 appropriations to grants established through the 2018 Farm Bill, USDA instead redirected this funding to a new initiative created by the Administrationthe Centers for Community Prosperity (CCP).\nThe Senators continued: It is our expectation that any and all additional funds appropriated in FY 2021 to support outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers under 7 U.S.C. 2279 be directed to the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers program.\nRead Tester's full letter to USDA HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7695", "Tester Secures Nearly $10 Million for 70 Montana Nursing Homes [press_release]", "2020-08-28", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his continued efforts to provide support to seniors amid the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Montana will receive $9,797,300 to help 70 nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities across the state increase testing, staffing, and bolster personal protective equipment needs.\nWe know just how dangerous this virus can be when it comes to our seniors, and too many Montanans have already lost their parents or grandparents because of outbreaks at elder care facilities, said Tester. That's why it's critical that we provide our nursing homes with as many resources as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within their communities, and this funding will help ensure that Montana's most vulnerable have additional support to make it to the other end of this crisis.\nThe funding is a targeted distribution made available by the $175 billion Provider Relief program established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and is allocated by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\nTester is a staunch advocate for Montana's seniors, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently demanded that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell increase investments into senior care services and Medicaid in any new coronavirus relief package, and he secured nearly $1 million to help seniors with Alzheimer's in Missoula and Ravalli Counties remain independent. Additionally, he brought home more than $300,000 in pandemic relief funding for older Montanans this spring, and worked to bring more than $5.5 million in CARES Act funding to critical Montana programs that will help seniors stay healthy and safe during the crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7685", "In Fort Benton, Tester Joins Local Officials, Producers at Hemp Processing Facility Groundbreaking [press_release]", "2020-08-27", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today joined local officials and producers to break ground on a new hemp processing facility in Fort Benton, Mont. and pledged to continue fighting to ensure hemp farmers have the federal support and legal protections they need to continue growing the industry.\nThe ceremony marked the start of construction on new hemp fiber decortication facility, a project that eventually hopes to bring more than 20 full-time jobs to Fort Benton. Tester in July wrote a letter of support urging grant funding for the industrial park where the facility is located.\nWe're seeing hemp production in this state skyrocket, Tester said. It's not only a big deal for Fort Benton, and Chouteau County, and Northcentral Montana, but it's a big deal for the entire state. I'll keep fighting to make sure our hemp producers have the regulatory support they need, and I look forward to watching this business continue to grow and expand and be all that it can be.\nTester toured the location for the new facility along with IndHemp leaders Ben Brimlow and Morgan Elliott, and Fort Benton mayor Rick Morris. Tester also gave remarks on the future of hemp farming in Montana, and his ongoing work to promote the industry and cut red tape for hemp farmers.\nA longtime champion of hemp production, Tester successfully pressured the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to publish its long-awaited hemp rule that would ease regulations for Montana farmers. In a letter to USDA Secretary Perdue, he was the first member of Montana's Congressional delegation to ask federal agencies to provide certainty for farmers by implementing the hemp guidance mandated by the 2018 Farm Bill, and he secured guidance clarifying the legal status of hemp growth and production so that banks are no longer required to file suspicious activity reports for customers solely because they grow or cultivate the plant.\nFollowing Tester's efforts, hemp was removed from the list of Schedule I controlled substances after the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which permits producers to grow the crop. Last August, the National Credit Union Administration announced that it would provide financial services to legally operating hemp businesses and farmers. Last year's Appropriations package provided access to guaranteed loans for hemp producers and encourages hemp research and education.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7686", "Tester Secures $145,000 for Great Falls Firefighters [press_release]", "2020-08-27", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $145,272 for the City of Great Falls to purchase safety equipment to support the operations of firefighters and to keep them safe. This equipment is designed to remove potential carcinogens on firefighting gear and clothing.\nDuring a global pandemic, it's critical that we get our firefighters the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, said Tester. I'm proud to have secured these investments in our public safety infrastructure, which are going to help Great Falls first responders protect folks in the Electric City if an emergency occurs. \nTester secured the funds through the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) competitive Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. As the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Tester led the charge to increase funding for this critical program.\nThe AFG program helps local fire departments meet firefighting and emergency response needs by helping departments purchase critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel.\nTester recently secured $100 million in AFG funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help fire departments purchase personal protective equipment and other supplies necessary to address COVID-19.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7687", "Tester Secures $71,000 for East Missoula Rural Fire Department [press_release]", "2020-08-27", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $71,790 for the East Missoula Rural Fire Department to purchase two LifePak 15 Heart Monitor Defibrillators for each of the Department's two lead engines.\nDuring a global pandemic, it's critical that we get our firefighters and first responders the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, said Tester. I'm proud to have secured the funding for these heart monitors, which will allow Missoula firefighters to save lives by providing better on-site care to folks during a medical emergency.\nLifePak 15 Heart Monitors allow first responders to transmit an EKG report on a person with chest pains directly to a hospital in order to get on-the-spot advice on treatment in the field.  It also contains a built-in metronome to keep the responder in correct rhythm for administering CPR compressions.\nTester secured the funds through the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) competitive Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. As the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Tester led the charge to increase funding for this critical program.\nThe AFG program helps local fire departments meet firefighting and emergency medical response needs by helping departments purchase critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel.\nTester recently secured $100 million in AFG funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help fire departments purchase personal protective equipment and other supplies necessary to address COVID-19.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7688", "Following Tester Push, Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium Extended Through December 31 [press_release]", "2020-08-27", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following a sustained push led by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Trump Administration today agreed to extend the foreclosure and eviction moratorium for Americans who receive certain types of federal housing assistance through December 31, 2020.\nThis moratorium is a step in the right direction, and I'm glad the Trump Administration listened to Montana commonsense that will allow folks to keep a roof over their heads through this crisis, said Tester. During a global pandemic when the safest thing for folks to do is stay inside, it would be unacceptable to kick Montana families out of their homes, and I'm going to keep fighting tooth and nail to make sure Montanans aren't left in the cold.\nIn July, Tester led a group of Senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria, pushing for improved enforcement of the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums for the duration of the pandemic. Tester wrote that an estimated 32 percent of renters were unable to make payments last month, and that despite a ban on evictions for renters in federally-subsidized housing, some tenants have still been unlawfully evicted during the pandemic.\nAs you know, the CARES Act created temporary protections from eviction for millions of tenants who live in properties with federally-backed mortgages or that receive certain types of federal housing assistance, wrote Tester and his colleagues. During a time when having a roof over your head is essential for Americans' abilities to stay safe and healthy, Congress insisted that these safeguards be put in place to help those at risk of losing their housing in the midst of the public health and economic crises. These protections, as well as all tenant protections available under federal, state, and local law, must be honored and enforced.\nA recent oversight hearing by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs with federal housing regulators revealed that, since April, communities in several states have allowed landlords to move forward with eviction proceedings, despite the mandated temporary protections for renters established under the CARES Act. Tester and his colleagues urged the Administration to help renters understand what protections they have under the CARES Act, and to take proactive steps to ensure compliance with rules that prohibit evictions during the crisis.\nTester has secured more than $3 million in housing relief to help Montanans hardest hit by the pandemic, and fought to ensure the CARES Act included $5 billion in supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.\nThe Senators' full letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7684", "Tester Statement on Death of Montana Firefighter Tom Duffy [press_release]", "2020-08-26", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Death of Montana Firefighter Tom Duffy \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement on the death of Montana Firefighter Tom Duffy of Bozeman:\n Tom Duffy and his family are in Sharla and my thoughts today. Tom selflessly put his own life on the line to keep others safe from forest firesin his own backyard and in communities hundreds of miles away. We'll be forever grateful for the service in which he gave his life. \n  \nDuffy was killed in a helicopter crash battling a wildfire in the Mt. Hood National Forest.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7671", "Tester, Moran Urge VA to Continue Support for Veterans Living in Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Crisis [press_release]", "2020-08-25", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kans.)Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committeeare seeking additional support from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to protect the health and lives of veterans and staff in long-term care facilities during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.\nThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing homes and long-term care facilities have emerged as one of the most vulnerable settings for outbreaks, the Senators wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. Residents of these facilities, who are often elderly and have co-morbidities, are at higher risk for serious illness and death from the virus. We are committed to working with you to ensure that veterans and the staff dedicated to their care are protected and have access to key resources during the pandemic. \nThe Government Accountability Office estimates that more than 105,000 veterans receive long-term care fromor paid for byVA annually. This includes VA-run Community Living Centers (CLCs), state-run State Veterans Homes, or privately-run Community Nursing Homes. Given the high number of veterans who receive care outside of VA, the Senators urged development in the following five areas:\n \nTesting Support\nState Veterans Home Spot Checks\nNursing Home Support Teams\nNursing Home Concerns Hotline \nVirtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents\n \nThey continued, Long-term care facility cases in 23 hotspot states rose by 18 percent over the first two weeks of July, with some states reporting almost 50 percent case increases. We ask for the Department to explore and implement the below approaches for supporting veterans living within and beyond VA walls, as the U.S. continues to experience heightened COVID-19 case numbers. \nRead the Senators' letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7683", "Tester Continues Push to Ensure Montana Families Can Put Food on the Table [press_release]", "2020-08-25", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is continuing his push to make sure Montana families are able to get enough to eat during the coronavirus crisis.\nIn a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, Tester wrote that Montana needs more flexibility to ensure schools, food banks, and other organizations can continue providing critical assistance to families struggling to make ends meet.\nMontana families have to be able to continue putting food on the table during this pandemic, Tester said. I am going to keep the pressure on so we can cut this red tape and expand these vital food assistance programs so folks across our state can rest assured knowing they will be able to get enough to eat as we weather this public health crisis together. \nTester urged Perdue to allow schools to provide meals for students using the Summer Food Service Program, rather than the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs for the coming school year, and to approve emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotments for families and individuals.\nTester also asked Perdue to extend waivers to suspend time limits on certain food assistance programs, and sought an extension of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) physical presence waiver so that at-risk mothers and infants can avoid in-person visits for nutrition counseling and assistance while the public health threat remains.\nI appreciate your time and consideration of these requests, Tester's letter concluded. Your swift action will protect vulnerable Montanans from hunger, and provide much-need stability during COVID-19. I look forward to working with you on these important issues.\nTester has worked tirelessly to make sure Montana families are able to put food on the table during this public health crisis. He successfully pushed USDA to disburse $38 million in Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) purchasing funds to help Tribal communities combat food insecurity, and he secured $1.2 million for Montana food banks to provide low-income and elderly populations with access to nutrition assistance.\nTester's full letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7669", "Tester Demands Housing Agency Reverse Decision to Charge Fee for Refinanced Home Loans [press_release]", "2020-08-24", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following a recent announcement that Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are establishing a fee on refinanced home loans, U.S. Senator Jon Tester led a bipartisan group of colleagues in demanding that Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Mark Calabria prevent the fee, which would needlessly hurt Montanans in the midst of a global public health and economic crisis.\nTester and his colleagues are calling for a reversal of the FHFA's decision to allow the fee, noting that increasing burdens on borrowers during the coronavirus pandemic could be disastrous for American families. The GSEs announced last week that the 50 basis point fee on refinanced home loans (.5 percent of the mortgage loan) would be instituted on September 1st, and were given the green light by the FHFA without any notice to external stakeholders or consultation with Congress.\nWe write in regard to the market refinance fee that was recently announced by the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, wrote Tester and his colleagues in a bipartisan letter to FHFA Director Calabria. That the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) would allow the GSEs to take this course of action, during what is universally agreed to be a period of great economic distress, is surprising and deeply troubling. We therefore request that you immediately act to require that the GSEs withdraw this fee to prevent further harm to everyday Americans and our economy.\nThe Senators continued: This type of fee is difficult enough to price in during the best of times; in the midst of a global health pandemic with a vaccine not yet in sight, there is no rational explanation for this course of action in the manner and speed that you have taken.\nAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant financial strain on American families, many Montanans who are able to do so have taken steps to make their homes more affordable through refinancing, and the GSEs have adopted policies to ease purchase and most refinance transactions. This unexpected new fee, however, would cost a borrower refinancing a $300,000 loan about $1,400$200 more than the stimulus payment received by Americans earlier this year.\nTester also joined his Senate Banking Committee colleagues in demanding answers from Calabria as to why the fee was instated in the first place, and requesting he put an stop to it:\nWe do not know the full effect that COVID-19 will have on our nation's health or on families' finances. If families can lower their monthly costs, including housing costs, it would help them weather the public health and economic crisis in the months ahead. An unexpected fee will not, wrote Tester and his colleagues. We request that you immediately provide answers to [our questions] and not proceed, or approve of proceeding, with any pricing or policy changes during this pandemic that are not intended to help homeowners, renters, and our housing system withstand this crisis.\nTester has led the charge to ensure that Montana families are able to keep a roof over their heads throughout the coronavirus pandemic. He recently called on the Trump Administration to enforce bans on housing evictions through the remainder of the crisis, and he secured more than $3 million in housing relief to help Montanans hardest hit by the pandemic. He additionally secured $3 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development grant funding to increase affordable housing across Montana and fought to ensure the CARES Act included $5 billion in supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.\nRead Tester's bipartisan letter to FHFA HERE.\nRead Tester's letter with the Senate Banking Committee HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7670", "Tester Named 2020 Fiscal Hero for Work to Address National Debt [press_release]", "2020-08-24", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As America's debt continues to rise, U.S. Senator Jon Tester has been named one of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget's 2020 Fiscal Heroes for his work to address the growing budget crisis.\nTester is the only member of Montana's Congressional delegation to receive the award.\nOur country's skyrocketing debt means we're swiping the next generation's credit cards of the next generation at an unsustainable pace, Tester said. That is why I strongly opposed the Republican tax bill which added more than $1.5 trillion to the debt when we should have been saving money. Now during this pandemic, we've got to make smart and targeted investments to support hardworking Montanans and the small businesses that need it most. \nLast year, Tester introduced a Constitutional amendment that would prevent the federal government from spending more money than it receives in tax revenue. Under the amendment, any budget that adds to the national debt must pass with a three-fifths majority vote from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.\nTester's bill also includes provisions that protect essential safety nets such as Social Security and Medicare payments, as well as maintain existing debt payments to avoid default.\nBefore Montanans elected Tester to the U.S. Senate in 2006, he served as President of the Montana State Senate where he helped author and pass a balanced budget every two years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7668", "Tester Statement on Bipartisan House Passage of Emergency Postal Service Legislation [press_release]", "2020-08-22", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives passed legislation 257-150 to provide $25 billion in emergency funding to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS):\n The House today showed there is wide, bipartisan support across the country for bolstering the Postal Service, and the Senate can't keep its head buried in the sand just because Mitch McConnell wants to continue his summer vacation. McConnell must immediately call the Senate back to Washington to get to work and pass this bill, which will ensure Montanans can continue relying on USPS for the timely delivery of everything from medication to Social Security benefits. \n  \nIn July, Tester introduced similar, bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses. He has also pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nTester has led the charge to hold Postmaster General Louis DeJoy accountable after USPS undertook reorganization actions that threaten to undermine the agency.\nTester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election. He recently announced legislation that would prevent USPS from removing any further mail collection boxes across the country, force the agency to reinstate the boxes that were removed, and require DeJoy to submit a report to Congress explaining why collection boxes were removed in the first place.\nTester has also urged DeJoy to correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to prescriptions and pushed back on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following reports that it was scaling back its relationship with USPS, urging VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to address any concerns with the status of prescription deliveries for veteransespecially in rural states like Montana.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7665", "Tester Pushes Bill to Tackle Rising Methamphetamine Use in Montana [press_release]", "2020-08-21", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As concerns rise over methamphetamine use in Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is backing a bill that will help officials tackle the problem head-on.\nTester is cosponsoring the Methamphetamine Response Act, which would formally declare meth use an emerging drug threat and require the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to create a plan to combat meth use and prevent overdoses.\nMeth use is already a serious problem in Montana, and we need every resource available to fight back, Tester said. This bill will give Montana officials more tools to use in the battle against meth abuse and help keep the drug off the streets while giving families across our state access to the prevention programs and treatment they need to get back on their feet.\nThe Methamphetamine Response Act would require ONDCP to produce a plan that includes a full assessment of the threat meth poses, data on the current availability of and demand for the drug, increased access to evidence-based prevention and treatment programs, and support for anti-meth law enforcement programs.\nIt would also require ONDCP to identify and develop:\n \nShort- and long-term goals focused on reducing supply and demand reduction, and expanding the availability and effectiveness of treatment and prevention programs;\nPerformance measures for reaching the plan's goals;\nThe level of funding needed to implement the plan; and \nAn implementation strategy, goals, and objectives for a media campaign.\n \nTester has worked hard to ensure Montana has the resources it needs to combat the growing meth crisis. He urged on President Trump's ONDCP Director and Attorney General Barr to work together to address the issue and has advocated for additional funding for the ONDCP, which also administers the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and the Drug Free Communities Programs in Montana. Tester has secured funding for drug taskforces in Montana through the COPS Anti-Meth program, Byrne JAG, and HIDTA, and secured a $1 million grant to help local officials stem the flow of meth and other dangerous drugs into Montana communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7666", "Tester Slams DeJoy After Hearing: dependable mail delivery isnt just another election year issue [press_release]", "2020-08-21", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S Senator Jon Tester took U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to task today after DeJoy failed to provide any transparency on the basis for recent changes at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and refused to heed calls to reinstate critical mail processing machines that have been removed from mail facilities recently, including in Great Falls, Missoula, and Billings.\nAt a Senate committee hearing, DeJoy refused to make publically available the information he used to determine where and why services would be cut, and said bringing back mail processing machines is not needed despite an upcoming election that will be conducted largely by mail.\nPostmaster DeJoy today failed to provide an explanation to Montanans about why he has disrupted mail service across the country, even as he committed to implementing his harmful policy changes after the election, Tester said. For rural America, dependable mail delivery isn't just another election year issue, and it's unacceptable that DeJoy is hell bent on ensuring that Montananswho rely on USPS for everything from receiving prescription medication to paying their billswill be facing challenges again starting November 4th. DeJoy needs to provide Montanans with answers about what data he's basing his decisions on and then come up with a plan to do more than cut the legs out from under folks in rural communities.\nDeJoy's testimony came amid concerns that his actions at USPS are intended to cripple the agency and slow down mail delivery for millions of Americans. DeJoy also announced that USPS will again automatically consider election mail to be First Class mail, after Tester pushed back last week against the decision not to prioritize election mail. Tester and a group of colleagues had demanded DeJoy reverse the decision in a letter, writing that agency's decision would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline.\nTester continued, I'm glad Postmaster DeJoy listened to my call to consider election mail First Class mail, but he's still got a lot to explain to Montanans.\nTester has led the charge to hold DeJoy accountable after USPS undertook reorganization actions that threaten to undermine the agency. Tester recently announced legislation that would prevent USPS from removing any further mail collection boxes, force the agency to reinstate the boxes that were removed, and require DeJoy to submit a report to Congress explaining why collection boxes were removed in the first place.\nAdditionally, Tester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election.\nTester has also urged DeJoy to correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to prescriptions and pushed back on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following reports that it was scaling back its relationship with USPS, urging VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to address any concerns with the status of prescription deliveries for veteransespecially in rural states like Montana.\nHe also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7667", "Tester, Colleagues to DeJoy: USPS Operational Changes Disproportionately Harm Deployed Servicemembers [press_release]", "2020-08-21", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, is joining 28 colleagues in raising concerns with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over the heightened impact of harmful U.S. Postal Service (USPS) policy and operational changes on servicemembers and their families.\nBecause USPS is the only service that can deliver to the Army Post Office (APO) and Fleet Post Office (FPO) addresses used by our military overseas, deployed servicemembers and their families are uniquely impacted by changes that have left USPS intentionally hamstrung and severely strained. Active duty servicemembers who are deployed domestically also rely heavily on USPS to vote, pay their bills, receive packages, and stay in touch with family members and loved ones.\nThis population of Americans is disproportionately affected by any actions that restrict or delay the mail, which is sometimes the only reliable connection they have with loved ones during their military service, the Senators wrote. Servicemembers rely on USPS for the delivery of medicines, ballots, bills, and countless other pieces of vital mail.\nThey continued, Even more alarming is the reality that servicemembers depend on the mail to exercise their most important rights as American citizens: the right to vote. Absentee ballots are the only way that most of the military community can use their constitutionally protected right to cast a ballot. Making absentee voting more difficult disenfranchises the very Americans who serve and sacrifice on the front lines in defense of our right to vote and live in a democratic society  a cruel irony to our men and women in uniform that must be remedied immediately.\nIn addition to Tester, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Udall (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Mark Warner (D-VA).\nRead the Senators' full letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7662", "Tester Presses for Accurate 2020 Census Count for Indian Country [press_release]", "2020-08-20", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is pressing the Trump Administration to reverse its decision to end Census collection efforts a month earlier than previously planned and ensure an accurate 2020 Census count for Montana's Native American communities.\nIn a letter with his colleagues, Tester wrote that failure to get a complete, accurate count will have long term negative impacts on Indian Country.\nthe accelerated timeline, combined with the low response rate and the widespread lack of internet access, threatens to result in another severe undercount of American Indians, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities, wrote Tester and his colleagues. Failure to get a complete and accurate count of these community populations will have long term and devastating impacts  from redistricting data, to federal funding, to congressional representation. A fair and accurate Census is critical to Native communities' continued and future prosperity.\"\nOn April 13, 2020, the Commerce Department and Census Bureau announced a modified timeline for 2020 Census operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which extended the deadline for field data collection to October 31, 2020. On August 3rd, the Bureau reneged on its April 13th announcement and indicated instead that it will cease all collection by September 30, 2020. Tester is pushing for Congress to delay the deadline in the next coronavirus package to make sure all Montanans are counted accurately by the Census.\nCensus response rates have been and remain low in Tribal communities in part because Tribal governments have taken necessary measures to keep their communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Tribal communities have experienced some of the highest mortality rates in the nation from the virus. In 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated nearly five percent of Native Americans living on reservations and in Alaska Native villages weren't included in the final Census count.\nWe strongly urge you to honor the previously announced 2020 Census completion date of October 31, 2020 and to continue operations under the modified timeline as detailed in the Bureau's April 13th announcement, Tester and his colleagues continued. We look forward to working with you to uphold the federal government's constitutional obligation to ensure a fair and accurate count for Indian Country and all Native populations within the United States.\nTester's full letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7663", "Tester Pushes Back on VA Following Reports of Scaling Back Operations with USPS [press_release]", "2020-08-20", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is continuing his fight to ensure veteransespecially in rural states like Montanaare not left behind following reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is scaling back its relationship with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).\nAs the Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I have serious concerns about VA's plans to work with a private sector company rather than continue to partner with the USPS, which boasts 100,000 former servicemembers within its ranks, to deliver medications for veterans in Montana, Tester wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.\nTester continued, Mr. Secretary, VA's mail-order pharmacy program is extremely popular among veterans, with an among the best' rating in customer satisfaction according to the J.D. Power U.S. Pharmacy Study. A large part of that success has been due to the dedication of the men and women of the USPS. I urge you to address any concerns you might have with the status of deliveries with Postmaster General DeJoy so that veterans and taxpayers might benefit from this cost-efficient and highly-rated partnership to deliver medications to veterans.\nThe Ranking Member's request comes on the heels of his letter to DeJoy last week, where he urged USPS to correct operational changes that restricted mail movement and limited carriers' ability to make timely prescription deliveries to veterans across the country.\nTester has led the charge to hold DeJoy accountable after USPS undertook reorganization actions that threaten to undermine the agency and concerns the changes are intended to cripple the agency and slow down mail delivery for millions of Americans. On Monday, Tester called on DeJoy to appear before Congress to answer for the changes, and last Thursday Tester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election. He also urged DeJoy to reverse the agency's decision to not automatically consider election mail First Class mail, which would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline.\nHe also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nRead Tester's full letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7664", "Tester Secures More Than $4 Million for Maternal and Early Childhood Homevisiting Program [press_release]", "2020-08-20", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) will receive $4,379,043 in Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Homevisiting grant funding to help provide pregnant women and families with resources and guidance for raising their children.\nMaternal, infant and early childhood homevisiting is a tried and true way to improve the health of mothers and their children, as well as ensure that kids coming into this world are on good footing, said Tester. As the COVID-19 pandemic is making it harder for many parents to provide their children with the support they need, this funding is coming at a critical time. With it, DPHHS can help make sure that no mother or child is lacking access to preventative health and prenatal practices, child development tools, and school readiness resources.\nThe Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Homevisiting Grant Program helps pregnant women and families with children access critical resources though regular, planned home visits from health, social service, and child development professionals. Due to the coronavirus pandemic forcing families to stay home, many children have missed out on regular well-child visits that would give them access to necessities like vaccines and development check-ups. Home visits offer a possible solution to this issue, providing high-risk families with resources to access health care needs for their children.\nAs a former elementary school teacher and school board member, Tester has been on the front lines advocating for Montana families and their children. As a senior member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, he secured more than $10 billion in funding for Head Start programs nationwide in recent budget negotiations. He also recently demanded that the Trump Administration cease its efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act that would rip away health coverage from thousands of Montana families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7658", "Tester Pushes Federal Trade Commission to Stand with Rural America on Right to Repair [press_release]", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his continued efforts to help Montana farmers and ranchers stay in business, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is pushing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to examine the importance of right to repairthe ability of a buyer to repair their own equipmentfor Montanans working in production agriculture.\nProtecting the right of Montana farmers and ranchers to repair their own equipment is critical to keeping the operation running smoothly, and keeping input costs low, wrote Tester in a letter to FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson. Right now, everything from smartphones to tractors require diagnostic software and equipment to make repairs. Howevera smartphone and a combine are not the same, and if we continue to lump the two together when developing right to repair policy, rural America will bear the brunt of the impact.\nTester continued: Right to repair could be an important tool, but only if the policy is carefully targeted and not overly broad. Especially as farmers across Montana are harvesting their crops, it is critically important that they have the ability to fix their equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner.\nRight to repair is the ability of a consumer to repair their own equipment through accessing product service manuals, guides, diagnostic equipment, parts, and necessary software. With advanced technology now being incorporated into production agriculture, it is becoming more and more difficult for farmers and ranchers to fix their own equipment, so many have come to rely on often overpriced dealer-certified shops that hurt both the producer and local repair shops. Tester is pushing the FTC to take the necessary steps to address right to repair and ensure that these policies work for agriculture in Montana.\nAs a small scale farmer in rural Montana, Tester has been fighting to ensure that producers have the resources they need to meet their bottom lines, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this year, he laid out his three-plank Rancher Relief Plan that aims to provide certainty to Montana producers and give consumers more access to the products they buy at the supermarket. He recently took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to support his bipartisan bill to level the playing field for Montana ranchers and consumers, and he successful demanded that Attorney General William Barr, in coordination with USDA, open an investigation into reports of price fixing in the cattle market earlier this year.\nRead Tester's full letter to Commissioner Wilson HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7659", "Tester Announces $15 Million in CARES Act Economic Support to Help Montana Businesses Survive Pandemic [press_release]", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Announces $15 Million in CARES Act Economic Support to Help Montana Businesses Survive Pandemic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Funds will help respond to and prepare for future disasters, provide loans for small businesses \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced nearly $4 million in Recovery Assistance Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) and more than $11 million in Recovery Assistance Grants to help communities across Montana recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Tester secured these funds as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.\nThe coronavirus pandemic has hit Montana's economy hard, and our local small businesses need all the support they can get to weather this storm, Tester said. I fought to secure these funds so that Montana Economic Development Organizations have the tools they need to help Main Street businesses all across our state keep the lights on and continue serving their communities during the outbreak, and I will keep working to make sure all Montanans have the support and resources they need to survive this crisis.\nThe funding is available through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and will help Montana communities respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing grants to help economic development districts respond to this disaster and plan for future ones, and by providing critical gap funding for small businesses struggling to make ends meet during the outbreak.\nThe $3.9 million in Recovery Assistance grants for Montana Tester announced today includes:\n \nBeartooth Resource Conservation & Development Area, Joliet, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to provide technical assistance to businesses and communities in their region.\nBear Paw Development Corporation of Northern Montana, Havre, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to help local governments rehabilitate infrastructure, strengthen the regional food system supply chain, and promote remote work opportunities for both employers and employees.\nGreat Northern Development Corporation, Wolf Point, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to hire additional staff to provide technical assistance and disaster relief best practices to support economic recovery in northeast Montana.\nHeadwaters Resource Conservation & Development Area, Butte, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to deliver much-needed support, planning and assistance to Southwestern Montana.\nMontana Business Assistance Connection, Helena, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to hire additional staff that will focus on providing technical assistance to spur business recovery, support workforce needs, and boost the region's critical tourism sector.\nNorth Central Montana Economic Development District, Great Falls, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to increase community capacity and technological capabilities, and provide business sustainability and community development assistance. Efforts will also include resilience planning at the local level to assist in mitigating future challenges\nNorthern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District, Bozeman, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to hire a recovery coordinator and a data analyst to coordinate work among recovery response teams serving the region's economic development, tourism, health, and other sectors.\nSnowy Mountain Development Corporation, Lewistown, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to increase staff and technology to provide technical assistance to businesses, entrepreneurs, and local governments in addressing disaster recovery and resiliency efforts throughout central Montana.\nSoutheastern Montana Development Corporation, Colstrip, Montana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to support proactive planning for small businesses and local governments to help minimize future economic and natural disaster impacts.\nEastern Plains Economic Development Corporation, Baker, Montana, will receive a $300,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to provide technical assistance to businesses and communities in the region.\n \nThe $11.1 million in Revolving Loan Funds for Montana Tester announced includes:\n \nGreat Falls Development Authority, Inc., Great Falls, Montana, will receive a $4.8 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer an RLF that will provide gap financing and loans to coronavirus-impacted businesses in Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton, and Toole counties.\nButte Local Development Corporation, Butte, Montana, will receive a $3.5 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer an RLF that will provide loans to coronavirus-impacted businesses in Butte-Silver Bow county. \nMontana Community Development Corporation, Missoula, Montana, will receive a $1.6 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer an RLF to provide loans to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in Missoula County.\nMontana Business Assistance Connection, Inc., Helena, Montana, will receive a $660,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer an RLF to provide loans to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Butte-Silver Bow, Granite, Jefferson, Madison, and Powell counties. \nHeadwaters Resource Conservation & Development Area, Butte, Montana, will receive a $550,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer an RLF to provide loans to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Butte-Silver Bow, Granite, Jefferson, Madison, and Powell counties.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7660", "Tester Announces Funding for Housing and Services for Homeless Veterans in Montana [press_release]", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today announced funding to help homeless and at-risk veterans across Montana get back on their feet.\nTester secured funding for five nonprofits located in Billings, Kalispell, Missoula, and Poplar under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Grant Per Diem (GPD) program, which provides veterans access to safe housing and other supportive services. Services will be provided to veterans staying in one of the 62 beds secured by this funding across the five organizations.\nNow more than ever, we need to be taking swift action to ensure our nation's heroes have the resources they need to get back on their feet, said Ranking Member Tester. These funds will bring critical relief to Montana's veterans by putting a safe roof over their heads while they seek stable employment that will help them provide for themselves and their families. \nTester secured grant money for the following Montana organizations:\n \nVolunteers of American Northern Rockies, Billings, 20 beds;\nNorth West Montana Veterans Stand Down, Kalispell, support services;\nMissoula Housing Authority, Missoula, 17 beds and support services;\nThe Poverello Center, Missoula, 20 beds;\nFort Peck Housing Authority, Poplar, five beds.\n \nTester has been leading the charge in Congress to expand VA services for homeless veterans across the country. He recently backed bipartisan legislation to strengthen VA services for homeless veterans, and spearheaded an effort to expand testing capabilities for this vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7661", "Amid Reports of Further Changes at Montana Post Offices, Tester Pushes for Answers on Reversal [press_release]", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S Senator Jon Tester fired off another letter today pushing for answers after reports indicated U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is removing mail sorting machines from U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities across Montana, breaking his promise yesterday to halt any further changes at USPS until after the November election.\nI write today regarding reports that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is removing mail sorting machines from several locations around Montana, Tester wrote. If true, this would call into question the announcement you made yesterday that no changes would be made until after the election. Montanans deserve answers to the following from you immediately.\nTester went on to press DeJoy on the following questions:\n \nIs it true that these machines were recently removed from Billings, Missoula and Great Falls?\nIf so, please provide locations and the rationale for removing the machines. If any of these machines are being removed and replaced, what dates can we expect the new equipment to arrive in each instance?\nHow does removing equipment improve services currently offered by the USPS? \n \nMontanans rely on dependable, timely mail service to pay their bills, receive prescription drugs, and vote, Tester continued. Delaying this essential service is unacceptable. I look forward to your response.\nTester has led the charge to hold DeJoy accountable after USPS undertook reorganization actions that threaten to undermine the agency and concerns the changes are intended to cripple the agency and slow down mail delivery for millions of Americans. On Tuesday, Tester announced  legislation that would prevent USPS from removing any further mail collection boxes, force the agency to reinstate the boxes that were removed, and require DeJoy to submit a report to Congress explaining why collection boxes were removed in the first place.\nOn Monday, Tester called on DeJoy to appear before Congress to answer for the changes, and last Thursday Tester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election.\nTester wrote two letters to DeJoy last week urging him to correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to prescriptions and to reverse the agency's decision to not automatically consider election mail First Class mail, which would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline.\nHe also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nTester's letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7654", "New Tester Legislation Would Prevent, Reverse Removal of Mail Collection Boxes [press_release]", "2020-08-18", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Big Sandy, Mont.) - After the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) removed potentially dozens of mail collection boxes across Montana without warning or explanation, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced his Post Office Security and Transparency (POST) Act to prevent the agency from removing any further boxes and requiring it to reinstate the boxes that were removed. Tester's bill would also force U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to explain to Congress why the collection boxes were removed in the first place. Last week, Tester blew the whistle on the collection box removals in Missoula and Bozeman, as well as planned removals in Billings and Lewistown. He has called on the agency to explain itself, and is awaiting answers about the exact locations of all removed boxes, why the boxes were removed, and if they were relocated to improve accessibility.  \"All Montanans rely on timely mail service, especially veterans and folks living in rural communities,\" Tester said. \"This legislation will force Postmaster DeJoy to reverse his harmful decision to remove mail collection boxes from communities across our state and help us get to the bottom of why the agency launched this scheme in the first place. I am going to keep holding DeJoy accountable to Montana, so folks can continue relying on the USPS for critical mail services like paying bills and voting in upcoming elections.\"\nTester's bill places a 180-day freeze on USPS removal of mail collection boxes and requires any boxes that have been removed since June 15, 2020 to be restored. The bill also requires USPS to submit a report to Congress on box removal and prohibits USPS from removing additional collection boxes until the report is complete. The report must include:\n\tMetrics used to make decisions on collection box removal.  \tMethods of public notice for removals.  \tAnalysis of demographics most likely to use collection boxes.  \tLocation information of where new boxes were placed, if at all, to improve accessibility. Tester's bill is in response to recent actions at USPS that threaten to undermine the agency and concerns that several changes DeJoy has instituted at USPS are intended to cripple the agency and slow down mail delivery for millions of Americans. On Monday, Tester called on DeJoy to appear before Congress to answer for the changes, and last Thursday Tester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election. Additionally, DeJoy recently reorganized top leadership at USPS and has reportedly undertaken other policy changes that will lead to slower and less reliable mail delivery, including eliminating extra mail transportation trips, slashing overtime, and reducing critical mail sorting equipment at mail processing plants. Tester wrote two letters to DeJoy last week urging him to correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to prescriptions and to reverse the agency's decision to not automatically consider election mail First Class mail, which would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline. He also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nText of Tester's legislation can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7656", "Tester Doubles Down on Fight to Save Montana Restaurants, Live Music Venues [press_release]", "2020-08-18", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is doubling down on his fight to make sure Montana's restaurants and live music venues have the support they need to survive the pandemic.\nTester is pushing legislation that would provide grants to independent restaurants and small independent music venues impacted by the crisis to help them stay afloat until the pandemic abates.\nSmall businesses where folks from all walks of life gather together, like restaurants and music venues, play a big role in our economy and are the lifeblood of our communities, Tester said. Because it will be some time before these businesses are able to safely operate at full capacity again, we need to do everything we can to ensure they can keep the lights on and pay their employees so that they'll be there waiting for us on the other side after the public health crisis has ended.\nTester is cosponsoring two bills that would help restaurants and independent live music venues. His RESTAURANTS Act would create a grant program to help restaurants struggling due to COVID-19 cover costs including payroll, benefits, mortgage, rent, utilities, maintenance, supplies including protective equipment and cleaning materials, food, and debt obligations to suppliers. His Save Our Stages Act would provide Small Business Administration grants for independent live music venue operators to keep venues afloat, pay employees, and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across Montana.\nTester has fought relentlessly to make sure Montana's small, independent businesses have support to survive the pandemic. He recently introduced the Entertainments New Credit Opportunity for Relief & Economic Sustainability (ENCORES) Act, a bill that will create a new tax credit for live entertainment venues with fewer than 500 employees to help cover the cost of refunded tickets for shows that were canceled due to the pandemic, and he wrote to Senate leadership calling for tax relief and debt assistance to help Montana's music venues survive the crisis.\nHe is also pushing the Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards a Recovery in Twenty-twenty (RESTART) Act to create a long-term, partially forgivable loan program that targets small- and mid-sized businesses devastated by the public health crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7657", "Tester Statement on USPS Decision to Drop Harmful Initiatives Until After Election [press_release]", "2020-08-18", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After sustained pressure by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced today that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will suspend harmful cost-cutting initiatives until after the November election.\nThe Postal Service is a critical lifeline for thousands of Montanans, and it is welcome news that Postmaster DeJoy intends to drop the harmful changes he has instituted until after the election, Tester said. But this fight is far from over  Montanans rely on dependable, timely mail service to pay their bills, receive prescription drugs, and vote, and DeJoy's actions have already caused real damage that must be repaired. I won't stop fighting until USPS reverses the disruptions in service DeJoy has made, and until USPS has the resources and support it needs to continue delivering mail to every community in our state. \nTester raised the alarm after USPS undertook reorganization actions that threaten to undermine the agency and concerns the changes are intended to cripple the agency and slow down mail delivery for millions of Americans. Earlier Tuesday Tester announced legislation to prevent USPS from removing any further mail collection boxes, forcing the agency to reinstate the boxes that were removed, and requiring DeJoy to submit a report to Congress explaining why collection boxes were removed in the first place.\nOn Monday, Tester called on DeJoy to appear before Congress to answer for the changes, and last Thursday Tester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election.\nTester wrote two letters to DeJoy last week urging him to correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to prescriptions and to reverse the agency's decision to not automatically consider election mail First Class mail, which would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline.\nHe also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7655", "Amid Growing Concern Over Mail Delays, Tester Pushes Postmaster to Testify on Changes at USPS [press_release]", "2020-08-17", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As concern grows over worsening mail delays nationwide, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today is calling on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to testify before Congress and answer for changes he has made at the agency.\nIn a letter with several of his colleagues, Tester wrote that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is an indispensable public institution and warned DeJoy not to make any changes that could slow down mail or compromise service for veterans, small businesses, rural communities, seniors, and the thousands of Montanans who rely on the mail for medicine, essential goods, and voting.\nThe Postal Service is a public institution that both serves and belongs to every person in our nation, wrote Tester and his colleagues. As a result, we call on you to testify before Congress about all changes you have made and plan to make as Postmaster General. The lack of transparency so far regarding the intent, scope, and responsibility for changes at the Postal Service is unacceptable.\nLast Thursday, Tester blew the whistle on USPS for removing dozens of mail collection boxes from towns across Montana, and he pushed DeJoy for answers, leading USPS to pause its removal of collection boxes nationwide until after the election.\nDeJoy's actions at USPS have ignited controversy, raising concerns that several changes he instituted at USPS were intended to cripple the agency and slow down mail delivery for millions of Americans. DeJoy recently reorganized top leadership at USPS and has reportedly undertaken other policy changes that will lead to slower and less reliable mail delivery, including eliminating extra mail transportation trips, slashing overtime, and reducing critical mail sorting equipment at mail processing plants.\nTester and his colleagues called on DeJoy to testify before Congress to provide transparency on his actions and to answer for them before the American people. Specifically, Tester asked for more information about how DeJoy's changes will hamper the timeliness of mail delivery, why the changes were made without analysis or consulting with stakeholders, and what steps USPS will take to suspend or halt any changes adversely affecting mail delivery during this pandemic and in advance of the upcoming election.\nAs Postmaster General, you have avoided answering questions about the magnitude of delays we have seen and have not yet provided any evidence that you studied or considered how your changes would affect delays and mail service before implementing these changes, Tester and his colleagues continued. Inevitably, without additional information or engagement from you or the Postal Service with stakeholders about these changes, your actions raise questions regarding your intent and whether you have adequately sought to fully understand the Postal Service's current capabilities, personnel, and public service mission before implementing these changes.\nTester has led the charge to ensure USPS has the support and resources it needs to perform its critical mail delivery service as communities across Montana continue dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Tester wrote two letters to DeJoy last week urging him to correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to prescriptions and to reverse the agency's decision to not automatically consider election mail First Class mail, which would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline.\nHe also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nTester's letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7653", "BREAKING: Tester Bill Expanding Protections for Military Families Impacted by COVID-19 Signed Into Law [press_release]", "2020-08-16", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BREAKING: Tester Bill Expanding Protections for Military Families Impacted by COVID-19 Signed Into Law \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Bipartisan legislation expands the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide additional legal protections for military families during the pandemic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today celebrated his bipartisan bill amending the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to provide additional legal protections for servicemembers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis being signed into law.\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester introduced commonsense legislation alongside Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) earlier this year to expand SCRA protections to servicemembers who were previously issued orders to change duty stations but, due to the global pandemic, received a stop movement order and may have a housing or car lease in two different locations.\nThousands of military families in Montana and across the country can breathe easy knowing they are finally entitled to the legal and consumer protections they deserve, said Ranking Member Tester. This law protects servicemembers from further bearing the brunt of this unprecedented crisis by making sure those with pending lease agreements and outstanding moving costs are not left to foot the bill. I thank Chairman Moran for working with me on this bipartisan measure that ensures our men and women in uniform are provided with the critical assistance they need and earned. \nTester has led the effort to ensure servicemembers and their families in Montana are not left to cover housing payments at their current duty station and at their intended Permanent Change of Station. In May, he joined his House colleagues in calling on the Department of Defense to ease financial burdens facing servicemembers planning to relocate as a result of the stop movement order issued due to COVID-19.\nA copy of the bill can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7652", "After White House Moves to Withdraw Pendley Nomination, Tester Vows Opposition to Any Continued Role at Bureau of Land Management for Anti-Public Lands Activist [press_release]", "2020-08-15", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today vowed opposition to any continued role for William Perry Pendley at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), after reports indicated the White House intends to withdraw the anti-public land activist's nomination to formally head the agency. Pendley will remain with the agency in his current role as an unconfirmed acting director.\nWilliam Perry Pendley and his anti-public lands agenda have no place at the Bureau of Land Management, Tester said. This withdrawal is a clear acknowledgement from the Administration that he can't hold up to public scrutiny or tough questions. But our fight is not over until he is no longer overseeing our public lands. I will continue to stand with Governor Bullock and our fellow Montanans in opposition to Pendley's ongoing role in managing the public lands that he has spent his career undermining.\nTester has led the charge against Pendley ever since he was installed as de facto head of BLM without a confirmation hearing or a vote more than a year ago. He recently led a group of Western Democratic Senators in calling for an expedited Senate confirmation hearing to force Pendley to answer for his career of anti-public land activism before the American people.\nTester also wrote to Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt in July urging him to remove Pendley, who has repeatedly stated his desire to sell off America's public lands and who was forced to recuse himself last year from a large portion of BLM's portfolio due to various flagrant conflicts of interest. Additionally, Tester pushed President Trump to expedite Pendley's nomination in June to give the public an opportunity to review his troubling record.\nImmediately after his nomination last summer Tester assailed Pendley's record, and wrote a letter voicing serious concerns over his repeated calls for the federal government to sell off public lands, demanding he explain his past ethical violations regarding a coal leasing program and calling on him to recuse himself from his many conflicts of interest, including the Badger Two-Medicine case.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7650", "Tester Statement on Confirmation that USPS Mail Collection Boxes Were Removed Across Montana [press_release]", "2020-08-14", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following revelations from his letter yesterday bringing light to the removal of mail collection boxes across Montana by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)with plans to remove moreU.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement:\nSince ringing the alarm on the removal of collection boxes from communities across Montana, it has become clear that these reports are accurate. These actions set my hair on fire and they have real life implications for folks in rural America and their ability to access critical postal services like paying their bills and voting in upcoming elections. Postmaster General DeJoy must immediately provide Montananswith an explanation for the actions of the USPS, or he can do it under oath before a Senate Committee.\nFollowing reports that USPS collection boxes may have been removed in towns across Montana, Tester yesterday sent Postmaster General Louis DeJoy a letter requesting he provide transparency about whether any boxes have been eliminated, and if so, where and why.\nTester's office received reports that USPS collections boxes may have been removed from Bozeman and Lewistown and that there may be plans to remove boxes from Billings, leading Tester to request that Postmaster DeJoy respond to the following questions by August 18th:\n \nHas the USPS removed any collection boxes in the past 30 days in Montana? \nIf so, please provide the number of units removed by town.\nSpecifically, my office received reports that units were recently removed from Bozeman and Lewistown.\nAre there any ongoing orders to remove any collection boxes in Montana? \nFor instance, my office received reports that the USPS is in the process of removing units in Billings.\nIf the USPS has recently or is planning to remove collection boxes, what is the rationale being used? \nWhen were the last density tests conducted?\nWill you make the results of those tests and any other data related to the removal of units public?\nHow have you communicated with the public and local elected officials to ensure there would not be a disruption in the critical service the USPS provides to these communities?\nHas the USPS recently reassigned or added collection boxes to improve accessibility?\n \nDeJoy recently reorganized top leadership at the USPS and has reportedly undertaken other policy changes that will lead to slower and less reliable mail delivery. Yesterday, President Trump said that he opposed emergency funding for the USPS and election operations because it would make it easier for Americans to vote by mail.\nTester has prioritized making sure the USPS has the resources it needs to continue its vital mail delivery services during the pandemic. This week, Tester wrote a letter to DeJoy urging him to reverse the decision to not automatically consider election mail First Class mail, which would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline. He also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nTester's full letter can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7651", "Following Pressure From Tester, USPS Pauses Mail Collection Box Removal in Montana [press_release]", "2020-08-14", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following pressure from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) today paused its removal of mail collection boxes in towns across Montana.\nDependable mail service is a cornerstone of life in Montana, and I am glad USPS listened to me and the chorus of voices who spoke loudly in opposition to this harebrained scheme that would have cut off Montanans' access to critical postal services like paying their bills and voting in upcoming elections, Tester said. But the fight is not over: Postmaster DeJoy still owes Montanans an answer on why mail collection boxes were removed in the first place  and I'm going to continue holding him accountable until he reinstates the reportedly dozens of mail collection boxes that were removed across our state.\nTester called on DeJoy earlier Friday to provide transparency on USPS' decision to remove mail collection boxes in Bozeman, Lewistown, Billings, and Missoula. Tester also sent a letter to DeJoy Thursday pushing for answers about the USPS' actions. The USPS has yet to respond.\nTester has prioritized making sure the USPS has the resources it needs to continue its vital mail delivery services during the pandemic. This week, Tester wrote a letter to DeJoy urging him to reverse the decision to not automatically consider election mail First Class mail, which would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline.\nHe also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7647", "After Postal Service Wont Automatically Consider Election Mail as First Class Mail, Tester Slams Decision to Make it Harder for Montanans to Vote [press_release]", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten in-person voting, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is pushing back on the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) attempts to disenfranchise Montanans this November by not automatically considering election mail to be First Class mail  a move that could slow down vote by mail by multiple days and significantly increase costs for states. President Trump said today that he opposed emergency funding for the USPS and election operations because it would make it easier for Americans to vote by mail.\nTester joined a group of his colleagues in a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging the USPS to reverse this and any other action that makes it harder or more expensive for Montanans to vote by mail.\nSince you assumed the role of Postmaster General, there have been disturbing reports regarding changes at USPS that are causing significant delays in the delivery of mail, wrote Tester and his colleagues. Under normal circumstances, delayed mail is a major problem  during a pandemic in the middle of a presidential election, it is catastrophic. Instead of taking steps to increase your agency's ability to deliver for the American people, you are implementing policy changes that make matters worse, and the Postal Service is reportedly considering changes that would increase costs for states at a time when millions of Americans are relying on voting by mail to exercise their right to vote.\nAccording to news reports, the USPS has told state election officials that it will not automatically consider election mail as First Class mail, a shift from past elections that will cause further delays to election mail. The policy change would disenfranchise voters, increasing concerns that voters would not receiving their ballot by election day or causing them to be returned after the deadline. This is especially dangerous in states like Montana, which require ballots to be returned  not postmarked  by election day.\nChanging the First Class mail policy would also increase cost for Montana and other states that cover the cost of return postage for ballots and who are already facing budget shortfalls because of the COVID-19 pandemic.\nDeJoy also recently reorganized top leadership at the USPS and has reportedly undertaken other policy changes that will lead to slower and less reliable mail delivery.\nAs Postmaster General, you have a duty to our democracy to ensure the timely delivery of election mail, Tester and his colleagues continued. Millions of Americans' right to vote depends on your ability to get the job done. We urge you not to increase costs for election officials, and to direct all Postal Service employees to continue to prioritize delivery of election mail.\nTester has prioritized making sure the USPS has the resources it needs to continue its vital mail delivery services during the pandemic. He recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nRead Tester's letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7648", "Tester, Rounds Spearhead Legislation to Streamline Benefits for Disabled Veterans [press_release]", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) are spearheading bipartisan legislation to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) collection of medical evidence to streamline veterans' access to earned disability benefits.\nEarlier this year, VA removed public access to forms known as Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs)condition-specific forms with critical medical information relevant to veterans' disability benefits claims. The Senators' Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act would restore DBQs on VA's public-facing website to provide veterans and non-VA providers with easier access to their disability compensation claims and reduce the claims backlog. Their bill would also increase oversight by requiring VA to provide an annual report to Congress on any VA Inspector General findings related to future DBQ use.\nVeterans have sacrificed life and limb on behalf of our freedomsand we need to make it easier, not harder, for them to access information critical to obtaining their hard-earned benefits, said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. By simply placing the questionnaires back on VA's public-facing website, our bipartisan bill would provide veterans and their medical providers with seamless access to disability forms necessary in developing their claims. And, it would take steps to protect veterans by strengthening VA's ability to prevent, detect, and minimize the risk of fraudall while reducing backlogs in a system created to efficiently serve those who served us. \nWe are grateful to the men and women who sacrifice so much in service to our country, said Rounds. When they begin the transition to civilian life after their service is over, we want to make sure they have all the resources and information possible to access the benefits they are owed. Our legislation would put the VA's Disability Benefits Questionnaires back on a public-facing website for easier access by veterans and their non-VA doctor. We believe this would restore a commonsense practice that makes the process of assessing disabilities simpler and more efficient for our veterans.\nThe Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act is supported by a number of Veterans Service Organizations, including Disabled American Veterans (DAV), The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO).\nDAV fully supports the Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act as it will restore the public use DBQs to their original purpose, allow all veterans to have access to enhance the development of their own claim and address the timeliness of updating DBQs, said DAV National Service Director Jim Marszalek. When VA changed this policy earlier in the year, it created a disparity between those who could access a DBQ and those who could not. The Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act would correct those inequities.\nFor more than a decade, VA physicians and private medical providers used DBQs to supplement evidence in support of disability claims,\" said VFW Deputy Director Matthew Doyle. \"This April, VA removed public-facing DBQs from its website, thereby preventing private medical providers and veterans from accessing these forms. The VFW supports this legislation, which would rightfully require VA to publish public-facing DBQs on its website.\n\"PVA thanks Senator Tester and Senator Rounds for their efforts to reinstate VA's public facing disability questionnaires, said PVA Associate Executive Director for Government Relations Heather Ansley. Passage of the Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act of 2020 would help ensure veterans have equal and transparent information when filing a claim.\"\nWhen departing service, we need to ensure a fair and transparent claims system which empowers veterans as they reintegrate into society, said MOAA President and CEO Lieutenant General Dana Atkins. Putting DBQs behind a firewall creates an inequity to veterans who are not represented by a Veterans Service Organization or would like to receive an assessment with a private physician who understands their unique health situation. Senators Tester and Rounds plan to reinstate public-facing DBQs is a common-sense approach with the necessary oversight to ensure veterans are not being defrauded. MOAA is proud to support the Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act of 2020.\nAll too often, veterans' claims are denied because they lack a medical opinion, said VVA National President and CEO John Rowan. The DBQ is an essential tool that allows veterans the ability to add medical opinions in support of their claims for VA benefits. All veterans should have access to this form so they may provide evidence in support of their claim in a standardized format.\nNACVSO applauds the introduction of Senator Tester's Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2020, said NACVSO President Herman Breuer. DBQs were an important tool used for addressing the VA claims backlog, and to deny public access to them would be irresponsible. This format allows the veteran to address VA's questions concerning their disability and to provide an accurate account of the service injury from their own medical provider. DBQs accomplish this so effectively that in some instances they can suffice for the Compensation and Pension examination, a process that currently costs the VA millions of dollars each year. Making these DBQ forms available to the public is good for the veteran, for the agency and for tax payers.\nA copy of the Senators' bill can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7649", "Following Reports of Removed Collection Boxes, Tester Pushes Postmaster General for Answers [press_release]", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following reports that U.S. Postal Service (USPS) collection boxes may have been removed in towns across Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is continuing his push to hold the USPS accountable by requesting Postmaster General Louis DeJoy provide transparency about whether any boxes have been eliminated, and if so, where and why.\nI write today regarding reports of United States Postal Service (USPS) collection boxes being removed from numerous communities in Montana, wrote Tester. If true, this seems to be occurring without any transparency or communication with impacted Montanans.\nTester's office received reports that USPS collections boxes may have been removed from Bozeman and Lewistown and that there may be plans to remove boxes from Billings, leading Tester to request that Postmaster DeJoy respond to the following questions by August 18th:\n \nHas the USPS removed any collection boxes in the past 30 days in Montana?\nIf so, please provide the number of units removed by town.\nSpecifically, my office received reports that units were recently removed from Bozeman and Lewistown.\nAre there any ongoing orders to remove any collection boxes in Montana?\nFor instance, my office received reports that the USPS is in the process of removing units in Billings.\nIf the USPS has recently or is planning to remove collection boxes, what is the rationale being used?\nWhen were the last density tests conducted?\nWill you make the results of those tests and any other data related to the removal of units public?\nHow have you communicated with the public and local elected officials to ensure there would not be a disruption in the critical service the USPS provides to these communities?\nHas the USPS recently reassigned or added collection boxes to improve accessibility?\n \nDeJoy recently reorganized top leadership at the USPS and has reportedly undertaken other policy changes that will lead to slower and less reliable mail delivery. Just today, President Trump said that he opposed emergency funding for the USPS and election operations because it would make it easier for Americans to vote by mail.\nTester has prioritized making sure the USPS has the resources it needs to continue its vital mail delivery services during the pandemic. This week, Tester wrote a letter to DeJoy urging him to reverse the decision to not automatically consider election mail First Class mail, which would increase the cost of elections for already budget strapped states and disenfranchise voters by increasing concerns they would not receive their ballot by election day or by causing them to be returned after the deadline. He also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $25 billion in emergency assistance to help the agency recoup pandemic related losses and other operational expenses, and has pushed Senate leadership to make significant emergency investments in the USPS a part of any new coronavirus aid package, as well as to provide support and protective equipment for the agency's employees.\nTester's full letter can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7643", "As a Montana Care Facility Suffers Outbreak, Tester Demands Expanded Aid for Senior Care Services, Medicaid in COVID Package [press_release]", "2020-08-12", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the Canyon Creek Memory Care facility in Billings suffers from a widespread COVID-19 outbreak, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is leading a group of his colleagues in calling on Senator Mitch McConnell to ensure that any new coronavirus relief package includes needed investments in Medicaid, home and community-based services (HCBS), as well as policies to assist nursing homes and long-term care facilities to ensure older Montanans are protected.\nTester and his colleagues sent a letter to McConnell stressing that his recent, inadequate coronavirus relief proposalthe HEALS Actfails to protect vulnerable Americans. Given the recent outbreak at Canyon Creek Memory Care, Tester stressed the critical need to provide assistance to programs that safeguard individuals living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities and that expand resources for HCBS and Medicaid.\nNow, more than ever, Congress must affirm its commitment to securing the health and well-being of older adults, people with disabilities, children, communities of color, and low-income families, wrote Tester and his colleagues. In one of our nation's darkest hours, we must advance solutions to fortify that commitment and to bolster the supports and services fundamental to Americans' health and economic security. The HEALS Act fails on every level to rise to the occasion and, in fact, undermines our historic commitment to these core groups of Americans.\nTester and his colleagues continued: We implore you to ensure that any future COVID-19 legislation includes enhanced funding to sustain the Medicaid program, targeted solutions to save lives in nursing homes, and a dedicated investment in home and community-based services. This imperative cannot be overstated, as the lives of millions of Americans hang in the balance.\nTester's call to Senator McConnell follows a recent coronavirus outbreak at Canyon Creek Memory Care in Billings that has resulted in the deaths of sixteen residents. Nationwide, at least 62,000 residents and workers in long-term care settings have died from COVID-19, accounting for more than 40 percent of deaths.\nThe Senators highlighted their priorities in their letter, including:\n \nStrengthening Medicaid by further raising the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage and maintaining access to essential Medicaid benefits\nPrioritizing strategic investments in nursing homes and other congregate care settings that prioritize targeted solutions to save lives, including increasing access to personal protective equipment and testing\nInvesting in HCBS that would keep older adults and individuals with disabilities out of congregate settings and allow them to safely receive services at home\nForgoing harmful immunity shields laid out in the HEALS Act that erect insurmountable barriers for COVID-19 claims in the courts, which disproportionately impact low-income workers of color, women, older adults, people with disabilities, and essential workers\n \nTester has proven himself a tried and true advocate for older Montanans, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, he secured nearly $1 million to help seniors with Alzheimer's in Missoula and Ravalli Counties remain independent, and he secured more than $5.5 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for critical Montana programs that will help seniors stay healthy and safe during the crisis. He also successfully expanded telephone-based health care services for Montana seniors, and recently announced $1.2 million to help the state support senior nutrition services.\nFull text of Tester's letter to McConnell can be read HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7645", "Tester Delivers Nearly $2 Million for Butte Early Head Start [press_release]", "2020-08-12", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his continued efforts to increase access to childcare and early education for families across Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $1,870,634 in Early Head Start funding for AWARE in Butte.\nAs the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact folks across our state, we've got to ensure we're looking out for the most vulnerable among uslow-income families and their children, Tester said. Early Head Start programs are a lifeline to Montana families, providing access to the critical educational, health, and social resources they need to thrive.\nThese grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide better access to crucial resources for early childhood education. In addition to education, Early Head Start offers pathways toward successful nutrition, health, and childrearing, including information on pre- and postnatal health to families.\nA former elementary school teacher and school board member, Tester has been a longtime champion for Head Start programs in Montana. As a senior member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, he secured more than $10 billion in funding for Head Start programs nationwide in recent budget negotiations. In addition, he recently secured $1.8 million in Head Start funding in Butte, more than $1 million for Great Falls Early Head Start, and $1.3 million for Head Start in Lame Deer.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7646", "Following Deaths at Northern Cheyenne, Tester Pushes for Answers, Accountability from FBI and BIA [press_release]", "2020-08-12", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following an increasing number of deaths on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is pushing for answers and accountability from federal law enforcement.\nIn a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Tester expressed concern over the ongoing public safety crisis on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, and urged the agencies to take steps to investigate the deaths and improve safety on the Reservation.\nOver the past few months, multiple Northern Cheyenne Tribal members have been found dead on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, including Christy Woodenthigh, Kymani Littlebird, and Lonnie Flatness, Tester wrote. My office has been in regular contact with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in hope of bringing more resources and greater transparency to these tragedies.  It is clear that more attention and resources are necessary.\nTester pushed the FBI and BIA to direct all available resources towards investigating the deaths, and called on them to improve communication with the Tribe and the families of the deceased while addressing the public safety crisis in Indian Country.\nIn a separate phone call Wednesday, Tester also spoke with Northern Cheyenne President Rynalea Pea and told her he would push federal law enforcement to work with her to fully and transparently investigate the deaths on the Reservation.\nTribal leadership and family members of the deceased have raised consistent concerns about the lack of communication from both the BIA and FBI, Tester's letter continued. I urge you to work with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe to ensure family and community members continue to receive regular updates on these investigations.\nAs a member and former Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has fought consistently to hold federal law enforcement accountable to Indian Country and improve public safety on Northern Cheyenne. In June, after Tester learned that BIA still had not opened Lame Deer Jail as an 8-hour hold facility despite promises to do so, he wrote BIA Acting Rocky Mountain Regional Director Susan Messerly, urging her to immediately make the necessary repairs to get the facility up and running. In December, Tester pushed BIA to reopen Lame Deer Jail as a 72-hour hold facility and address law enforcement shortages on the Reservation.\nAdditionally, he recently excoriated the FBI for failing to keep Indian Country safe and neglecting to provide help to local jurisdictions when crimes occur outside of an Indian reservation, and he has criticized Attorney General William Barr for failing to address Montana's public safety needs and neglecting to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis, human trafficking, and methamphetamine use.\nTester's full letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7640", "Tester Announces $1 Million to Fight Opioid Use Disorder in Big Horn, Rosebud and Custer Counties [press_release]", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Bighorn Valley Health Center in Hardin and its partners will receive $1 million in grant funding to help bolster substance abuse disorder and opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services.\nMontana has been hit hard by the opioid crisis, and our rural and Tribal communities are particularly vulnerable, said Tester. In the face of a global public health crisis, it's critical that we support programs that are working to keep all Montanans safe and healthy, and this grant will ensure that communities across Big Horn, Rosebud and Custer Counties have the resources they need to prevent, treat, and help folks recover from opioid use disorders.\nThe grant funding comes as part of the Department of Health and Human Services Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. This program aims to help health care centers combat rising rates of opioid use disorders in rural areas as well as provide resources for treatment and recovery to individuals within their communities.\nTester has fought relentlessly to provide critical support for Montanans suffering from opioid use and substance abuse disorders. He recently backed the Non-Opioids Prevent Addition in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act to incentivize the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services providers to prescribe non-opioid drugs and devices in outpatient surgery settings in the hopes of preventing opioid addiction. He also introduced a resolution condemning the Trump Administration's reckless effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which protects Montanans with preexisting conditions and that rural hospitals and clinics rely on to survive.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7641", "Following Passage of Great American Outdoors Act, Tester Calls on Congress to Keep Foot on the Gas on Public Lands [press_release]", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is calling on Congress to keep its foot on the gas when it comes to protecting Montana's public lands. In a pair of letters today, Tester called for a hearing on his Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) and urged Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to quickly implement the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and get the projects it funds started immediately.\nWriting to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leaders, Tester said that the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is common-sense legislation that provides a natural next step after the success of the GAOA, and that it would protect thousands of acres of public land while strengthening Montana's outdoor economy.\nNow that Congress has passed the Great American Outdoors Act, it's critical for us to continue moving the ball forward on collaborative proposals to improve access to our public lands, Tester wrote. We need to back up our significant financial investment in our public lands with smart, collaborative management proposals for those lands.\nThe result of a collaborative effort between ranchers, recreationists, loggers, mountain bikers, and business owners, Tester's BCSA is a multi-use proposal that would protect thousands of acres of public land, ensure future generations can access outdoor recreational opportunities, and strengthen Montana's outdoor economy in the Blackfoot River Watershed.\nSpecifically, the bill would protect 79,000 acres of wildlife habitat in the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness Areas, open 2,013 acres of currently closed land to snowmobiling, and protect 3,800 acres for mountain biking and hiking. It would also require the Forest Service to prioritize its review of future recreational trail proposals from the collaborative group, and to conduct a forest health assessment that will help identify new timber projects on the landscape.\nThe Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act isa natural next step after Congress has heavily invested in its public lands through the Great American Outdoors Act, Tester continued. Addressing decades of funding shortfalls is important, but we also need to clear our backlog of decades of collaborative land management proposals that don't cost a dime, stimulate the economy, improve access to public lands, and protect our most important landscapes. My legislation does just that.\nTester first introduced the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act at the request of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project with the support of the local timber industry.\nIn a separate letter to Secretaries Bernhardt and Perdue, Tester wrote that in light of the ongoing public health crisis, outdoor access is more important than ever, and urged them to begin projects funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as soon as possible.\nMandatory funding guaranteed in this law will essentially double available annual funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, meaning that even more projects to assist states with local parks and trails are on the table, Tester wrote. I encourage you to work aggressively with communities and stakeholder groups to find a full slate of projects to put Fiscal Year 2021's $900 million to good use. This is your chance to make up for years of lost time and low funding levels.\nTester's GAOA secured full, mandatory funding for LWCF at $900 million a year, and $9.5 billion to address maintenance backlogs on public lands across the United States.\nEstablished in 1964, the LWCF uses revenues from oil and gas leasing to fund conservation and recreation priorities across the nation. Since its creation, the LWCF has invested millions into Montana's $7.1 billion outdoor recreation economy.\nTester first introduced a bill to fully fund the LWCF in 2009, and until recently was the only member of the Montana delegation to support full, mandatory funding for LWCF.\nTester's letter on the BCSA is available HERE, and his letter to Bernhardt and Perdue is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7642", "Tester Announces Nearly $2 Million for Butte Head Start [press_release]", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Announces Nearly $2 Million for Butte Head Start \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Grant will help Action Inc. provide childcare and early education opportunities \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced a grant worth $1,868,545 for Action Inc.'s Head Start program in Butte. The funds will provide education, health, and nutrition services to low-income children.\nIn order to be successful, our kids need access to a quality education, Tester said. Head Start helps our students and families build a strong foundation for learning, and this grant will provide Butte kids with the resources they need to arrive at school prepared, and ready to learn and thrive.\nFunding for this grant comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Head Start provides educational enrichment to low-income children between three and five years-old.\nA former elementary school teacher and school board member, Tester has been a longtime champion for Head Start programs in Montana. As a senior member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, he secured more than $10 billion in funding for Head Start programs nationwide in recent budget negotiations. He also recently secured more than $1 million in Head Start funding in Great Falls and $1.3 million for Head Start in Lame Deer.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7636", "Tester Cracks Down on COVID-19 Scammers as Consumer Fraud Losses Reach $90 Million [press_release]", "2020-08-10", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced a bill that would enhance the ability of state and federal law enforcement officials to stop scammers from taking advantage of Montanans during the COVID-19 outbreak, and to better hold bad actors accountable for defrauding consumers.\nTaking advantage of folks in the middle of a global pandemic is reprehensible, and those seeking to defraud Montanans must be held accountable, Tester said. This bill gives law enforcement more tools in the tool box to crack down on scammers looking to pull a fast one on Montanans, and will give folks peace of mind knowing they are protected during this public health emergency. \nTester's Stopping COVID Scams Act of 2020 allows the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to impose civil penalties on COVID-19 scammers for fraudulent activities involving the following deceptive acts and practices:\n \nThose involving goods and services advertised as related to the pandemic;\nThose involving goods and services that experienced an increase in consumer demand one month before the emergency and until the emergency ends;\nThose related to the federal or state response to COVID-19, including testing and treatment, unemployment benefits, and economic impact payments.\n \nSince January of this year, the FTC has received more than 130,000 consumer complaints related to the COVID-19 crisis. In total, consumers report losing nearly $90 million from COVID-19 related fraud. In April, Google reported that it was tracking 18 million COVID-19 malware and phishing emails each day.\nThe full bill text can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7639", "Tester Delivers More Than $150,000 for Missoula Firefighters [press_release]", "2020-08-10", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today delivered more than $150,000 for the Missoula Fire Department to improve its operations and help keep firefighters safe.\nTester secured the $158,877 through the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) competitive Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. As the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Tester led the charge to increase funding for this critical program.\nFirefighters run into danger every day, and it's up to us to make sure they have everything they need to do so safely, Tester said. This funding will help make sure Missoula's firefighters have the equipment and resources they need to do their jobs effectively and allow them to better serve their community.\nThe AFG program helps local fire departments meet firefighting and emergency response needs by helping departments purchase critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel.\nTester recently secured $100 million in AFG funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help fire departments purchase personal protective equipment and other supplies necessary to address COVID-19.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7633", "Tester, Bullock Announce More Than $5 Million in AmeriCorps Funds for Montana [press_release]", "2020-08-07", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester and Governor Steve Bullock announced today that Montana will receive more than $5 million in funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for AmeriCorps programs that support land and water conservation, resources for college students, community services, and access to justice for low-income Montanans.\nAmeriCorps members and the work they do add immense value to the people and places that make Montana special, Tester said. Their commitment and dedication helps folks graduate from college, access legal services, and keeps our public lands in pristine condition. This funding will allow Montana's AmeriCorps members to continue serving their community, and will help make sure Montana remains the Last Best Place for generations to come.\nThe strong tradition of service at the heart of AmeriCorps strengthens and bolsters communities across Montana, Bullock said. AmeriCorps members selflessly rise to the occasion to meet the needs of Montanans, from mental health care and educational support, to improving our watersheds and public lands. I know I join all Montanans in being grateful for their continued presence in our communities.\nThe 2020 AmeriCorps grants will provide Montana service organizations with $5,002,048 in funding from CNCS, the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps and other national service programs.\n$715,741 will go to the Governor's Office of Community Service to support AmeriCorps members deployed into service across the state. AmeriCorps programs will work with the Governor's Office of Community Service to fulfill Governor Bullock's State Service Plan for service and volunteerism in Montana:\n \n$232,125 to Richland County Health Department Communities in Action Corps AmeriCorps  AmeriCorps members will address community needs and increase quality of life in Richland County, and will implement best practices to encourage workforce development, access to healthy food, and improve mental health support by engaging partners in the community and encouraging local volunteerism to increase collaboration and promote a better quality of life in Eastern Montana. (15 members)\n$315,000 to Montana Legal Services Association Justice for Montanans Project  AmeriCorps members will empower low- to moderate-income Montanans to advocate for their legal rights and increase access to justice. Members perform a variety of duties including expanding intake processes, serving clients directly, providing legal information and referrals, and helping attorneys with case management. (21 members)\n$168,616 to Montana State Parks AmeriCorps - AmeriCorps members will promote healthy, active, and environmentally aware communities by enhancing park land, enriching educational opportunities, increasing volunteerism, and improving community outreach in state parks. (11 members)\n \n$2,866,013 will go to three other sponsoring programs:\n \n$389,213 to Montana Campus Compact AmeriCorps  College student AmeriCorps members will focus on helping first generation and low-income Montanans access post-secondary education opportunities. (52 members)\n$1,994,000 to Montana Conservation Corps - AmeriCorps members will complete various conservation projects, including fuels reduction, weatherization, watershed restoration, fencing, habitat enrichment, trail work, and more. (341 members)\n$482,800 to Big Sky Watershed Corps - AmeriCorps members will assist Montana's watershed communities with local conservation efforts, contribute innovation and skills within watershed organizations, and mobilize volunteers to improve at-risk ecosystems. (34 members)\n \nIn addition to the more than $3.5 million in grants, Tester and Bullock announced $1,420,294 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. The members receive an Education Award after they have completed their service to help pay for post-secondary education or to pay off student loans.\nMore than 420 individuals have served Montana through AmeriCorps State programs this year, with 372 currently in serving Montana. To learn more about AmeriCorps programs in Montana, visit serve.mt.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7634", "Tester to Trump: Authorize ACA Special Enrollment Period So Montanans Can Access Health Care During Crisis [press_release]", "2020-08-07", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his continued efforts to ensure that Montanans are able to access health care through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senator Jon Tester and a group of his colleagues recently revived their demand that the President authorize a special enrollment period (SEP) for the ACA so millions of Americans who have lost coverage due to COVID-19including approximately 9,000 Montananscan sign up for the critical program.\nFollowing up on an April letter urging the Trump Administration to open up health care access to workers who lost coverage due to coronavirus and to seniors who are not enrolled in Medicare, Tester and his colleagues wrote to the President about the dangers of allowing millions of Americans to go without health care in the midst of a global public health and economic crisis.\nIt is clear that many people who want insurance are not able to purchase it because you have chosen not to offer a [Special Enrollment Period], and many of the millions of Americans who have recently become uninsured due to job losses are unaware that they qualify for federally-subsidized health care coverage, wrote Tester and his colleagues in a letter to President Trump. Additionally, every year there are tens of thousands of recent retirees and seniors in this country, who for one reason or another, fail to enroll in Medicare Given everything we know about COVID-19 and how it has devastated our seniors, it is essential that all older Americans can secure access to health coveragewithout gaps or delay.\nThe Senators continued: The urgent need for comprehensive, affordable health care coverage has only increased since we wrote to you in April to request that you open an ACA SEP. We urge that you take seriously the challenges that millions of people are facing in our country and reopen enrollment for the federally-run ACA Marketplace and to utilize the tools you have to ensure access to the Medicare Program.\nAccording to a study by Families USA, between February and May, an estimated 5.4 million workers became uninsured because of job losses, and the report estimates that around 600,000 of those workers would sign up for insurance if a special enrollment period was announced. About 37 percent of people who lost their jobs from March 1st to May 2nd, 2020 in states that rely on HealthCare.gov would need an SEP to obtain coverage.\nA staunch advocate for expanding access to quality affordable care, Tester has railed against the Administration's attempts to gut America's health care system and worked tirelessly to improve it. Last year, the Trump Administration went against Congressional intent by issuing a statement endorsing a judge's ruling in the Texas v. United States lawsuita move that Tester strongly opposed. The decision deemed the individual mandate provision of the ACA unconstitutional, striking down the health care law entirely.\nTester also pushed the Department of Justice to halt its efforts to undermine the nation's health care system, and called on Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to conduct a comprehensive review of the consequences of dismantling the ACA and assess the impacts of overturning the law at the federal, state, and local levels. Tester also recently introduced a resolution demanding the Department of Justice defend the ACA in court and halt efforts to repeal health care protections for millions.\nRead Tester's full letter to President Trump HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7635", "Tester Secures More Than $5.5 Million to Assist Montana Homeless Veterans [press_release]", "2020-08-07", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced more than $5.5 million in federal funding to help end veteran homelessness in Montana.\nThe $5,547,842 grant will go to the Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOA), a service organization based out of Billings. Since 2012, VOA has worked with hundreds of veterans and their families to help provide housing services for homeless and at-risk veterans.\nYear after year, the Volunteers of America Northern Rockies consistently do their part in helping Montana's men and women in uniform transition to civilian life, said Tester. This is especially important now, with some veterans and their families struggling to find safe housing during the pandemic. These federal funds are an important investment in our state's veterans, and will help thousands of folks get back on their feet. \nThe award is a portion of the more than $400 million Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant administered by the VA. In fiscal year 2019, SSVF assisted more than 105,100 participants, including 70,500 veterans and 20,600 children.\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Veteran's Affairs Committee, Tester fought to include key provisions and funds in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide additional support for vulnerable veteransincluding programs to assist homeless veterans or those at-risk of becoming homeless. He also called on VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to implement these authorities quickly and efficiently, to provide much needed relief to veterans and their families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7637", "Tester Announces $1.3 Million for Northern Cheyenne Head Start [press_release]", "2020-08-07", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his ongoing effort to expand access to childcare and early childhood education across Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $1.3 million in funding for the Northern Cheyenne Head Start program in Lame Deer.\nTester secured the $1,385,276 grant to provide education, health, and nutrition services to low-income children through the Children and Families' American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Grants Program.\nHead Start makes a huge difference in the lives of kids and families in Indian Country, Tester said. These funds will provide students with a real leg up, and are a true lifeline for kids and families who will benefit from the tools and resources Head Start provides to grow and enter school ready to learn.\nHead Start provides Pre-K preparation, daily meals, and advanced health screenings to children ages three through kindergarten.\nAs a former teacher and school board member, Tester has consistently fought for education initiatives in Indian Country, and has championed Head Start programs through his role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. In recent government funding negotiations, he secured more than $10 billion for Head Start Programs nationwide, an increase of more than $550 million over the previous year. He also recently announced a grant of nearly $1.5 million for Missoula Head Start and more than $3 million for Ravalli Head Start and Early Head start programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7630", "14 Montana Colleges Receive $4.2 Million to Increase Student Retention, Tester Announces [press_release]", "2020-08-06", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $4,272,094 in Department of Education TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) funding for 14 Montana colleges and universities to increase college retention and graduation rates for low-income Montanans across the state. Current SSS funding is slated to run out on August 31st.\nMy parents always saidand I still believethat public education is the great equalizer in this country, said Tester, a former Big Sandy school teacher. Now, as Co-Chair of the Congressional TRIO Caucus, I'm proud to have led the fight to secure this funding that will help make sure Montanans who are from low-income backgrounds, are first generation students, or have disabilities can access a world class education at Montana's colleges and universities.\nThe SSS program provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to motivate students to complete their postsecondary education.\nThe funding Tester secured will be allocated to 14 Montana colleges and universities, including:\n \nUniversity of Providence: $209,091\nFort Peck Community College: $322,065\nUniversity of Montana Western: $294,725\nMontana Tech: $261,887\nRocky Mountain College: $346,366\nFlathead Valley Community College: $384,759\nMontana State University Billings: $261,888\nChief Dull Knife College: $168,312\nUniversity of Montana: $485,336\nMontana State University Billings: $362,740\nMontana State University-Northern: $261,888\nMontana State University: $261,888\nHelena College University of Montana: $261,888\nSalish Kootenai College: $347,504\n \nFor the past two years, Senator Tester led the funding request for TRIO, which runs the SSS Program:\nSSS has demonstrated its capacity to enable students to persist and ultimately graduate from college, Tester wrote. Additionally, SSS participants outperformed other low-income and first-generation students and students with disabilities who did not participate in these programs in degree completion at both two-year and four-year collegeswe respectfully request your support of robust funding for TRIO in FY 2020.\nAs the Senate Co-Chair of the Congressional TRIO Caucus, Tester has led the push to fund the program for years, and in 2018 he successfully reversed a decision by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to deny funding to the University of Montana TRIO program due to simple formatting errors in an application. Recently, he led a group of his colleagues in asking for emergency TRIO funding to support students during the pandemic.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7631", "Tester, Romney, King Lead Legislation to Extend Loan Support to Small Businesses [press_release]", "2020-08-06", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is teaming up with a bipartisan group of his colleagues on a bill that would enhance support for rural communities, family farms, and small businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.\nTester and Senators Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Angus King (I-Maine) are sponsoring the Rural Equal Aid Act to provide relief to rural small businesses by expanding assistance Congress previously provided for certain existing Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to Rural Development (RD) program loans within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).\nSmall businesses across Montana are hurting, and they need all the support they can get to weather this storm, Tester said. This bipartisan legislation will help small businesses and family farms keep the lights on by providing critical resources to communities hit hardest by the pandemic, and make sure folks in rural Montana don't get left behind during this public health crisis.\nSmall businesses and community organizations are vital to the health and livelihoods of Utah's rural communities, and they have faced great hardship over the last several months, Romney said. Our legislation will help them receive the support they need to keep their doors open and get through this pandemic.\nWhen Congress passed the CARES Act, we included provisions to reduce loan burdens for small businesses across the country, King said. This was the right move, but by excluding USDA Rural Development loans from the program, the effort left out many rural businesses that are feeling the same pain. Now, as Congress considers the next coronavirus relief package, we should extend these protections to ensure that our rural communities can access the same type of support as the rest of the country.\nThe CARES Act requires the SBA to pay the principal, interest, and any associated fees owed on these covered loans for a six month period, and the Senators' bill would require USDA to do the same for certain RD program loans. These loans go through small community financial institutions and support local governments, Tribes, educational institutions, and small businesses to grow local economies with local dollars. Providing these small businesses and community organizations with the same support given to SBA borrowers is critical to ensuring their survival going forward, and the health of rural communities.\nTester's Rural Equity Aid Act expands subsidies to the following USDA RD loan programs:\n \nCommunity Facilities  These loans are provided to public and nonprofit organizations for essential community facilities like hospitals, libraries, child care and community centers, and public facilities like fire stations or town halls.\nBusiness and Industry  These loans are provided to businesses, cooperatives, and nonprofits to develop and expand businesses in rural areas. \nIntermediary Relending Program (IRP)  These are loans of no more than $250,000 made through small local intermediaries to borrowers who are unable to get credit elsewhere, but need capital to get started or expand their business. These loans average less than $100,000 and support small local businesses.\nRural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)  These are loans of no more than $50,000 made through local nonprofits. These loans are available to businesses with no more than 10 employees, making them a frequent choice for entrepreneurs looking for capital to start up a new business. In addition, RMAP loans are frequently used by women entrepreneurs.\n \nTester's bill won praise from groups across Montana:\nBank of the Rockies is the oldest bank in Montana and we have assisted Montana business utilizing the Rural Development Guarantee programs. This legislation would provide needed assistance for these business during these trying economic times, said Bank of the Rockies Vice President Heather Malcolm. On behalf of Bank of the Rockies, and as Chair of the ABA Ag & Rural Bankers committee, we support this legislation.\nYour legislation is precisely the right approach to increasing the likelihood more rural small businesses will survive and create jobs and opportunity in small towns and farming communities across America, wrote a group of Community Development Financial Institutions including MoFi. We are pleased to offer our support.\nOther groups supporting Tester's bill include the National Rural Health Association, the Independent Community Bankers Association, and the American Bankers Association.\nThe Senators' bipartisan bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.).\nThroughout the COVID-19 crisis, Tester has been an unwavering advocate for Montana business owners. He recently announced $65 million in community development tax credits to help support Montana small businesses. He also helped create the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in the CARES Act to help small businesses stay afloat, and he has been fighting to improve the program ever since. He recently introduced the Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards a Recovery in Twenty-twenty (RESTART) Act to create a long-term loan program that targets small- and mid-sized businesses devastated by the public health crisis, and successfully secured expansions to the PPP allowing electric co-ops and rural hospitals to qualify for relief.\nThe full text of the bill can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7632", "Tester Statement on Opening of Billings Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Cold Case Team Office [press_release]", "2020-08-06", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Opening of Billings Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Cold Case Team Office \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today applauded the opening of a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Cold Case Team office in Billings that will be dedicated to reanalyzing and investigating cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP).\n Indigenous peoplesparticularly womenare far more likely to experience violence, and human trafficking rates in Indian Country are exponentially higher than other parts of the United States, said Tester. I'm glad to see this BIA Cold Case Team office opening its doors in Billings, because far too many missing person cases in Indian Country have fallen by the wayside. We need to bring justice and closure for the families of those whose cases have gone cold while upholding the federal government's trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribesand that's exactly what this office will work to accomplish. \n  \nTester fought for the creation and funding of these BIA Cold Case Teams, which are showing promise in solving cold cases in Indian Country. The BIA will partner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney's Office on case reviews, and will establish a total of seven offices across the United States. According to the National Crime Information Center, only 116 of the nearly 6,000 cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) were listed in the Justice Department's official database in 2016.\nAs a member and former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has led the charge to address the MMIP and MMIW crisis. Two Tester-backed bills to improve public safety in Indian Country were recently approved by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and he has worked to hold both Director Wray and Attorney General William Barr accountable for failing to address Montana's public safety needs and neglecting to address the MMIW crisis, human trafficking, and methamphetamine use. Senator Tester has urged the FBI to swiftly respond to all MMIW cases, including those that occur outside of a reservation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7624", "Tester Secures More Than $1.3 Million for Wastewater Systems Improvements in Harlowton [press_release]", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the city of Harlowtown will receive a $750,000 loan and a $596,750 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make improvements to their wastewater treatment system.\nWhether it's for our schools, our main street businesses, or our families, clean water is critical to Montana's communities, especially during these unprecedented times, said Tester. This investment will help Harlowtown improve conditions for small business owners, farmers, and families, protecting clean water and their pocketbooks.\nThe City of Harlowtown will receive the funding as part of the USDA Rural Development Loan Program to finance improvements to their wastewater treatment systems. These improvements consist of the installation of an Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system and building, a non-potable water system and wet well, back-up generators, propane tank, lift station pump replacements, sludge removal and disposal, and a telemetry system for the lift station, blower building, and UV building.\nTester has worked diligently to supply Montana's water and wastewater systems with the funding needed to stay up-to-date. He recently secured $7 million for Hardin to make improvements to their wastewater system, and $335,000 for Wolf Point and $533,000 for Scobey to update outdated water mains. He secured nearly $3 million for Whitehall, Sweet Grass County, Whitefish, Cascade County, Seeley Lake, Sanders County, and Toole County. Additionally, he secured an additional $2 million to make upgrades to Geraldine's water system.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7625", "Tester Secures $960,000 for Wastewater Systems Improvements in Sanders County [press_release]", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Sanders County will receive a $770,000 loan and a $190,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to install a new wastewater collection unit in Paradise, MT.\nWhether it's for our schools, our main street businesses, or our families, clean water is critical to Montana's communities, especially during these unprecedented times, said Tester. This investment will help Harlowtown improve conditions for small business owners, farmers, and families, protecting clean water and their pocketbooks.\nSanders County will receive the funding as part of the USDA Rural Development Loan Program to install a wastewater collection and treatment system in the unincorporated town of Paradise, Montana. The current substandard treatment methods are contributing to degraded water quality for both the town's domestic water supply and the adjacent Clark Fork River. This project will install a wastewater collection system and a centralized treatment system which will improve the water quality and environmental quality of the community.\nTester has worked diligently to supply Montana's water and wastewater systems with the funding needed to stay up-to-date. He recently secured $7 million for Hardin to make improvements to their wastewater system, and $335,000 for Wolf Point and $533,000 for Scobey to update outdated water mains. He secured nearly $3 million for Whitehall, Sweet Grass County, Whitefish, Cascade County, Seeley Lake, Sanders County, and Toole County. Additionally, he secured an additional $2 million to make upgrades to Geraldine's water system.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7626", "Tester Secures $165,000 for Water Systems Improvements in Wolf Point [press_release]", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the City of Wolf Point will receive a $109,000 loan and a $56,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to replace existing water mains in their water system.\nWhether it's for our schools, our main street businesses, or our families, clean water is critical to Montana's communities, especially during these unprecedented times, said Tester. This investment will help Harlowtown improve conditions for small business owners, farmers, and families, protecting clean water and their pocketbooks.\nThe City of Wolf Point will receive the funding as part of the USDA Rural Development Loan Program to replace water mains in their district. The existing mains were first installed by the city of Wolf Point in approximately 1900, and 1950 and have reached the end of their effective life span and need to be replaced. The mains beneath the railroad tracks have been recently experiencing leaks, and when the leaking mains were excavated for repair, the condition of the existing pipe was identified as having significant deterioration, and corrosion.\nTester has worked diligently to supply Montana's water and wastewater systems with the funding needed to stay up-to-date. He recently secured $7 million for Hardin to make improvements to their wastewater system, and $335,000 for Wolf Point and $533,000 for Scobey to update outdated water mains. He secured nearly $3 million for Whitehall, Sweet Grass County, Whitefish, Cascade County, Seeley Lake, Sanders County, and Toole County. Additionally, he secured an additional $2 million to make upgrades to Geraldine's water system.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7627", "Tester Secures $640,000 for Wastewater Systems Improvements in Ryegate [press_release]", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Town of Ryegate will receive a $205,000 loan and a $435,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to construct new retention lagoons in their wastewater system.\nWhether it's for our schools, our main street businesses, or our families, clean water is critical to Montana's communities, especially during these unprecedented times, said Tester. This investment will help Harlowtown improve conditions for small business owners, farmers, and families, protecting clean water and their pocketbooks.\nThe Town of Ryegate will receive the funding as part of the USDA Rural Development Loan Program to construct total retention lagoons that will allow the town to eliminate groundwater discharges, eliminating health threats from bacterial pathogens, waterborne viruses and protozoa from untreated or inadequately treated wastewater. Funds will also be used to rehabilitate or replace the lift station and add security fencing and safety equipment.\nTester has worked diligently to supply Montana's water and wastewater systems with the funding needed to stay up-to-date. He recently secured $7 million for Hardin to make improvements to their wastewater system, and $335,000 for Wolf Point and $533,000 for Scobey to update outdated water mains. He secured nearly $3 million for Whitehall, Sweet Grass County, Whitefish, Cascade County, Seeley Lake, Sanders County, and Toole County. Additionally, he secured an additional $2 million to make upgrades to Geraldine's water system.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7628", "Tester Secures $750,000 Loan for Wastewater Systems Improvements in Carbon County [press_release]", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Roberts Carbon County Water and Sewer District will receive a $750,000 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make critical improvements and additions to their wastewater systems.\nWhether it's for our schools, our main street businesses, or our families, clean water is critical to Montana's communities, especially during these unprecedented times, said Tester. This investment will help Harlowtown improve conditions for small business owners, farmers, and families, protecting clean water and their pocketbooks.\nThe Roberts Carbon County Water and Sewer District will receive a $750,000 loan as part of the USDA Rural Development Loan Program to upgrade and replace sewer services in the District's wastewater system improvement plant for eligible properties.\nTester has worked diligently to supply Montana's water and wastewater systems with the funding needed to stay up-to-date. He recently secured $7 million for Hardin to make improvements to their wastewater system, and $335,000 for Wolf Point and $533,000 for Scobey to update outdated water mains. He secured nearly $3 million for Whitehall, Sweet Grass County, Whitefish, Cascade County, Seeley Lake, Sanders County, and Toole County. Additionally, he secured an additional $2 million to make upgrades to Geraldine's water system.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7629", "Tester Ushers Landmark Bill to Support Women Veterans Through Committee Hurdle [press_release]", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee today unanimously passed five bipartisan bills led by Ranking Member Jon Tester to address a number of his top legislative prioritiesincluding his landmark Deborah Sampson Act, legislation to support women veterans.\nWomen veterans are more likely to face homelessness, unemployment, and go without health care as a result of a lack of equitable care and services at facilities under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)even though they are the fastest growing group of veterans. During today's markup, Tester's bipartisan Deborah Sampson Actcomprehensive legislation to address the needs of women veterans across the countrypassed without opposition. Senators Tester and John Boozman (R-Ark.) reintroduced the bill last year, and worked across the aisle to secure provisions to provide coverage and services to veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma (MST).\nWomen are the fastest growing population of veterans and VA needs to be fully prepared to meet their needs, said Ranking Member Tester. Today's landmark passage of our Deborah Sampson Act sends a very important messagenot only to women veterans, but to the American publicthat my colleagues and I came together during politically turbulent times to do what's right. In this case, it means getting one step closer to providing critical support to our sisters, mothers, and daughters who have sacrificed so much on our behalf. \nMore women are answering the call to serve in uniform, said Boozman. The modern makeup of our veteran population requires us to reexamine how we can best serve their needs. Removing the obstacles women face to accessing the care and benefits they earned is necessary to fulfilling our promise to these veterans. We are one step closer to making the VA more accommodating to the unique challenges facing these brave veterans.\nDAV strongly supports S. 514the Deborah Sampson Act and appreciates Senator Tester's leadership in moving forward this comprehensive bipartisan legislation to improve health care services and benefits for our nation's women veterans, said Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Legislative Director Joy Ilem. Passage of this bill has been a key legislative priority for DAV and we appreciate the full support of the Committee to ensure women veterans have access to high quality health care services and the benefits they have earned as a result of their service.\n\"I would like to express our proud appreciation for Senator Tester's leadership in shepherding the landmark Deborah Sampson Act through to passage by the Senate VA Committee today,\" said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Executive VP Tom Porter. \"It has been through his commitment to moving the VA toward equal care for all veterans that enabled us to launch our #SheWhoBorneTheBattle campaign with the launch of this legislation three years ago. We are very encouraged that we will see this legislation signed into law this year.\"\nThe Committee also unanimously passed the following Tester bills:\n Care and Readiness Enhancement (CARE) for Reservists Act of 2019  Legislation to improve Guardsmen and Reservists' access to consistent mental health services, regardless of their deployment status. The bill will also allow members of the Guard and Reserve to access Vet Centers for mental health screening and counseling, employment assessments, education training and other services. Tester's bill is included in both the House and Senate's must-pass annual defense bill for fiscal year 2021.  \n Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2020  Legislation to protect Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses from bad actors looking to exploit the Vets First Program. The bill will also direct VA to monitor compliance and enforce the laws to ensure veteran-owned small businesses are given preference. \n Stopping Harm and Implementing Enhanced Lead-time for Veterans Act (SHIELD) for Veterans Act of 2020  Legislation to create new protections for veterans when they are involved in a debt-related action with VA. The bill will also direct VA to improve its debt management practices, systems, and processes. This legislation builds upon Tester's bipartisan Veteran Debt Fairness Act of 2019, legislation to reduce overpayment errors and hold VAnot veteransaccountable for its mistakes. \n Accountability in Department of Veterans Affairs Scheduling and Consult Management Act  Legislation requiring VA to look at the entire scheduling processfor both in-house and non-VA carein order to increase veterans' access to health care more quickly. The bill will also require VA to publish timeliness data so veterans can make a more informed decision about where to seek care. \n\nTester's opening statement as prepared for delivery is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7621", "Tester Secures Nearly $1 Million to Help Seniors with Alzheimers in Missoula  Ravalli Counties Remain Independent [press_release]", "2020-08-04", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Missoula Aging Services (MAS) will receive $996,415 in Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding to help seniors and those with developmental disabilities in Missoula and Ravalli Counties who have Alzheimer's diseases or related dementias remain independent and in their homes.\nFolks with Alzheimer's diseases and related dementiasparticularly those with intellectual disabilitiesoften have a hard time living alone, and with coronavirus forcing Montanans to stay socially distant, these seniors need as much support as they can get, said Tester. Missoula Aging Services does fantastic work providing critical aid to these individuals, and this funding will help them continue assisting older folks in Missoula and Ravalli Counties so they can retain their independence while receiving the tools they need to stay safe and healthy.\nThe funding comes from the HHS Administration on Aging and will provide critical funding to MAS's Alzheimer's Disease Program Initiative, which aims to make certain that those with Alzheimer's diseases and related dementias receive services in their homes so they can keep their independence as long as possible. MAS set up the initiative in partnership with the Ravalli County Council on Aging and Opportunity Resources, Inc. to ensure services encompass both Missoula and Ravalli Counties.\nMissoula Aging Services is thankful to have the funding to be able to further our Mission and directly help those with Alzheimer's or dementia, and their caregivers, said Roberta Smith, Acting Governing Board Chair of Missoula Aging Service. On behalf of older adults, families and caregivers that will benefit from this funding, we extend our deep appreciation to those that made this grant possible.\nTester has proven himself a tried and true advocate for Montana's seniors, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He secured more than $300,000 in pandemic relief funding for older Montanans this spring, and worked to bring more than $5.5 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to critical Montana programs that will help seniors stay healthy and safe during the crisis. He also successfully expanded telephone-based health care services for Montana seniors, and recently announced $1.2 million to help the state support senior nutrition services.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7622", "On Senate Floor: Tester Urges Colleagues to Support His Bipartisan Bill to Level the Playing Field for Montana Ranchers and Consumers [press_release]", "2020-08-04", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his continuing efforts to provide critical relief to livestock producers who have seen cattle prices plummet over the last year, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to support his bipartisan legislation that would hold corporate meat packers accountable, level the playing field for ranchers, and help stabilize beef prices at American supermarkets.\nTester wrote the bill along with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to combat price fixing by corporate meat packers, which is severely damaging the bottom lines of Montana livestock producers. The legislation requires large-scale meat packers to increase the proportion of negotiable transactions that are cash, or spot,' to 50 percent of their total cattle purchases. This would improve accuracy of formula pricingwhich currently accounts for a significant portion of transactionsand increase transparency for producers, feeders, and consumers.\nFrom early April to the middle of May, the price difference between the cattle American ranchers were selling and the beef that was shipped to stores across the country increased by three hundred and twenty three percent. Mission Control: we have a problem, said Tester. Our ranchers, and the American public, are being taken advantage of in the midst of a global public health and it has also driven us into an economic crisis This [bill] would hold the corporate packers accountable; make pricing more fair for our producers, cow calf operators, and small and medium sized feeders; and bring more money into rural economies.\nTester continued: The fact is, we need more support from this body, and we need our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to sign on to this critical legislation so that we can ensure that the folks who have been raising our food for generations are able to meet their bottom lines.\nTester and Grassley's bill is the second plank of Tester's Rancher Relief Plan, which aims to provide certainty to Montana's small and medium sized cow calf operators. The legislation would prevent packers from using the small percentage of spot transactions they accept to help set formula prices far lower than they should be, and would give producers more ability to negotiate prices and create larger, more accurate formulas and futures. Tester also urged his colleagues to support for his New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act, a bill that would cut red tape for Montana meat producers, when it comes up for a vote later this afternoon.\nFollowing a fire at a beef packing plant in Holcomb, Kansas last year that halted 5 percent of U.S. beef production, Tester and Grassley demanded that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conduct an investigation into price fixing by large-scale meat packers. Though the investigation is still ongoing, USDA uncovered that the fire, as well as significant plant closures in April and May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tanked cattle prices and raised boxed beef prices nationwide, hurting producers and consumers while packers pulled in record profits.\nAs a small scale producer in rural Montana, Tester has been fighting tooth and nail to bring critical relief to Montana ranchers and farmers. Earlier this year, he successful demanded that Attorney General William Barr, in coordination with USDA, open an investigation into reports of price fixing in the cattle market in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, after Montana's ranchers saw the steepest price decline for cattle in forty years, Tester pushed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to take immediate action to stabilize beef markets.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7623", "Tester Statement on Trump Administration Plan to Cut Census Short, Undercount Montanans [press_release]", "2020-08-04", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Trump Administration Plan to Cut Census Short, Undercount Montanans \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after reports that the U.S. Census Bureau is planning to end its constitutionally mandated effort to count Americans a month early:\n Any effort to cut short the 2020 Census is irresponsible, and will hurt hardworking Montana families. In Montana, rural counties, young folks and Native communities are severely undercounted, and this deliberate action is intended only to suppress their voices. If this plan moves forward, our state will lose big when it comes to support for local government, schools, and health care as well as our representation in Congress. The Census Bureau must reverse this reckless decision immediately. \n  \nIn 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated nearly five percent of Native Americans living on reservations and in Alaska Native villages weren't included in the final Census count, and across the U.S. nearly four out of 10 households have yet to be counted.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7619", "Tester Demands Transparency from VA on COVID-19 Impacts on Minority Vets [press_release]", "2020-08-03", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following national trends of minority communities being disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is demanding that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) share COVID-19 health disparities data with Congress and the public to ensure veterans are protected during the pandemic.\nAccording to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities have experienced higher COVID-19 case counts and/or death rates than white communities in many states across the country, Tester wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. While the data continues to evolvewe know that minority veterans continue to face challenges in accessing the care and benefits they deserve at VA. We need to be doing everything we can to ensure veterans of all backgrounds can access the COVID-19 testing, care, and resources they need to keep themselves and their families safe. \nOn June 15, 2020, Tester requested information from VA regarding COVID-19 racial and ethnic disparities among veterans, to ensure minority veterans receive the assistance they need during the ongoing national health crisis. He also requested data on health disparities in the VA Montana health care system. Almost two months later, VA has failed to respond to any portions of the Senator's requests.\nA Connecting Vets article from July 23 reported that Black and Hispanic veterans make up nearly half of all Department of Veterans Affairs patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus, though they only comprise about 23 percent of all VA patients. In his letter, Tester highlighted the alarming disparity among these racial/ethnic groups, and expressed the critical need for VA to share this data with Congress.\nTester continued, VA also continues to assert to the Committee and to the media that there are no racial or ethnic disparities in COVID-19 death rates among veterans. This has been touted by VA leadership, and VA Press Secretary Christina Noel who stated that the mortality rate for veterans at VA infected with the virus does not differ by race,' in the July 23 Connecting Vets article, though she did not provide any data. While this may be the case, VA must make this data available to both Congress and the public so that its assertions on racial or ethnic disparities in COVID-19 veteran deaths can be verified.\nRead Tester's full letter to Secretary Wilkie HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7615", "Tester, Blackburn Bill to Bring Reforms to VA Information Technology Programs Unanimously Passes Senate [press_release]", "2020-07-31", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Senate unanimously passed U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Marsha Blackburn's (R-Tenn.) bipartisan bill to improve the management and execution of information technology (IT) programs and projects at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill now heads to the House for consideration.\nThe Senators' Department of Veterans Affairs IT Reform Act would bring more accountability and oversight to the office within VA charged with delivering IT projects critical to providing care and benefits to millions of veterans and their families across the country. The bill requires increased transparency into proposed and current IT spending on critical programs for veterans at VA while also directing VA to institute a number of outstanding Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations related to planning, management, and operation of its Office of Information and Technology (OIT).\nWhen veterans can't access the benefits and care they earned because the VA's IT systems don't work, are over budget, or take years to come onlinewell, we've got to do something about it, said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. I'm glad that my Senate colleagues worked quickly to pass our bipartisan bill that will hold VA more accountable to get veterans and VA's dedicated employees the IT systems they were promised, regardless of whether they're in Big Sandy or the Big Apple.\nThere is no time to waste when it comes to bringing our veterans' care into the 21st century, said Blackburn. Congress appropriated the proper funds for updated technology, and those funds need to be used responsibly by the VA. I am pleased my Senate colleagues understand the urgent need for the VA improve its management of information technology projects and investments, and am hopeful this bill will be quickly passed by the House.\nFor years, VA has been challenged to deliver and upgrade its IT projects and systems on time and on budget, hampering the efficient delivery of medical care and benefits to veterans. Federal IT programs have remained on the GAO's High-Risk List since 2015. In addition, VA received low compliance scores in many areas of the annual Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) scorecard.\nThe Department of Veterans Affairs IT Reform Act addresses these and other shortcomings by:\n \nRequiring VA to improve their IT budgeting processes by reporting significant budget variances and providing mitigation plans, creating expenditure plans for IT projects, and improving the accuracy and detail of the annual President's Budget request for VA IT.\nPrompting VA to fully implement OMB's Data Center Consolidation Initiative  improving VA's FITARA compliance.\nInstituting a number of outstanding GAO recommendations to improve OIT's management and operation.\n \nFor fiscal year 2021, VA requested $4.9 billion for IT up from $4.3 billion enacted levels for fiscal year 2020. Tester has long pressed the Department to address key issues regarding VA's IT budget, stating that it does not clearly prioritize VA's needs for IT funding for benefits, health care and memorial affairs projects. VA's under-investment in and poor management of various IT programs has led to delays in delivering critical IT projects - including the Caregivers Program expansion, passed as part of the VA MISSION Act, and the Forever G.I. Bill. At a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing this week, Tester raised concerns with VA officials regarding telehealth challenges facing veterans in rural America both during and after the COVID-19 crisis.\nText of the Senators' bill can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7616", "Tester, Casey to Betsy DeVos: Scrap Distorted Guidance and Get Emergency Funding to K-12 Schools Without Delay [press_release]", "2020-07-31", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today slammed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for failing to get emergency support to school districts during the pandemic and urged her to follow congressional intent when allocating coronavirus relief funds to elementary and secondary schools.\nTester, Casey and a group of their colleagues wrote in a formal comment on DeVos' proposed rule that while Congress included more than $30 billion in Education Stabilization Funds in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to address problems arising from the coronavirus pandemic, DeVos is deliberately misinterpreting the letter of the law to divert those funds towards private schools and away from where they are needed most.\nAs the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic continues to spread across our nation, our education system is facing unprecedented disruption. During this time, it is critical that we provide school districts with resources as quickly as possible, and that we target these funds to districts with the highest need, the Senators wrote. This interim final rule contradicts the plain language of the CARES Act, contradicts congressional intent, and has caused unnecessary delays in getting emergency education funds to school districts. We respectfully urge you to withdraw this rule.\nDeVos published an interim final rule on July 1 that willfully ignores congressional intent by misinterpreting language in the CARES Act. The rule directs school districts to calculate their CARES Act funding based on the total number of students in a district, instead of the number of low-income students as the law requires. DeVos' flawed interpretation has caused delays in getting critical relief funding to schools and wasted time and taxpayer dollars.\nThough all communities are affected by Covid-19, they are not all affected equally, Tester and his colleagues continued. While all schools have faced disruptions, school districts serving higher numbers of low-income students have had to not only transition academic services, but also ensure children have access to school meals and necessary technology. As federal funds are allocated, it is critical that they be targeted to school districts serving students and families with the greatest need.\nTester previously urged DeVos to reverse course and rescind earlier informal guidance from the Department of Education on emergency school district funding, and fought to make sure the Education Stabilization Fund was included in the CARES Act.\nTester and Casey were joined by Senators Sherrod Brown, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, Tina Smith, Jack Reed, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Angus King, Jacky Rosen, Ben Cardin, Debbie Stabenow, Jeanne Shaheen, Mazie Hirono, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, and Robert Menendez.\nThe Senators' letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7617", "Tester Joins VA, Local Officials to Celebrate Great Falls VA Clinic Grand Opening [press_release]", "2020-07-31", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester joined local, state, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials today at the grand opening of the new Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Great Falls. As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester advocated for this new facility and pushed to increase funding for this and other new VA health care facilities across Montana.\nThis facility is a culmination of efforts from veterans, community leaders, and VA employees who worked to make today a reality, said Tester. I'm proud to have fought to secure additional funding for this new space that will provide health care to more than 4,300 veterans in Great Falls, and give our doctors, nurses, and other medical staff a larger, higher-quality clinic to serve them. And I'm thrilled that it'll provide specialized services to better meet the needs of women veterans in the area. \nThe new VA facility is 16,121 square feet, 65 percent larger than the previous location, and will serve more than 4,300 veterans in the Great Falls area with Primary Care, Mental Health, and Specialty Care services. The facility offers 14 exam roomsincluding two new primary care exam rooms geared specifically towards female veterans. It is also the first VA health care facility in Montana designed around the Patient Aligned Care Team Model, which provides care that is patient-driven, proactive, personalized, and team-based.\nTester advocated for increased funding for the new $11.5 million facility and fought to secure funding to cover information technology and equipment for the space. Last year, he also met with VA's top health official Dr. Richard Stone during his visit to Montana, and urged him to improve the space at the existing Great Falls clinic while VA worked to build out the new facility.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7610", "Tester, Carper Leading Bill to Help Montanas Live Entertainment Industry Survive Pandemic [press_release]", "2020-07-29", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With the live music industry shuttered across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) are pushing to make sure small, independent music and entertainment venues can survive until crowds can gather safely again.\nThe Senators today introduced the Entertainments New Credit Opportunity for Relief & Economic Sustainability (ENCORES) Act, a bill that will create a new tax credit for live entertainment venues with fewer than 500 employees to help cover the cost of refunded tickets for shows that were canceled due to the pandemic.\nGathering in large crowds for live shows is something many Montanans are missing right now, Tester said. And without them, the folks who make a living keeping us entertained will be left out in the cold. This bill will fix that by making sure the owners and employees of our small, independent venues can weather this storm, and helps ensure they'll be there to welcome folks back to experience the magic of live music once we're on the other side of this crisis.\n\"Like so many businesses across our country, live music venues have been forced to close their doors, leaving thousands of Americans without jobs and millions without the invaluable experiences they provide. These venues were some of the first businesses to close and, sadly, will be some of the last to fully reopen as our nation continues to grapple with an unprecedented pandemic,\" said Senator Carper. \"Today, I am joining Senator Tester to introduce the ENCORES Act, a bill that will provide much-needed relief for our live music venues by creating a tax credit to help cover refunded ticket costs due to canceled events. Music venues are truly special places that have, for generations, provided our families with priceless memories. It's on us to do what we can to support this industry now so that we can come out on the other side of this pandemic and ensure that this will not be the day the music died.\"\nThe ENCORES Act tax credit will allow music venues to recoup some of the loses they have experienced due to ticket refunds from canceled events. To be eligible for the credit, businesses must have offered a voucher to customers first, and customers opted for a refund instead.\nIndependent venue owners from across Montana thanked Tester for introducing the bill:\n\"Independent music venues were some of the first business to close, and will be among the last to reopen said Sean Lynch, owner of Pub Station Presents in Billings. Venues like the Pub Station not only add to the vibrancy of a community like Billings, MT, but we also play an important economic role to other small businesses. We drive patrons into restaurants, hotels and retail shopping. We cannot let the pandemic take away an arts and culture scene that so many communities have worked years to achieve.\"\nAs our industry faces an indefinite shutdown, the largest expense for independent venues and promoters is the cost of refunding tickets for shows that will not be able to happen to the foreseeable future, said Nick Checota, owner of Logjam Presents and The Wilma Theater, Top Hat Lounge, and the KettleHouse Amphitheater in Missoula. Senator Tester's ENCORES Act would provide local venues like mine the help we need to face this challenge. Independent venues support surrounding local businesses and help foster the careers of performing artists. These small businesses contribute to thriving communities, and this legislation will help our industry navigate the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we are still here on the other side to continue that work.\nLive entertainment is an economic multiplier for communities that benefit not only the music venues, but neighboring businesses like hotels, restaurants, and stores. Tester has previously urged Senate leadership for more support, including tax relief and debt assistance, to help these businesses survive the crisis. A bipartisan companion version of the ENCORES Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last week.\nThe ENCORES Act is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7611", "Testers CSKT Water Compact Clears Key Committee Hurdle [press_release]", "2020-07-29", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester's historic Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' (CSKT) Water Compact cleared a key hurdle today as it passed the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The bipartisan Montana Water Rights Protection Act passed on a voice vote with bipartisan support and now awaits consideration before the entire Senate.\nToday marked another big step forward for the CSKT Water Compact, and brings us even closer to providing the surety that water users in Montana desperately need, Tester said. This settlement has overwhelming support from all across the state and both sides of the aisle, and will prevent years of costly litigation while protecting our state's most valuable resource. I urge Senator McConnell to put the Montana Water Rights Protection Act up for a vote as quickly as possible, so we can pass this historic legislation and give Montana water users certainty for generations to come. \nWe are grateful for Senator Tester's leadership and hard work in getting us to this moment in time, said CSKT Chairwoman Shelly Fyant. This legislation shows what can happen when we all work together. It will provide critical water infrastructure projects, create jobs, restore our fisheries and water quality, grow the economy, and enhance the Reservation's natural landscape and ecosystem. We are grateful to Senator Tester for his years of hard work earning support among his colleagues for the Tribe's Water Compact, and we look forward to finally seeing this important bill signed into law.\nThe CSKT Water Compact will ratify the water rights settlement between CSKT and the State of Montana, resolve CSKT's water-related claims with the federal government, establish resources to update critical water infrastructure and avoid costly litigation. Tester first introduced his Salish and Kootenai Water Rights Settlement Act in 2016 and welcomed newfound support for the Compact from his colleagues across the aisle last fall.\nTester has been a steadfast champion for Tribes and Montana water users. As a former Chairman and long-time member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester originally sponsored the Blackfeet Water Compact in 2010 and guided it to the President's desk to be signed into law in 2016. He also sponsored the Crow Water Compact, which was signed into law and ratified in 2010.\nBefore being implemented, Tribal water rights compacts must pass the state legislature and both chambers of Congress, and be approved by the Tribe and Montana water court. In 2015, after a decade of negotiations between CSKT, the State of Montana, and local landowners, the Montana legislature passed the bipartisan CSKT Water Compact. The Compact is supported by Tribes, landowners, farmers, ranchers, small businesses, sportsmen, and the Montana Legislature.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7612", "Tester Urges VA to Bolster Telehealth Services for Veterans in Rural Areas During COVID-19 Pandemic [press_release]", "2020-07-29", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing today, Ranking Member Jon Tester pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to strengthen telehealth services to veterans, especially in rural areas, during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nAlthough many veterans in Montanaespecially those in highly rural areasare accustomed to virtual appointments, we need to remember that not all veterans have access to smart telephone technology or reliable internet access, said Ranking Member Tester. What more can we be doing to make these visits more valuable for patients and providers? And how are providers coping with a change in practice? We need to ensure that VA staff feel supported and have the tools they need to adequately care for vets. \nAt the hearing, Tester urged VA leadership to lay out its plans to address challenges in providing telehealth services to veterans in rural communities, as VA moves to re-open certain services in some facilities.\nTester continued, As hotspots and surges move from one location to another, VA's ability to expand and retract its telehealth capabilities will be critical. Therefore, it will be important to monitor whether the CARES Act funding is adequate to meet ongoing telehealth demand or if successor COVID packages will need to include additional emergency funding to provide these services to veterans. \nTo strengthen VA's response to COVID-19, Tester fought to deliver nearly $20 billion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Actincluding $14.4 billion to the Veterans Health Administration for medical services, including telehealth, and $2.15 billion for information technology to facilitate telehealth. Currently 4.7 million veterans in the United States live in rural areas, with 2.7 million enrolled in VA care.\nTester is continuing to champion his bipartisan Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans' Mental Health Care Improvement Act, landmark legislation introduced with Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) to increase rural veterans' access to VA care, ensuring that veterans have access to alternative and local treatment options. The bill was successfully voted out of committee earlier this year.\nTester's opening statement as prepared for delivery can be found HERE.\nA one-pager on the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans' Mental Health Care Improvement Act can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7613", "Tester: Montana Set To Receive 12 Cases of Remdesivir to Help Treat COVID-19 [press_release]", "2020-07-29", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester: Montana Set To Receive 12 Cases of Remdesivir to Help Treat COVID-19 \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Antiviral drug has emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Montana is set to receive a shipment of 12 cases of the antiviral drug remdesivir to help treat Montanans hospitalized with cases of COVID-19.\nDuring this public health crisis, we need every tool in the toolbox available to us to help combat the rising tide of infections, Tester said. And while this is welcome news that will give folks hit hardest a fighting chance to survive, we cannot let our guard down. I'll keep holding this Administration accountable to Montana and make sure this and other critical shipments of medical supplies arrive as promised, so that our front line health care workers have what they need to keep usand themselvessafe.\nAccording to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), administering remdesivir has been shown to speed recovery times for patients who have severe cases of COVID-19. The FDA gave emergency authorization for remdesivir to be used in treating COVID-19 earlier this spring. Montana's 12 cases of remdesivir contain 40 vials per case, with the average patient receiving 6.25 vials over a five-day course of treatment.\nTester has fought to hold the Trump Administration accountable to Montana and ensure that critically-needed supplies for front line health care workers go where they are needed most. Last week he led his colleagues in urging Trump to increase the production and distribution of personal protective equipment and improve the nation's testing and contact tracing capacity to stem the rising tide of infections, and he recently secured nearly $2 million for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Laboratory to help with testing and immunization support.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7609", "After Reports of Unidentified Seeds Arriving Unsolicited to Montanans, Tester Urges Administration to Take swift action to Curtail Potential Invasive Species Outbreak [press_release]", "2020-07-28", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today called on U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator Kevin Shea to quickly investigate and produce findings on multiple instances of Montanans receiving unsolicited packages of unidentified seeds that appear to have originated in China.\nI am reaching out today regarding recent reports that individuals are receiving unsolicited packages of seeds that appear to be from somewhere in China. I urge you to take swift action to identify the source of the seeds and curtail future deliveries to prevent a potential invasive species outbreak, wrote Tester in a letter to Commissioner Morgan and Administrator Shea. These seeds bear no markings identifying what kind of plant they may be, and the packages appear to have Chinese writing on them. If folks plant unidentified seeds from abroad, it could lead to an unmanaged invasive species outbreak. Especially in places like Montana, this could be devastating to local wildlife, agriculture, and our public and private lands.\nFollowing reports that many Americans are receiving mysterious packages containing unidentified seeds that appear to be from China, Tester is demanding that CBP and APHIS officials quickly investigate the seeds and their origins. He is also requesting that the agencies provide their findings to the public, evaluate how the seeds made it into the country in the first place, and ensure there are protections in place to prevent a potential invasive species outbreak that would be devastating to Montana's agriculture, wildlife, and public and private lands.\nRead Tester's full letter to Commissioner Morgan and Administrator Shea HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7608", "Tester Pushes Bill to Expand Wireless Internet Access for Low-Income Families, Seniors [press_release]", "2020-07-27", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the coronavirus crisis continues disrupting daily life, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is sponsoring a bill to help ensure families across rural America who lack adequate internet access do not get left behind.\nTester's Hotspots and Online Technology and Services Procurement for our Tribes and States (HOTSPOTS) Act will establish a program to help local libraries buy and distribute Wi-Fi-enabled hotspots to help address the growing need among low-income families and seniors for quality, high-speed internet access.\nInternet access is simply non-negotiable for living in the modern age, and with so much of our lives moving online, it is more important than ever that everyone can access reliable, high-speed internet, Tester said. This grant will help make sure families, seniors, and anyone else who needs it will be able to get online and stay connected as we confront this virus together.\nLocal libraries are often the only source of free Wi-Fi in rural communities. Seniors, homeless individuals, and students all rely on libraries for access to essential services online. During the pandemic, many libraries have continued offering these critical services, providing free Wi-Fi access to the public and mobile hotspots to check out and use at home. Hotspots and other internet-connected devices are inexpensive, easily deployable, and can help address immediate connectivity needs.\nTester's bill authorizes a two year, $160 million pilot program with a minimum allotment of $1.6 million per state to allow states, Tribes, and territories purchase and distribute internet-connected devices to libraries in low-income and rural areas.\nTester has fought tirelessly to make sure Montanans have the resources they need to combat COVID-19. He secured thousands to expand internet access across the state, and has pushed the Federal Communications Commission to ensure students have internet access to attend class virtually during the pandemic.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7604", "Tester, Colleagues Urge Trump To Increase PPE  Testing Capacity [press_release]", "2020-07-24", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country and in Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently led his colleagues in urging President Trump to use every resource available to increase the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) and improve the nation's testing and contact tracing capacity to stem the rising tide of infections.\nIn a letter to President Trump, Tester and his colleagues wrote that in addition to growing PPE shortages, Congress appropriated $25 billion to bolster testing and surveillance efforts three months ago, but less than half of those funds have been spent, leading to unacceptable shortages and delays in testing results.\nIt was only a few short months ago that the country watched in alarm as the PPE shortage was so severe doctors and nurses were forced to reuse masks and gowns that were meant for one-time use, wrote Tester and his colleagues. We saw healthcare workers in garbage bag gowns and reusing the same N95 masks for days on end while they risked their lives to save others. We should not, cannot, and must not go back to those days.\nTester and his colleagues also noted that lack of federal leadership and coordination on PPE acquisition or a virus testing strategy has led to confusion and chaos, and urged Trump to implement a centralized purchasing and distribution system to better allocate resources and make sure health care workers have the tools they need to combat the virus.\nIt is clear that the Administration's failure to lead on procurement and distribution of PPE or to marshal a comprehensive national testing and contact tracing strategy has allowed the virus to spread and left the country in a very vulnerable position, Tester and his colleagues continued. If it was not clear to this Administration before, it should be clear now, wishful thinking or denying the problem will not protect the American people or bring our economy back from the brink. It is well past time to change coursewe cannot wish this virus away.\nTester has worked relentlessly to bolster public health in Montana, and to ensure the state is equipped to handle the COVID-19 crisis. Last week, he secured nearly $2 million for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Laboratory to help with testing and immunization support. Earlier this month, he introduced legislation to bolster Montana's Medicaid program during the crisis, and he recently introduced a resolution condemning the Trump Administration's reckless effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which rural hospitals and clinics rely on to survive.\nThe full letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7605", "Tester Backs Bills to Increase Access to Mental and Behavioral Health, Prevent Drug Misuse, and Ensure Coverage During Cancer Treatment for Montanans [press_release]", "2020-07-24", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of his continuing effort to secure more health care resources for Montanans during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently announced his support of four bills aimed at increasing access to mental and behavioral health care; addiction and cancer treatment and prevention; and family planning resources.\nThe four bills aim to provide Montanans with critical access to health care resources that are especially pertinent during the current national public health crisis. The Tester-backed Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act, Medicare Mental Health Access Act, Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act, and Protect Access to Birth Control Act work to curb the overprescription of opioids, fulfill the unmet mental and behavioral health needs of Montanans, reduce wait times for breast cancer patients seeking Medicare and Social Security Disability benefits, and ensure that Montanans retain access to birth control.\nThousands of Montanans are currently struggling to access the health care resources they need to keep themselves and their families safe during this worldwide public health crisis, said Tester. Montanans can't afford to get kicked in the gut on health care any longer, and it's high time that Congress stops walking behind the horse, takes up the reins, and works together to pass these commonsense bills that will help folks access mental and behavioral health care, curb the nationwide opioid epidemic, assist folks struggling to pay for cancer treatments, and ensure that everyone can access tools for family planning.\nThe four Tester-supported bills will help provide Montanans with critical health care resources throughout the public health crisis and beyond. These bills are especially pertinent because, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many states and localities have seen upwards of 20-50 percent increases in opioid overdoses, upticks in need for mental and behavioral health care, and significant financial strain preventing individuals from receiving public health resources.\nThe four Tester-backed bills are as follows:\n \nNon-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act (S. 3067)  This bill incentivizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) providers to prescribe non-opioid drugs and devices in outpatient surgery settings in the hopes of preventing opioid addiction. A recent White House Drug Policy Office analysis found an 11.4 percent year-over-year increase in opioid overdose fatalities for the first four months of 2020 in the midst of the global pandemic.\nMedicare Mental Health Access Act (S. 2772)  This proposal removes the Medicare physician supervision requirements for mental health services provided by psychologists. This will help meet the unmet mental and behavioral health needs across Montana.\nMetastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (S. 1374)  This bill waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility and the 5-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) eligibility for individuals with metastatic breast cancer\nProtect Access to Birth Control Act (S. 4246)  In response to the Supreme Court's ruling earlier this month on the Administration's rules that virtually any employer or school could assert a religious or moral objection to claim an exemption from coverage for contraception, this bill would halt implementation of the Administration's rules around employer-sponsored coverage that would limit access for thousands of Montanans.\n \nTester has fought relentlessly to provide critical support for Montanans trying to access health care resources throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this week, he demanded the Trump Administration reverse a decision that would undermine Montana's COVID-19 hospital data collection and reporting. Last week, he secured nearly $2 million for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Laboratory to help with testing and immunization support, and he recently he introduced legislation to bolster Montana's Medicaid program during the crisis. He also recently introduced a resolution condemning the Trump Administration's reckless effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which protects Montanans with preexisting conditions and that rural hospitals and clinics rely on to survive.\nVisit tester.senate.gov/coronavirusresources for a list of resources for Montanans during the COVID-19 outbreak", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7600", "Tester Introduces Bill to Provide Benefits to Veterans and Military Families Fighting COVID-19 Crisis [press_release]", "2020-07-23", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation yesterday to remove barriers to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation and survivor benefits for certain active duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and Reservists, exposed to COVID-19 on the front lines.\nMembers of the National Guard and Reserve always stand ready to protect our communities when disaster strikes, said Ranking Member Tester. And in return for their service, we have an obligation to provide them with the benefits they've earned. That's why my colleagues and I crafted our bipartisan bill to make it easier for Guardsmen to file disability claims in the event they get sick, or die fighting on the front lines of this pandemic. Now more than ever, we must do the right thing by serving those who serve us during this unprecedented time. \nTester's COVID-19 Benefits for Active Duty Servicemembers, the Reserve Components, and their Survivors Act of 2020 would create a time-limited presumption of entitlement to service connection for active duty, National Guard and Reserve servicemembers if they develop symptoms of COVID-19 during, or within, 14-days after a qualifying period of military service. This would ensure that these veterans receive the VA benefits they are entitled to without first having to prove service-connection, streamlining their families' access to VA survivor benefits in the event of their death. The bill would also eliminate the requirement that a disability occur within the line of duty for certain members of the National Guard and Reserve. It would further ensure that those individuals can access VA benefits if they develop symptoms of COVID-19 after their federal orders have ended.\nIn Congress, Tester has worked tirelessly to expand benefits to the men and women of the National Guard responding to the national health emergency. Following weeks of pressure, he successfully pushed the Administration to authorize Title 32 status for National Guard members, allowing servicemembers the opportunity to receive additional benefits for their extended service during the pandemic. He also urged the Department of Defense to provide financial relief from health care premiums for members of the National Guard returning to Reserve status after responding to the COVID-19 crisis.\nA copy of Tester's bill can be found HERE.\nVisit tester.senate.gov/coronavirusresources for a list of resources for Montanans during the COVID-19 outbreak", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7602", "Tester Announces Nearly $6 Million in Transportation Investments for Missoula During Pandemic [press_release]", "2020-07-23", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $5,941,992 in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds for the Missoula Urban Transportation District. These funds were appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.\nMontana's transportation infrastructure is essential for the safety of folks in Missoula and also for the bottom line of Main Street businesses that power one of our state's largest economies, said Tester. These funds are a critical investment that will help hard hit workers and state agencies keep the wolf away from the door and make sure infrastructure in rural America is not cast aside during this crisis.\nMountain Line is proud to have continued providing essential service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, helping keep our community going even during the height of the shutdown in Missoula, said Corey Aldridge, General Manager of Mountain Line. I am proud of our team for how quickly we adopted new safety measures and policies, from sanitizing our buses multiple times a day to mandatory masking since May. However, these new policies have a financial cost. The CARES Act funding is not only helping us offset immediate capital needs, but is allowing us to put safeguards in place so we can continue providing essential service as we head into an uncertain economic future.\nThe funding Tester announced today will address immediate needs, including offsetting costs for software upgrades to help communicate fluctuating schedules to riders more efficiently. The funding will also support software for Mountain Line's ADA Paratransit service to increase messaging capabilities and make service more efficient and safer.\nThis investment is part of nearly $49 million in FTA funding for Montana secured by Tester from the $25 billion in federal transit grants in the CARES Act. The $48.9 million will be used to cover the operating expenses of transit agencies related to the response to coronavirus, including reimbursement for operating costs to maintain service, lost revenue, the purchase of personal protective equipment, and paying the administrative leave of operations personnel due to reductions in service.\nTester has worked tirelessly to ensure that Montana's transportation infrastructure is not left behind during the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently urged the Trump Administration to provide robust assistance to the Airport Improvement Program and ensure local airports aren't left behind in any new coronavirus aid packages. Additionally, he secured nearly $74 million for more than 70 airports across Montana to cover operational expenses and development projects during the crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7596", "BREAKING: Testers Landmark Bill to Provide Benefits to Vets Exposed to Agent Orange Passes Senate [press_release]", "2020-07-22", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Vietnam veterans suffering from diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange are one step closer to receiving critical care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following sustained efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester to include his bipartisan legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)  a must-pass annual defense bill.\nTester took to the Senate floor earlier today to urge his colleagues to support his amendment which would expand VA's list of medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonismhealth conditions that each meet the historical standard for being added to the presumptive list for service-connection as it relates to Agent Orange exposure.\nThis is a historic win for thousands of Vietnam veterans who have been suffering from illnesses after being exposed to Agent Orange, but who have been unjustly denied benefits for decades, said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. With the inclusion of my amendment in this must-pass defense bill, we are now one step closer to providing our Vietnam War heroes with the treatment and benefits they deserve from VA. But our fight is far from overtaking care of our veterans is a continuing cost of war, and we've got to keep extending the list of presumptive conditions to support an entire population of veterans living with other debilitating illnesses as a result of their service. \nCurrently, thousands of Vietnam veterans living with chronic health conditions developed as a result of their service are being denied critical benefits and health care from VA. These veterans have been subject to additional and unwarranted delays as a result of the Trump Administration's repeated calls for further evaluation of scientific researcheven though such research has already been reviewed by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), which has established the standard for scientific evidence of association for more than twenty years. Tester's amendment would require VA to provide a presumption of service-connection for Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonismexpanding care and benefits for veterans suffering from these three conditions.\nFor years, Tester has fought tirelessly to push the Trump Administration to provide Vietnam veterans the treatment and benefits they earned. In 2017, he led the charge in urging VA to expand its list of medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange. In 2018, he repeated the call and urged the Office of Management and Budget to assist the VA in this effort. Earlier this year, Tester led 42 Senators in blasting the Administration for stonewalling critical benefits for more than 190,000 Vietnam veterans suffering from health conditions connected with their service. He also held a roundtable discussion with Senate Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), stakeholders, and veterans' advocates to address longstanding issues associated with the effects of toxic exposures on our nation's servicemembers and veterans.\nThe long-term negative health effects of Agent Orange have devastated thousands of Vietnam veterans, said Stephen Whitehead, National Commander of Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism have all been scientifically linked to Agent Orange exposure, yet VA has not taken action on these three diseases in almost four years. DAV supports Senate Amendment No. 1972 in the NDAA, which would provide presumptive service connection for these conditions. Vietnam veterans and their families need the Senate to pass this amendment now to ensure access to VA health care and benefits.\nFor too long, our Vietnam veterans have had to fight for and have been denied the critical health care they need to treat medical conditions resulting from exposure to Agent Orange. We have made significant strides in ensuring that these veterans are given the care they deserve for their service and sacrifice to our nation. However, there is still more work to be done and these veterans continue to suffer the detrimental effects of their exposure each day. This amendment would provide a presumption of service-connection for Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism for veterans exposed to certain herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam, said James W. Bill Oxford, National Commander for The American Legion. The American Legion is proud to support this amendment and believes the evidence overwhelmingly supports adding these diseases to the presumptive list.\nVietnam veterans did their part and served with honor, said Matthew Doyle, Deputy Director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Unfortunately, many of them have lost the fight to the health conditions they developed as a result of their exposure to Agent Orange. The scientific community has already determined that sufficient evidence exists linking Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinson-like symptoms to Agent Orange exposure. The VFW urges inclusion of Amendment No. 1972 in the FY2021 NDAA, which would add these disorders to the list of presumptive conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange.\n\"AMVETS is supportive of all efforts to add Parkinsonism, Bladder cancer, and Hypothyroidism to the list of presumptive health outcomes for service-connected exposure to Agent Orange, said Joe Chenelly, Executive Director of AMVETS. Tester Amendment No. 1972 would provide health care and disability benefits to more than 20,000 affected veterans who have already waited too long for this change.\nPVA endorses this effort to ensure Vietnam veterans receive appropriate care and compensation for conditions related to Agent Orange exposure, said Roscoe Butler, Associate Legislative Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). Adding these three diseases to VA's list of presumptive conditions is the right thing to do for these veterans and their families.\"\nI'm heartened to see that Congress is not forgetting our Vietnam veterans, said Lieutenant General Dana Atkins, President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). As a nation, we must ensure all our veterans are taken care of when they experience negative health consequences like toxic exposures from their service. When illnesses like Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinson's-like symptoms meet the scientific standards to be connected with Agent Orange, we must add them to the list of presumptives. Tens of thousands of veterans are suffering from these illnesses. I'm glad to see this year's NDAA includes Sen. Tester's amendment so Congress can provide the benefits and compensation our veterans deserve.\nThe Agent Orange Act of 1991 called for a decision by the Secretary no later than 60 days after receiving the Institute of Medicine's report and another 60 days after the Secretary's decision to issue proposed regulations setting forth his determination. This has patently not been followed, said John Rowan, National President and CEO of Vietnam Veterans of America. Now the current VA Secretary wants to wait until the end of calendar 2020. This is unacceptable. We are losing over 500 Vietnam veterans a day, many of them from conditions associated with exposure to dioxin. Further delays are not an option. It's time for Congress to act.\nWithin one hour of alerting our membership, hundreds of TREA members wrote to their Senators in support of this critical amendment  making thousands of Vietnam veterans eligible for Agent Orange benefits, said Ken Greenberg, Director of Veterans and Military Policy for TREA: The Enlisted Association. TREA is grateful for the tireless efforts of Ranking Member Jon Tester and Committee staff to secure Amendment No. 1972 in the NDAA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7597", "Tester Introduces Legislation to Permanently Protect Badger-Two Medicine [press_release]", "2020-07-22", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In the wake of a federal court decision upholding the cancellation of the final oil and gas lease in the Badger-Two Medicine, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today took the final step in his years-long push to permanently protect the sacred area by introducing legislation to designate the 127,000 acres in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest as the Badger-Two Medicine Cultural Area.\nA few weeks ago, the Blackfeet Tribe and the people of Montana won a huge victory for our public lands when the last oil and gas lease in the Badger-Two Medicine was remanded to a lower court, said Tester. Now it's time we build on this momentum and continue the fight to safeguard this sacred area, which is why I am introducing legislation that honors the will of the Blackfeet Tribe and of public lands owners across our state by permanently protecting the Badger-Two Medicine for future generations.\nThe Blackfeet Nation has maintained a profound connection to the Badger-Two Medicine since time immemorial, said Timothy Davis, Chairman of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council. It is our last cultural refuge, home to many of our origin stories, a stronghold for our ceremonies and traditions, and until it is permanently protected, we cannot rest. This bill ensures the teaching of our Pikuni ancestors will be fulfilled and we can always be connected with the sacred. We are extremely grateful to Senator Tester for his support and leadership in our effort to protect these sacred lands.\nTester's Badger-Two Medicine Protection Act designates 127,000 acres in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Glacier and Pondera counties as the Badger-Two Medicine Cultural Heritage Area. This legislation would build upon existing protections by prohibiting commercial timber harvest, excluding vegetation management; making permanent the existing road construction ban; banning the use of motorized vehicles and mountain bikes; and prohibiting new structures including water facilities, pipelines, or buildings of any kind. Maintenance of existing structures, grazing allotments, and current activities would still be permitted.\nThe designated area includes no private property, and only one active grazing lease, which would be grandfathered in.\nIn addition to the management restrictions, the legislation also requires the Forest Service to consider new management proposals put forward by the Tribe, to consult with the Tribe on management twice a year, and it gives the Tribe two 30-day veto windows on proposed new uses at the beginning and end of the environmental review process.\nThe Badger-Two Medicine is some of the finest wild country in Montana, and a cherished land where so many of us who live here hunt, hike, ride horses or enjoy time in nature, Peter Metcalf, Executive Director of the Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance. This bill reflects a shared, made-in-Montana vision for the future of these culturally and ecologically important lands. We applaud Senator Tester for his leadership and look forward to working with him and the rest of Montana's delegation to pass this important legislation.\n\"We'd like to thank Senator Tester for his leadership in seeking permanent protection for the Badger-Two Medicine, said Ben Gabriel, Executive Director of the Montana Wilderness Association. We're pleased that the Senator has taken steps to ensure the Blackfeet Tribe has a meaningful voice in the Badger's management. Montana Wilderness Association has been working to secure the future of this special place for nearly 40 years, and passing the Badger-Two Medicine Protection Act will be the final step in protecting one of the most culturally significant and ecologically rich areas on the Rocky Mountain Front.\"\nThe Badger-Two Medicine is not only essential to the Blackfeet culture, but is also a vital part of Montana's outdoor traditions, said Scott Brennan, Montana State Director of the Wilderness Society. This area is an important wildlife sanctuary and a recreational paradise. The Badger-Two Medicine deserves to be permanently protected and we thank Senator Tester for his efforts to ensure that it is.\nFor decades, the spectacular lands of the Badger-Two Medicine have been overshadowed by a cloud of uncertainty. Now that cloud is lifting, said Michael Jamison, Crown of the Continent Senior Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. This legislation is especially powerful, as it not only protects our wild heritage but also gives voice to those who, throughout too much of our history, have not been heard. It's time to permanently protect the Badger-Two Medicine's wildlands and wildlife, and to honor forever the Blackfeet Nation's last cultural refuge.\nMontana hunters and anglers have long known that protecting the Badger-Two Medicine is the right thing to do for the Blackfeet, wildlife, and access for all to wildlands, said Marcus Strange, Program and Partnership Director for the Montana Wildlife Federation. We thank Senator Tester for his leadership on this critical bill ensuring that generations from now, hunters and anglers from all walks of life will still be hunting and fish this special place we call the Badger.\nMontana hunters and anglers applaud Senator Tester's efforts to permanently protect the Badger-Two Medicine, said John B. Sullivan III, Board Chair of the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. This wild, undeveloped landscape is held sacred by the Blackfeet people and revered by all who lay eyes on it or set food in it, which is why we're pleased to see permanent public access included. Senator Tester's legislation introduced today will keep it the way it is' forever, something all public land owners can get behind.\nProtecting the Badger-Two Medicine will be a great step forward for the Blackfeet Nation and for Montana hunters and anglers, Tom France, Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation. Both the Montana and National Wildlife Federations applaud Senator Tester for introducing this important legislation.\nThe Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service granted 47 oil and gas leases in the sacred Badger-Two Medicine area in 1982 without consulting with the Blackfeet Tribe. The final lease is still pending in the courts, with a strong rebuke and remand to the District Court last month.\nTester has long supported protecting the Badger-Two Medicine, and has repeatedly called on the Department of the Interior to cancel the remaining leases in the area, citing the area's importance to the Blackfeet Tribe and Montana's sportsmen and women.\nThe Badger-Two Medicine is located at the intersection of the Blackfeet Reservation, Glacier National Park, and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.\nText of Tester's legislation can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7598", "Testers Historic Great American Outdoors Act Clears House, Headed for Presidents Desk [press_release]", "2020-07-22", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester's historic bill securing full, permanent funding for the critical Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) passed the U.S. House of Representatives today and is one step away from being signed into law.\nThe Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) cleared the chamber 310-107, and now awaits President Trump's signature. In addition to fully funding LWCF at $900 million a year, the GAOA allocates $9.5 billion to address maintenance backlogs on public lands across the United States.\nThis type of public lands win comes along only once in a great while, and we are now one signature away from it becoming law, Tester said. The Great American Outdoors Act will help protect public lands that make Montana special and power our outdoor recreation economy for generations to come. It's because of the hard work of public land owners across Montana making their voices heard in Washington loud enough to convince the skeptics that we're finally on the cusp of a victory our kids and grandkids can celebrate. I look forward to President Trump signing it into law so we can get to work putting these conservation tools to good use.\nEstablished in 1964, the LWCF uses revenues from oil and gas leasing to fund conservation and recreation priorities across the nation. Since its creation, the LWCF has invested millions into Montana's $7.1 billion outdoor recreation economy.\nTester first introduced a bill to fully fund the LWCF in 2009, and until recently was the only member of the Montana delegation to support full, mandatory funding for LWCF.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7599", "Tester Statement on USDA Update on Tyson Beef and Coronavirus Pandemic Investigation [press_release]", "2020-07-22", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on USDA Update on Tyson Beef and Coronavirus Pandemic Investigation \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tU.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) report on its ongoing boxed beef and fed cattle price spread investigation following the closure of the Tyson beef packing plant in Holcomb, Kansas and the coronavirus pandemic:\n The investigation so far clearly shows that Congress needs to take action in order to make sure the market is working and that consumers and folks working in production ag are protected. Congress should immediately move to take up my legislation with Senator Grassley that would ensure a proportion of cattle transactions happen on the spot market, so we can level the playing field for Montana ranchers. \n  \nTester and Grassley's spot pricing legislation is a plank of Tester's Rancher Relief Plan, which aims to provide certainty to Montana's small and medium sized cow calf operators. The bill would require large-scale meat packers to increase the proportion of negotiable transactions that are cash, or spot,' to 50 percent of their total cattle purchases. This would improve accuracy of formula pricingwhich currently accounts for a significant portion of transactionsand increase transparency for producers and feeders.\nThe other bipartisan initiatives in Tester's Rancher Relief Plan include:\n \nIncreasing interstate commerce and diversifying meat production in Montana and neighboring states; \nAnd the first bipartisan Senate push for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling since Congress repealed it in 2015. \n \nIn recent months, Tester has led the fight to provide certainty for Montana ranchers in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Tester demanded that Attorney General William Barr, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, open an investigation into reports of price fixing in the cattle market in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, after Montana's ranchers recently saw the steepest price decline for cattle in forty years, Tester pushed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to take immediate action to stabilize beef markets.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7592", "Tester, Western Senators Lead Call for Expedited Hearing on Anti-Public Lands Crusader William Perry Pendleys Nomination to Bureau of Land Management [press_release]", "2020-07-21", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following President Trump's formal nomination of anti-public lands activist William Perry Pendley to lead the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today led his Western colleagues in calling for an expedited Senate confirmation hearing for Pendley, who was installed as the de facto acting director of the agency nearly a year ago without a confirmation hearing or vote.\nTester and his colleagues wrote that Pendley's long career of hostility towards the public lands he now oversees is disqualifying, and urged the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to expedite the confirmation hearing so Pendley can answer for his troubling record of anti-public lands advocacy before the American public.\nTester was joined by Senators Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris of California, Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, and Michael Bennet of Colorado.\nAs U.S. Senators representing the West, we understand that the management of our public lands is inextricably tied to our proud outdoor heritage and economy, wrote Tester and his colleagues. The Bureau of Land Management plays an integral role in all of our communities and we do not believe Mr. Pendley is fit to oversee the agency The American public deserves the opportunity to review how Mr. Pendley's history conflicts with the important role of overseeing the Bureau of Land Management.\nPendley was installed as the de facto Acting Director at BLM last summer by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, a move that allowed him to serve in the position without Senate approval and avoid answering for his career built on pushing the federal government to sell off its public lands. Tester railed against the decision, citing deep opposition to Pendley's views and calling it an end-run around on the Senate's responsibility to confirm federal leadership positions.\nPublic land management is built on collaboration and community input, Tester and his colleagues continued. Mr. Pendley has supported extremists, defended leases issued on sacred tribal land without tribal consultation, and worked to undermine wildlife habitat protections based on years of careful negotiations. He has proven unwilling to work with local communities on collaborative solutions and is not a credible honest broker on land management or tribal sovereignty issues that come before the agency.\nMr. Pendley has run the Bureau of Land Management for nearly a year, without Senate confirmation or even a nomination. Now that President Trump has submitted his nomination, it is critical for Mr. Pendley to finally step into the sunlight and give the U.S. Senate and the public an opportunity to review his troubling record.\nPendley has various flagrant conflicts of interest with issues before BLM stemming from his time running the anti-public lands group Mountain States Legal Foundation, and he has served as counsel for Solenex LLC, the firm seeking to restore illegally-issued drilling leases in the sacred Badger-Two Medicine Area. Pendley has also encouraged armed standoffs between federal law enforcement officials and ranchers, and once wrote an article titled The Federal Government Should Follow the Constitution and Sell Its Western Lands.\nThe Senators' letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7593", "Tester Demands Trump Administration Reverse Move to Undermine Montanas COVID-19 Hospital Data Collection and Reporting [press_release]", "2020-07-21", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester led a group of his colleagues in demanding that the Trump Administration reverse course on recent changes that would require Montana hospitals to report COVID-19 data to a new system set up by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) instead of the well-established National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), which is run by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).\nIn a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, Tester and his colleagues slammed the Administration's abrupt and harmful move to transition to a brand new data reporting system over NHSNwhich has been in use by Montana hospitals for more than a decadein the midst of a global public health emergency and rising COVID-19 cases across the Treasure State.\nMontana's hospitals have used the same system to effectively report data to the CDC for more than a decade, and in the middle of a global pandemic, it goes without saying that this data is critical to our state's ability to bolster public health and ensure the safety of our communities, said Tester. This Administration's move to scrap a tried and true system for the sake of controlling the data being reported will only endanger American lives. Hospitals and medical professionals across our state have made one thing clear: the President must reverse course on this decision or we will undermine our ability to effectively fight this virus.\nMontana hospitals have raised the alarm on the dangers of changing the reporting system in the middle of the global health crisis, reinforcing the diversion of resourcesespecially in small, frontier hospitalsthat this change necessitates:\nAdditional data reporting oftentimes creates a staffing burden for our critical access hospitals, said Rich Rasmussen, President and CEO of the Montana Hospital Association. This new request not only shifts the reporting to a new portal, but also dramatically increases the number of data fields that must be completed and submitted daily. For facilities with no COVID hospitalizations or active cases in the county, this new requirement poses a challenge to our frontier hospitals. We are scrambling to identify an automation tool to alleviate the burden and comply with the directive.\nIn his letter, Tester and his colleagues highlight how the sudden shift to a new system could undermine the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic: hospitals unable to switch within 48 hours could lose access to critical supplies; states that have built their own response and data systems based on the NHSN could lose access to critical information; and the decision to circumvent CDC could lead to disruption in the data collected, questions about its accuracy, and hampered access for public health experts and the general public.\nWithout adequate data, the country has been unable to appropriately adjust our response to COVID-19a reality highlighted by the dearth of reliable data on the heavy burden of COVID-19 on communities of color and other vulnerable populations, wrote Tester and his colleagues. The American people deserve to know the true scope of the pandemic, and that can only happen if public health experts lead in collecting and reporting data accurately and transparently. By abruptly changing the reporting process by requiring hospitals to report to HHS and circumventing CDC, we are concerned there will be a disruption in the data collected and questions about the accuracy of that data.\nTester has worked relentlessly to bolster public health in Montana, and to ensure the state is equipped to handle the COVID-19 crisis. Last week, he secured nearly $2 million for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Laboratory to help with testing and immunization support. Earlier this month, he introduced legislation to bolster Montana's Medicaid program during the crisis, and he recently introduced a resolution condemning the Trump Administration's reckless effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which rural hospitals and clinics rely on to survive.\nRead the full text of Senator Tester's letter HERE.\nVisit tester.senate.gov/coronavirusresources for a list of resources for Montanans during the COVID-19 outbreak", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7594", "Tester, Rounds Bill to Streamline Education Benefits for Veterans Heads to Presidents Desk [press_release]", "2020-07-21", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Rounds' (R-S.D.) bipartisan G.I. Bill Work Study Improvement Act of 2019 is heading to the President's desk to be signed into law. The Senators' bill will provide timelier education benefits to student veterans participating in the VA Work-Study Allowance Program by cutting down excessive bureaucracy at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\nSenators Tester and Rounds' G.I. Bill Work Study Improvement Act of 2019 streamlines the processing and administration of VA benefits through the VA Work-Study Allowance Programallowing student veterans to earn money at a second job while enrolled in classes.\nOur bipartisan bill is one step away from making it easier for student veterans to access the benefits they need to invest in their education and their futures, said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. The fact is that student veterans often work multiple jobs to make ends meet and often can't afford to wait weeks on end for VA to issue them the benefits they're due. That's why I'm urging the President to sign this bill quickly into law to cut down on bureaucratic red tape, and provide veterans better access to the benefits they need while working toward an education.\nFor years, the VA's work-study program has been a great benefit to veterans seeking to help other veterans through on-the-job training, said Rounds. But under the current system, many students are waiting weeks to get paid for their work, and some aren't receiving paychecks at all due to administrative delays in processing at the VA. Our legislation streamlines the program to make certain student workers are getting paid on-time and in-full. Work-study programs are a great way to earn some extra cash while working toward a degree. Our bill makes improvements to the VA's work-study program to better serve the needs of our service members transitioning into civilian life.\nA copy of the Senators' bill can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 2079, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"party\" = :p1 and \"state\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "Democrat", "p2": "MT"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 2079, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=MT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 2079, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=MT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT", "results": [{"value": "MT", "label": "MT", "count": 2079, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT", "results": [{"value": "2017", "label": "2017", "count": 463, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT&year=2017", "selected": false}, {"value": "2019", "label": "2019", "count": 458, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT&year=2019", "selected": false}, {"value": "2018", "label": "2018", "count": 447, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT&year=2018", "selected": false}, {"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 447, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT&year=2020", "selected": false}, {"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 235, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT&year=2016", "selected": false}, {"value": "2015", "label": "2015", "count": 28, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT&year=2015", "selected": false}, {"value": "2021", "label": "2021", "count": 1, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT&year=2021", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-07-21,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Etester~2Esenate~2Egov~2F~3Fp~3Dpress_release~26id~3D7594", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Democrat&state=MT&_next=2020-07-21%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Etester~2Esenate~2Egov~2F~3Fp~3Dpress_release~26id~3D7594&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 105.63156008720398, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}