{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", party = \"Democrat\" and state = \"MT\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7889", "Tester Secures Bipartisan Compromise COVID Stimulus Package, Montana Wins in Government Funding Bill [press_release]", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement with the Senate slated to pass a compromise COVID stimulus package and an omnibus appropriations package funding the government through September 2021:\n\"For months, I've pushed leadership on both sides of the aisle to negotiate an economic stimulus package that will put our economy back on track and get Montanans back to work, and today Congress listened to Montana commonsense. No one got everything they wanted in this package, but it's a bipartisan compromise that provides targeted support for Montana small businesses and folks who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and it will help get vaccines to folks in rural America quickly and effectively. I will keep working across the aisle to aggressively hold the federal government accountable so that relief gets into the hands of Montana families as soon as possible.\"\nSince March, Senator Tester has spoken to hundreds of Montana families, business owners, school administrators, and medical professionals about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Treasure State. He has been negotiating with Senators across the political spectrum for months to secure an economic stimulus deal so that Montana's economy can reopen safely. In the COVID stimulus package, Senator Tester secured:\n\t$20 billion for vaccine procurement and distribution  \t$22 billion in grants to states to support contact tracing, COVID-19 testing, and mitigation efforts to control the virus  \tAn additional $300 per week in unemployment benefits through March 14, 2021  \tExtends unemployment benefits to self-employed individuals, gig workers and those who have exhausted their state benefits  \tExtends deadline for use of the Coronavirus Relief Fund for states, cities, and Tribes from the CARES Act one year, until December 31, 2021  \t$284 billion for first and second forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans. Expands PPP eligibility for more critical access hospitals, local newspapers and TV and radio broadcasters, and 501(c)(6) nonprofits, including tourism promotion organizations and local chambers of commerce.  \t$15 billion for live entertainment venues  \t$65 million to implement Senator Tester's Broadband DATA Act, which updates federal broadband funding distribution maps to ensure accurate and efficient allocation of resources  \t$250 million for the Federal Communications Commission's COVID Telehealth Program  \t$1 billion to Indian Health Service for vaccines, testing and tracing, community health and health care provider support  \t$13 billion in direct payments for farmers and ranchers  \t$1 billion for Amtrak  \t$81 billion to support education  \t$25 billion for rental assistance, including $800 million reserved for Native American housing entities\nAdditionally, in the end of year omnibus appropriations package also expected to pass the Senate today, Senator Tester secured:\n\tThe Montana Water Rights Protection Act (S. 3019)-the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) water rights settlement-ratifying the water compact, and honoring our treaty responsibilities by providing $1.9 billion for water infrastructure and economic development on the CSKT reservation, and settling more than 10,000 water rights claims in the state water court  \tA five-year extension of the Frontier Community Health Integration Project (FCHIP), a priority for Montana's rural hospitals  \tA provision ending surprise medical billing by out-of-network providers and taking patients out of the cross-hairs  \tThe Craft Beverage Modernization Act to prevent an increase in excise tax for Montana's brewers and distillers", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7890", "Tester Secures Funding for Montana Homeland Security Priorities in Government Funding Bill [press_release]", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(U.S. Senate) - In his position as Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Jon Tester successfully secured billions in funding for critical homeland security programs prioritized by Montanans as part of the annual process to fund the government for the next fiscal year. In the bipartisan deal passed by Congress this week, Tester negotiated substantial investments in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), screening operations and technology acquisitions for the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), Coast Guard readiness, and critical border security technology and assets.  \"This bipartisan deal keeps Montana families safe and is an example of what we can get done when we work together,\" said Tester. \"I am proud we are making smart investments in local law enforcement, security and technology at our airports and borders, and reducing threats from wildfires and other natural disasters.\" As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester is responsible for writing the 12 bills that fund the federal government each year. Among the Montana and national provisions Tester successfully included in today's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations package are: FEMA Fire Grants  \t$360 million, $5 million more than FY20, for Fire grants which provide equipment and training to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters. Montana received $1,932,922 in FY 2019, FY 2020 awards are still being made. FEMA SAFER Grants  \t$360 million, $5 million more than FY20, for SAFER grants which help communities increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters. Montana received $2,256,067 in FY 2019, FY 2020 awards are still being made. FEMA Operation Stonegarden  \tMaintains $90 million for Operation Stonegarden grants which provides funding to state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to enhance coordination with CBP and USBP to defend America's borders.  Montana received $1,287,580 in FY 2020. Montana State University  \tUp to $18 million for MSU to assist the DHS Science and Technology Directorate carry out its R&D mission, including:  o\t$7 million for Partnership Intermediary Agreements, which supports a partnership between DHS Science and Technology (S&T) and Montana State University, to use technical expertise at MilTech and the Applied Research Lab to help transition innovative technologies to address critical mission needs across DHS.  o\t$5 million to support collaboration between MSU and DHS (S&T) to continue to develop software analysis services that identify and measure security weaknesses in software design for data researchers and program developers. This funding is also to support growing collaboration between MSU and S&T on general cyber related projects.  o\t$6 million for DHS to create a national testing capacity to assess vulnerabilities and mitigate biological risks, including COVID-19, in building air and water handling systems, multi-building facilities, and waste water systems. The Center for Biofilm Engineering at MSU will partner with the Idaho National Laboratory for research to assess the role of biofilm in the transportation of pathogenic organisms in the built environment to create innovative biosurveillance and monitoring capabilities.  TSA Security Screening Technology  \t$100 million for the procurement and deployment of computed tomography (CT) machines (checked baggage scanners) and credential authentication technology (CAT) systems (passenger identification units). This legislation specifically directs TSA to consider small and rural airports in addition to larger ones when determining locations for deployment of CT and CAT scanners. TSA Law Enforcement Reimbursement Program  \tRestores $46.4 million to partially reimburse airports for providing law enforcement officer staffing. TSA Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) Program  \tRestores $61.8 million and 31 teams that are deployed to airports and transit systems to guard against terrorist attacks. TSA Canine Program  \t$170 million for 1,097 explosives detection canine teams. Tribal consultation  \tA requirement is included requiring DHS to update Tribal consultation training in conjunction with Tribes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7891", "Tester Delivers Tax Cut for Montana Craft Alcohol Producers in Government Funding Bill [press_release]", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester delivered a shot of good news for Montana's craft alcohol producers as a part of the deal to fund the government for the next fiscal year.\nTester secured a deal to include his bipartisan the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) in the year-end legislation, making permanent a cut to excise taxes on small brewers, distillers, and vintners, and speeding up the process of getting labels approved by regulators, reducing the time it takes to get a product on the shelves. The deal helps Montana breweries avoid an $800,000 tax hike next year alone.\n\"Montana's craft alcohol producers make some of the finest spirits in the world - using local ingredients - and create thousands of good-paying jobs for our state,\" Tester said. \"Like many Main Street businesses, craft alcohol producers have been hit hard by the pandemic, and I am glad we were able to help them keep their doors open and be ready to welcome folks back for a cold drink once this pandemic is behind us.\"\nThe CBMTRA cuts excise taxes in half for small breweries on their first 60,000 barrels of annual production, and then lowers the excise tax by two dollars for every barrel produced up to two million barrels. For small distillers, it cuts the excise tax from $13.40 to $2.70 per gallon for the first 100,000 gallons produced.\nAccording to the Montana Brewers Association, there are more than 80 small breweries across the state that support over 2,700 jobs and produce more than six million gallons of beer each year. Montana breweries also purchase more than three million pounds of malt grain from Montana farmers and contribute over $400 million to the state's economy each year.\n\"Today we raise our glasses to say cheers and thank you to Senator Tester for cosponsoring this legislation and ensuring tax relief for brewers was included in the package,\" said Montana Brewers Association Executive Director Matt Leow. \"The craft brewing industry is facing unprecedented challenges, from reduced taproom business and weak keg sales due to COVID-19 to aluminum can shortages and increased can prices, but today craft brewers across Montana are celebrating news that Congress will deliver on the promise of tax relief for our industry.\"\n\"We're so grateful for Senator Tester's assistance on the CBMTRA,\" said Courtney McKee, co-owner and CEO of Butte's Headframe Spirits. \"Small businesses like ours, across the state and country, work hard to make good jobs with living wages for our employees. This year has been hard for many small businesses and many distilleries would not have survived a 400% tax increase January 1, 2021. Headframe Spirits has nearly 30 employees and continues to grow. As a certified B Corporation, we measure our success by the positive impact we have on our community and the economic impact we have on our state. We're proud to be a small business in Montana, adding value to Montana grown grain, and are grateful for the help to ensure we'll be here for the long haul.\"\nTester introduced the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act last year, and in July he urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to defer all federal excise tax collection deadlines for domestic and imported alcohol beverages through December 31, 2020 to help producers cope with the pandemic.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7885", "Tester Nominates 19 of Montanas Best and Brightest Students to Prestigious Military Service Academies [press_release]", "2020-12-16", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced he is nominating 19 Montana students to be admitted to the country's four prestigious military service academies.\nTester selected these 19 students based on their academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and commitment to serving and leading in the United States military. To attend the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force, or Merchant Marine Academies, a student must be nominated by a member of Congress.\n\"It is one of my greatest honors as Montana's Senior Senator to nominate our state's best and brightest to the nation's most prestigious military academies each year,\" said Tester. \"These young folks have proven they can work hard both in and out of the classroom, have shown promising leadership and teamwork skills, and are dedicated to serving their communities and their country. I'm looking forward to watching them continue to grow into the next generation of military leaders in America.\"\nMontana students who are interested in applying to a military academy in the future can request a nomination from Tester HERE.\nSenator Jon Tester's 2021 Military Academy nominees:\nBelgrade\n\n \nGideon Survoy - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\n \n\nBigfork\n\n \nBrandon Wenzel - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\n \n\nBillings\n \nNatalie Beck - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy\nKathryn Brower - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\n \nBozeman\n \nErica Brackett - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy\n \nCameron\n \nKyle LaClair - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\n \nColumbia Falls\n \nCameron Kahle - U.S. Naval Academy\n \nCorvallis\n \nLogan VanDenburg - U.S. Naval Academy\n \nHarlem\n \nAlaynee Hawley - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\n \nHelena\n \nEthan Hayes - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\n \nHot Springs\n \nEmmaRae Rasmussen - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n \nLavina\n \nJacob Smith - U.S. Naval Academy\n \nMissoula\n \nBremer Deaton - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\nEthan Schroeder - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n \nRed Lodge\n \nCalahan Barker - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n \nTwo Dot\n \nMargaret Martin - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\n \nWest Glacier\n \nJulia Sowerwine - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy\n \nWhitefish\n \nCamren Ross - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Naval Academy\nLinnea Forsberg - U.S. Naval Academy", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7886", "Montana Health Care Providers to Receive Nearly $12 Million in Pandemic Relief, Tester Announces [press_release]", "2020-12-16", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Montana Health Care Providers to Receive Nearly $12 Million in Pandemic Relief, Tester Announces \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 162 providers in Montana will receive a combined $ 11,916,997 \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 health care providers will receive nearly $12 million in pandemic relief funds.\n162 providers across the state will share a combined $11,916,997 under the phase 3 general distribution of the Provider Relief Funding program Tester secured as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.\nMontana's health care providers have been bravely responding to this pandemic for months, and need every available resource, Tester said. This funding will help providers keep their doors open and continue treating patients while keeping Montana families and communities healthy.\nThe funding is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and distribution began today.\nTester has fought tirelessly to ensure Montana's health care providers have the resources they need to combat the coronavirus pandemic. He secured nearly $200 million for rural health care providers and clinics, and recently secured $3 million for 14 Montana community health centers to expand COVID-19 testing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7887", "Tester Statement on Final Packers and Stockyards Undue Preference Rule [press_release]", "2020-12-16", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the final Packers and Stockyards undue preference rule:\n\"This rule is a slap in the face to America's family ranchers and poultry farmers, and it is a serious setback in the fight against corporate consolidation in agriculture that threatens America's food supply chain and the livelihoods of thousands of Montanans,\" said Tester. \"Months ago, Senator Chuck Grassley and I urged USDA to revise this rule so that it would provide producers with the long overdue protections against retaliation and predatory practices intended by the Packers and Stockyards Act. Unfortunately, USDA sided with corporations rather than America's farmers and ranchers, so it's essential that Congress step in and pass legislation that will safeguard rural America's economy and way of life.\"\nThis Agricultural Marketing Service rule was required by the 2008 Farm Bill, which obligated the USDA to implement regulations to establish criteria that the Secretary of Agriculture would use in determining whether an undue or unreasonable preference or advantage has occurred in violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act. Enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act has been notoriously weak, in part because of overly broad statutory terms that this rule was intended to clarify.\nEarlier this year, Tester released his three-part Rancher Relief Plan to protect family farmers and ranchers and combat corporate consolidation in agriculture. These bipartisan initiatives include:\n \nIncreasing interstate commerce and diversifying meat production in Montana and neighboring states;\nLegislation to ensure fair prices at the farm gate from large packers;\nAnd the first bipartisan Senate push for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling since Congress repealed it in 2015.\n \nTester is leading the charge in the efforts to create fair cattle markets for ranchers across the country. Tester demanded Attorney General Barr investigate pricing fixing in the cattle industry to determine the impetus for the glaring price irregularities in the marketplace. Additionally, after Montana's ranchers saw the steepest decline in cattle prices in forty years, Tester called on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to take immediate action to stabilize beef markets. And in order to reduce the processing bottleneck and get more food onto the tables of folks in need, he wrote a letter to USDA requesting a waiver for the state of Montana to allow custom exempt butchers to process meat for food banks.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7881", "Tester Statement on Administration of First COVID-19 Vaccine Doses in Montana [press_release]", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Administration of First COVID-19 Vaccine Doses in 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 released the following statement as the first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine make their way to health care workers across Montana:\n This is an extraordinary moment: Montana's frontline health care workers are now getting the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations, a truly historic milestone in our fight to manage the spread of this virus and get our economy back on track. We owe a debt of gratitude to our health care workers and their families during this crisis that can never be repaid. I'll keep holding folks across the federal government accountable to ensure this vaccine is distributed to all Montanans quickly and efficiently, so we can put this virus behind us once and for all, and get back to work. \n  \nSenator Tester fought to secure more than $10 billion in funding for vaccine research, development, and distribution. Last week, Tester pressed officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a swift, equitable, and comprehensive distribution plan for veterans and VA staff. Tester, Montana's only member of the Senate Commerce Committee, secured commitments from vaccine delivery strategists at UPS and FedEx to ensure timely and efficient vaccine shipments to Montana's rural and frontier communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7882", "At Hearing on Future of Live Entertainment, Tester Urges Support for Montanas Independent Music Venues [press_release]", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the future of live entertainment today, U.S. Senator Jon Tester heard testimony on the dire circumstances facing independent music venues in Montana and across the country and urged support for his bills aimed at helping music venues survive the coronavirus pandemic.\nTester slammed Congress for failing to provide relief to music venues, many of which are at risk of going out of business due to the pandemic.\nI don't know if you guys are frustrated because we continue not to do anything, but it frustrates the hell out of me, Tester said. You guys are sitting out there, you've been impacted by something you don't have any control overbut you're getting submarined by this damn coronavirus.\nNoting that live music is an economic multiplier $1 in ticket sales generates $12 for the local economy  Tester urged Congress to pass his measures aimed at supporting live music venues, including his 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 the bipartisan Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards a Recovery in Twenty-twenty (RESTART) Act which would create a long-term, partially forgivable loan program that targets small- and mid-sized businesses devastated by the public health crisis.\nTester is also a sponsor of the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act, which would provide Small Business Administration grants for independent music venue operators to keep venues afloat, pay employees, and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across Montana.\nI'm going to continue to make sure that we get these bills across the finish line, Tester said. in the end, we've got to come together, and we've got to help the economy.\nTester's full Q&A is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7883", "Montana VA Slated to Receive First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine for Veterans, Tester Announces [press_release]", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Montana VA Slated to Receive First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine for Veterans, Tester Announces \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 following news that the Montana Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been selected as one of 103 VA sites to receive initial doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:\n I'm encouraged that Montana has been selected as one of VA's initial sites for distribution of the Moderna vaccine. This first round of vaccinations will help save lives by effectively slowing the spread of the coronavirus at VA facilities, local hospitals, and in the community. Moving forward, I will continue to hold VA accountable in ensuring that it adequately distributes this vaccine to various clinics across the stateespecially those in rural areasto better protect veterans and frontline workers. \n\nIn accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, Montana VA will begin vaccinating veterans and health care personnel once the Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency use authorization for the Moderna vaccine.\nLast month, Tester urged VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to lay out the Department's plan to allocate a coronavirus vaccine, reach veterans in rural and hotspot areas, combat vaccine misinformation, and strengthen cross-government and community partnerships. He also implored the VA to distribute the vaccine following guidance from public health experts and requested the Department's strategy in allocating its initial doses among staff and vulnerable veterans to ensure those at highest risk receive the vaccine first. He later doubled down on this call at a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing last week.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7880", "Tester Statement on Arrival of First COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments in Montana [press_release]", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Arrival of First COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments in 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\tAs the first shipments of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine make their way to Montana and frontline health care workers prepare to receive the initial round of doses, U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement:\n Thanks to hard work of Americans across the country, the first COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Montana and is ready for distribution. When the sun rises tomorrow, Montana's frontline health care workers will start receiving the first doses of the vaccine, marking an extraordinary milestone after many months of hardship and sacrifice. I'll continue my push to ensure a swift and efficient vaccine distribution process that makes sure every Montanan has access no matter who they are or where they live, so we can get to the other side of this crisis and get our economy back on track. \n  \nSenator Tester fought to secure more than $10 billion in funding for vaccine research, development, and distribution. Last week, Tester pressed officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a swift, equitable, and comprehensive distribution plan for veterans and VA staff. Tester, Montana's only member of the Senate Commerce Committee, secured commitments from vaccine delivery strategists at UPS and FedEx to ensure timely and efficient vaccine shipments to Montana's rural and frontier communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7875", "Tester Bill Honoring Bozeman Hero Travis Atkins Unanimously Passes Senate, Heads to Presidents Desk [press_release]", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester's bipartisan bill renaming the Bozeman Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) community-based clinic after fallen Montana hero, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins, unanimously passed the Senate yesterday and is heading to the President's desk to become law.\nThis is a great day for the Atkins family and the entire Bozeman community, said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Staff Sergeant Atkins is an American hero who served our nation bravely and paid the ultimate sacrifice for his selfless actions on the battlefield. Naming the Travis W. Atkins Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in his honor will ensure his legacy lives on for years to come, and I couldn't be prouder to have worked alongside folks in the community and at the VA to help make this day a reality. \nA Bozeman native, Atkins enlisted in the Army in November 2000. He deployed to Iraq in 2003 and was subsequently honorably discharged as a Sergeant. He reenlisted in the Army in 2005 after attending the University of Montana. He deployed a second time in 2006 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant May 1, 2007.\nAtkins was killed in action June 1, 2007, saving the lives of three fellow American soldiers from an insurgent suicide bomb in Iraq. Last year, Tester joined Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins' family at the White House where President Trump awarded Atkins with the Medal of Honorthe country's highest military honor-for his service, bravery, and sacrifice. In conjunction with the ceremony, Tester introduced bipartisan legislation along with Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte to rename the VA clinic in Atkins' hometown of Bozeman in his honor.\nEarlier this year, Tester announced that he secured a new 12,000 square foot veterans clinic for Bozeman. The clinicwhich is twice the size of the existing facility and will bear Atkins' namewill offer Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Laboratory, and Telehealth services to veterans. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7876", "Testers Landmark Agent Orange Veteran Exposure Bill Passes Senate, Heads to Presidents Desk [press_release]", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester's landmark bill delivering benefits and care to Vietnam veterans suffering from diseases and conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange is headed to the President's desk after passing the Senate today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. Tester's legislation establishes a presumption of service connection for more than 34,000 veterans suffering from Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism.\nWith the passage of my Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act, we are now one step away from changing the lives of Vietnam veterans from Montana and across the country suffering from wounds of war as a result of their exposure to Agent Orange, said Tester. After countless delays, I'm proud that Congress came together to do right by our veterans and deliver on our sacred promise to pay the cost of war. I urge the President to quickly sign the annual defense bill into law, so that we may provide long-overdue benefits and care to those who served and sacrificed.\nTester secured his Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act in the final NDAA after successfully including his provision in the annual Senate defense bill earlier this year. In September, he led 45 Senators in urging leadership from the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to adopt his amendment in the final NDAA conference report, and repeated his call on the Senate floor.\nThe NDAA's inclusion of Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism recognizes both the National Academies' scientific evidence and illnesses that veterans have been waiting on for years that stem from exposures to Agent Orange that occurred nearly 50 years ago, said President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Lieutenant General Dana Atkins. We thank Senator Tester and all who worked on this provision to ensure those who fought for our country are not forgotten. Now, we must continue in the tradition of the past 59 years and pass the NDAA to provide needed benefits to thousands of ill veterans and all the other necessary provisions to support our national security.\nThe Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is grateful to Senator Jon Tester for securing three additional Agent Orange presumptive conditions in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, said President and Founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Bonnie Carroll. Our Vietnam veterans, their families, and survivors will now receive the healthcare and benefits they have earned through service and sacrifice. TAPS looks forward to the President signing this critical legislation into law.\nFor too long, our Vietnam veterans have had to fight forand have been deniedthe critical healthcare they need to treat medical conditions resulting from exposure to Agent Orange,\" said National Commander James W. Bill Oxford of The American Legion. \"The American Legion was pleased to support Senator Tester's amendment included in the FY 2021 NDAA addressing three serious health issues caused by Agent Orange. We urge President Trump to sign the measure into law when Congress sends him this critical legislation and end the waiting for many of our nation's ill veterans so they can receive the benefits they have rightly earned.\nWounded Warrior Project was proud to stand with our TEAM Coalition partners and Senator Tester to ensure that his amendment to add diseases to the list of presumptive conditions associated with Agent Orange are included in the final version of the FY21 NDAA, said Vice President of Government & Community Relations at the Wounded Warrior Project, Jose Ramos. The ongoing issue of toxic exposures is a high priority for WWP, and we strongly believe veterans of all eras who suffered toxic wounds should get the care and benefits they deserve.  We thank Senator Tester for his leadership on this issue and look forward to seeing these changes become law.\n\"The VFW commends the Senate and House Armed Services Committees conferees of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 for including Senate Amendment 1972 in the final version of the bill. We thank Senator Tester for introducing this important amendment which will finally add Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism to the list of Department of Veterans Affairs' presumptive conditions for herbicide exposure,\" said Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) National Commander Hal Roesch. \"We urge President Trump to sign the NDAA into law and provide our Vietnam veterans the long-awaited care and benefits they deserve.\"\nFor years, DAV has been at the forefront in fighting to add bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism as presumptive to Agent Orange, said Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Commander Stephen Whitehead. We thank Senator Tester for his unrelenting advocacy and legislative actions to add these three diseases as presumptive to Agent Orange exposure in this year's NDAA. If signed into law, this will result in thousands of veterans gaining access to critical VA benefits and health carea life-changing and in some cases life-saving action that is long overdue.\nTREA: The Enlisted Association commends the Congress for taking long overdue action to add presumptive conditions in the NDAA for FY 2021 related to exposure to Agent Orange (Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism), said Director of Veterans and Military Policy at TREA: The Enlisted Association, Ken Greenberg. Thousands of Vietnam veterans and many TREA members will now be eligible for compensation from VA. TREA appreciates the leadership of SVAC Ranking Member Jon Tester, Chairman Jerry Moran and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee staff to secure the provisions in the final NDAA.\n\"PVA applauds the decision to retain Senator Tester's provision establishing a presumption of service connection for three additional Agent Orange-related conditions in the final FY 2021 NDAA, said Associate Executive Director for Government Relations Heather Ansley. Its inclusion signals an end to a decades-long fight for thousands of deserving Vietnam War Veterans, and we encourage the President to sign this bill.\"\nSenator Tester's bipartisan amendment adds Parkinsonism, along with two other diseases, to the VA list of presumptive illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure, said Ted Thompson, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Because of his leadership, veterans will now have access to the health care services they need and deserve. After this legislation passes, thousands of veterans will no longer experience unnecessary delays in the care and treatment of their Parkinson's-like conditions.\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester has fought tirelessly to provide benefits for veterans suffering from diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. In 2017, the Senator led the charge to expand VA's list of these medical conditions, doubled down on his push in 2018, and later urged the Office of Management and Budget to assist the Department in this effort.\nEarlier this year, Tester led 42 Senators in blasting the Administration for stonewalling critical benefits for Vietnam veterans suffering from health conditions connected with their service. He also held a roundtable discussion with Senate Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), stakeholders, and veterans' advocates to address longstanding issues associated with the effects of toxic exposures on our nation's servicemembers and veterans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7877", "Tester, Grassley Bill to Curb the Rising Rate of Rural Suicides Headed to the Presidents Desk [press_release]", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the only farmers currently serving in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have successfully included their Seeding Rural Resilience Acta bill aimed at curbing the rising rate of suicide in rural areasas part of this year's must-pass defense spending bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is now headed to the President's desk.\nRising rates of suicide among farmers and ranchers is a crisis that's all too familiar to Montanans who have seen it devastate communities across our state, said Tester. Between stagnant commodity prices, market consolidation, natural disasters caused by climate change, and a lack of mental health care resources, the rate at which farmers and ranchers are taking their own lives is continuing to grow. This bill isn't a silver bullet, but it's a critical step towards breaking down the stigmas surrounding mental health care and providing rural communities with the resources they need to thrive so they can keep doing what they do bestfeeding the world. \nI'm glad to see this bill so widely supported by my colleagues. This is a clear message to farmers across the country that we stand with you and support you during these trying times, Grassley said. This is a commonsense bill that continues important efforts to raise awareness about mental health and will provide additional resources for farmers and their families facing difficult situations.\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate is 45 percent higher in rural America than in urban areas. Americans in rural communities face isolation, distance from basic health care services, lack of broadband access, stigmas against receiving counseling, and financial burdens due to stagnant crop prices. These factors cause higher rates of stress for American farmers and ranchers, making it even harder for people in rural communities to get by.\nThe Seeding Rural Resilience Act creates three initiatives aimed at curbing the growing rate of suicides in rural America:\n \nImplements a Farmer-Facing Employee Training Program that requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide voluntary stress management training to Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and National Resources Conservation Service Employees;\nForms a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services and USDA to create a $3 million public service announcement campaign to increase public awareness of farm and ranch stress and destigmatize mental health care in rural communities; and\nDirects the Secretary of Agriculture to work with state, local and nongovernmental stakeholders to collaborate and determine best practices for responding to farm and ranch mental stress.\n \nAnyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK, or 1-800-273-8255.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7878", "Tester Sends Critical Defense Wins for Malmstrom, Montana National Guard  Veterans to Presidents Desk [press_release]", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Senate passed key defense priorities today spearheaded by U.S. Senator Jon Tester as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 to support Montana's military installations, servicemembers, veterans, and military families.\nThis bipartisan bill is a victory for the critical investments we need to make to our nation's military and national defense, said Tester. Once signed into law, this package will strengthen our ICBM mission, bolster the modernization efforts of our Air National Guard's C-130 fleet, and provide much needed support to Montana's men and women in uniform. And I'm especially thrilled that it includes my legislation to provide mental health care to Guardsmen and Reservists as well as folks in rural America, and finally gives our Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange access to the benefits and health care they've earned. \nTester secured a number of provisions in the annual defense bill including a 3 percent pay raise to all servicemembers, as well as hazard pay and 180 days of medical care for National Guard and Reserve servicemembers deployed to fight on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.\nMalmstrom Air Force Base \nMontana's Malmstrom Air Force Base is one of only three military bases across the country that house intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The current fleet of ICBMs were first developed in the 1960s. The 2021 NDAA includes a number of Tester-backed investments in the maintenance and modernization of our nation's ICBM force, including those at Malmstrom:\n \n$1.5 billion for research and development of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), our nation's future nuclear deterrent program. This money is also authorized to begin the construction and transition from current Minuteman III missile systems to the GBSD system.\n$194 million to fully support the replacement of the Air Force's UH-1N Huey with the MH-139 Grey Wolf. \n$47 million for procurement of Minuteman III modernization to ensure the viability of our nation's current strategic deterrent.\n$50 million to support the Defense Community Infrastructure Program which will provide grants, conclude cooperative agreements, and supplemental funds available under other federal programs to assist states and local governments in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure projects or facilities that are located outside of military installations but that support military installations.\n$278 million for ICBM modernization research, development, test and evaluation. \n \nMontana Air National Guard C-130 Mission \nThe 120th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Montana Air National Guard, stationed at Great Falls Air National Guard Base at Great Falls International Airport, where they fly the C-130H Hercules. The 120th Airlift Wing serves a dual mission participating in the defense of the United States and in response to state declared emergencies. For years, Tester has been a champion for the 120th Airlift Wing ensuring vital modernizations and upgrades to the C-130 fleet. In this legislation, he successfully secured:\n \n$655 million for the Air Force to purchase seven additional C-130J aircraft. \n$140 million for procurement for C-130H modifications and upgrades.\nLanguage requiring the Air Force to maintain at least 287 tactical airlift aircraft, to prevent future elimination of C-130 units.\n \nTester also sent a number of his top legislative priorities to the President's desk, including:\n \nFair Care for Vietnam Veterans ActLandmark legislation requiring the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide benefits to veterans suffering from conditions related to Agent Orange exposureincluding Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism.\nCare and Readiness Enhancement (CARE) for Reservists ActLegislation improving Guardsmen and Reservists' access to consistent mental health services, regardless of their deployment status, and authorize the DoD to fund needed behavioral or mental healthcare. 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 to help them return to civilian life. \nIndividual Longitudinal Exposure Records (ILERs) AccessLegislation allowing servicemembers and veterans to access their individual longitudinal exposures record through an online portal. \nVeteran Housing Opportunities and Unemployment Support Extension (HOUSE) ActLegislation expanding eligibility for the Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program to veterans with other than honorable discharges. \nSeeding Rural Resilience ActLegislation implementing programs that provide voluntary stress management training and establishing partnerships between the Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Agriculture to create a $3 million public service announcement campaign to increase public awareness of farm and ranch stress and destigmatize mental health care in rural communities.\nLegal ServicesLanguage providing legal services at VA facilities for veterans, spouses, and dependentsregardless of their discharge statuson a pro bono basis, and to establish new legal assistance clinics, or enhance existing legal assistance clinics or other pro bono efforts.\nStudy on Women Veterans UnemploymentLanguage directing the VA to conduct a study on unemployment rates between Post 9/11 Women Veterans and other groups of women veterans and their non-veteran counterparts. \n \nIn addition to successfully including a number of historic bills in the annual defense bill, Tester secured protections for servicemembers whose retirement eligibility was jeopardized as a result of annual trainings that were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also included a provision authorizing the Secretary of Defense to provide at least 14 days of housing for members of the Reserve Components ordered to active service in response to the national health crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7879", "Tester Delivers More Than $5 Million to Relocate Plains Wastewater System [press_release]", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today delivered more than $5 million to help Plains relocate its wastewater treatment facility. The current facility sits near the bank of the Clark Fork River and is at risk of catastrophic' failure due to erosion and flooding.\nThe Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) grant is worth $5,148,500, which is 89 percent of the total project cost, and will help build a new wastewater treatment plant that sits off the floodplain and out of danger. Tester wrote a letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor in January urging support for the project, writing that Plains would not be able to move its facility to a safer location without help.\nClean water is integral to our health, our livelihoods, and our economy here in Montana, Tester said. Protecting clean water is one of the smartest investments we can make, and I am proud to have helped secure this grant to help Plains move its wastewater treatment plant out of harm's way and make sure it remains secure for years to come.\nIn 2018 a five-year flood event surrounded the current facility, causing Plains to proactively work to relocate the facility before another flood causes a disaster. Tester has worked diligently to supply Montana's water and wastewater systems with the funding needed to stay up-to-date. Earlier this year, he secured $335,000 for Wolf Point and $533,000 for Scobey to upgrade outdated water mains. He secured nearly $3 million for Whitehall, Sweet Grass County, Whitefish, Cascade County, Seeley Lake, Sanders County, and Toole County, and $7 million to upgrade wastewater systems in Hardin.\nTester's letter urging support for the grant is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7870", "Tester Statement on President-Elect Bidens VA Secretary Selection [press_release]", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on President-Elect Biden's VA Secretary Selection \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\tRanking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jon Tester today released the following statement after President-elect Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Denis McDonough to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs:\n Now more than ever, veterans and their families need a strong leader who will prioritize delivering timely and quality health care and benefits over making political points. Denis McDonough has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to public service and a deep understanding that taking care of our veterans is a cost of war. I look forward to meeting with him to discuss his vision for the future of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the critical services it provides to our nation's veterans and their families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7871", "Tester Statement Following Release of Damning Watchdog Report on VA Secretary Wilkie [press_release]", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement Following Release of Damning Watchdog Report on VA Secretary Wilkie \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\tRanking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jon Tester released a statement today following a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General report on senior officials' response to a veteran's sexual assault allegations:\n The Inspector General's report sheds light on deep failures and unprofessional conduct by VA Secretary Wilkie and his senior political team. Above all else, it uncovers a disturbing pattern of unethical behavior at VA that placed a higher priority on politics and personal vendettas than on seeking justice for a veteran who was sexually assaulted at one of its facilities. The men and women at VA, particularly those at the highest levels, are entrusted with doing right by our nation's veterans. Secretary Wilkie and his leadership team have violated that trust. Moving forward, it is critical that all veterans, especially the survivors of sexual violence, are heard and respected.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7873", "Tester Secures Commitment from Vaccine Delivery Strategists that COVID Vaccines will Reach Montanas Rural Communities Overnight [press_release]", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As hospitals in Montana's seven largest cities prepare to receive the first round of COVID-19 vaccines for front-line health care workers once approved, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured a commitment from vaccine delivery strategists at UPS and FedEx that Montana's rural and frontier communities like Chester and Harlowton will receive vaccines by the next morning after leaving the distributor, even if they're far away from major cities.\nDuring today's Senate Commerce Committee Hearing, Tester pressed the global vaccine delivery strategists from UPS and FedExWesley Wheeler and Richard Smith, respectivelyon how quickly their companies would be able to distribute vaccines to Montana's more rural communities. Both Wheeler and Smith committed to delivering vaccines by 10:30 a.m. the next day, regardless of how remote the community is.\nHow longto the furthest location out theredo you think it will take to get from the distribution center where you pick up the vaccine to get it to its final location, assuming that its more than the seven major cities in Montana, Tester asked Wheeler and Smith. Assuming it's a town like Chester or Harlowton that have much smaller populations and are far away from these more populated areas in the state?\nSmith replied: As our old tagline used to say: Absolutely, positively overnight.\nWheeler replied: We're planning on next day 10:30 a.m. arrival anywhere that we're assigned.\nThe Pfizer vaccine requires cold-chain freezers to be preserved, and some rural hospitals may not have the infrastructure needed to store the critical immunizationsleaving them at a distinct disadvantage as distribution commences. If shippers like UPS and FedEx are able to guarantee a precise one-day delivery time, this could be a game changer for rural healthcare facilities. Hospitals will be better prepared to distribute the vaccine to patients ASAP, and less reliant on infrastructure they may not have.\nDistribution of COVID-19 vaccines throughout the U.S. will be coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), McKesson Corp., and shipping companies like UPS and FedEx. The Moderna vaccine distribution will be run by McKesson Corp., and Pfizer will be coordinating its own distribution due to the need for their vaccine to be stored at extremely cold temperatures. Both distributors will be using companies like UPS and FedEx to deliver vaccines to hospitals across the country.\nTester has been working tirelessly to ensure that Montana's rural and frontier communities are not left behind in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, he urged Senate leadership to break the partisan logjam over the next round of stimulus funding for Montana workers and small businesses across the state, and he recently secured nearly $6 million in pandemic relief funds for Montana. As a longtime member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he also secured significant investments into Montana's rural communitiesincluding funding for production agriculture, public lands, and infrastructureduring this year's budget negotiations.\nWatch the full video of Tester's questions during today's Senate Commerce Committee Hearing HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7869", "At Hearing, Tester Presses VA Leadership on Delayed COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan for Veterans and Staff [press_release]", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the nation eagerly awaits the approval of a coronavirus vaccine, Ranking Member Jon Tester is pushing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to release a comprehensive COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy for veterans and staff.\nAs the largest, integrated health care system in the country, Tester pressed Veterans Health Administration Executive in Charge Dr. Richard Stone on the Department's plans to roll-out a comprehensive vaccine strategy.\nI'm concerned that VA will be behind the curve, said Ranking Member Tester. Why do I say that? The CDC, the states, even IHS have already released public vaccine plans. To my knowledge, VA has yet to do so. And quite frankly, this is going be an undertaking that we have never seen before in this countryand the VA is a big part of that undertaking. So what's stopping the VA from putting out a vaccine plan right now? Why can't VA be more transparent about what the staff and the veterans need to expect? \nDr. Stone answered that VA submitted an order for 73,000 initial vaccine doses that will be distributed at dozens of sites after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms the vaccine's safety and efficacy, and grants Pfizer emergency use authorizationwith an additional 122,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine once authorized by the FDA. Dr. Stone also highlighted that VA's current plan for distribution is with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).\nTester continued, Can you handle the [vaccine] distribution? And is it an adequate amount for the largest health care system in the nation? \nIt is not an adequate amount, Dr. Stone replied. This will be a long process for us to reach all seven million veterans who we believe will want a vaccination from us as well as all 400,000 employees of the agency. We do anticipate weekly distribution, and it remains to be seen how robust that weekly distribution will be.\nLast month, Tester urged the Department to lay out its plan to allocate a coronavirus vaccine, reach veterans in rural and hotspot areas, combat vaccine misinformation, and strengthen cross-government and community partnerships. He also implored the VA to distribute the vaccine following guidance from public health experts and requested the Department's strategy in allocating its initial doses among staff and vulnerable veterans to ensure those at highest risk receive the vaccine first.\nTester's opening statement as prepared for delivery can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7872", "Senate Unanimously Passes Testers Historic Bill to Support Women Veterans in End-of-Year Veterans Package [press_release]", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Senate unanimously passed provisions from 12 Tester-backed bills as part of an end-of-year veterans' packageincluding his historic legislation to address the needs of women veterans across the country.\nAs the only member of the Montana delegation to serve on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester has been a longtime champion for improving services and access to care for women veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Last year, Tester reintroduced his landmark Deborah Sampson Act alongside Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), and worked with both chambers to secure provisions providing coverage and services to veteran survivors of military sexual trauma (MST).\nThis is a groundbreaking moment as we push VA to provide better access to care and services for the nearly two million women veterans across the country, said Ranking Member Tester. Women have served in uniform since the American Revolution and are now the fastest growing population of veterans in the country. It's our responsibility to make sure VA health care and benefits are tailored to meet their needs and are accessible to them and their families. Unanimous passage of my Deborah Sampson Actand of the entire legislative packagesends a clear message that Congress is willing to come together to do what's necessary and follow through on our responsibility to support all veterans. \nVA facilities need to be updated to accommodate the growing number of women veterans so we can meet their needs. Ensuring the VA has the capability to provide more equitable care and services is key to fulfilling our promise. Passage of this bill will enable us to better support women who answer the call to serve their nation in uniform, said Senator Boozman.\nThis is an historic step forward for women veterans across the nation, as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors, said Congresswoman Brownley. We must provide all veterans the care and benefits they have earned and deservewhich requires providing equity to women veterans. I am so proud that by passing this legislation, we are telling our women veterans: you are not invisible.\nThe Deborah Sampson Act includes the following provisions:\n \nCreates a dedicated Office of Women's Health at VA, expands reintegration and readjustment group counseling retreats for women veterans and their family members, and bolsters call center services for women veterans. \nEliminates barriers to care by staffing every VA health facility with a dedicated women's health primary care provider, training clinicians, and retrofitting VA facilities to enhance privacy and improve the environment of care for women veterans. \nBolsters supportive services by providing access to legal services for women veterans, expanding child care for veterans receiving VA health care, and requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on VA's efforts to support homeless or at-risk women veterans.\nImproves access to care and benefits for survivors of MST by expanding MST counseling to former Guard and Reserve members, allowing VA to treat the physical health conditions of MST, and improving the claims process for MST survivors at the Veterans Benefits Administration. \n \nTester additionally secured the following provisions to better support veterans in the end-of-year veterans' package:\nFull text of the end-of-year veterans' package is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7868", "Tester Secures His Landmark Mental Health Bill for Guardsmen  Reservists in Final Annual Defense Legislation [press_release]", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Members of the National Guard and Reserves are one step closer to receiving mental health services following the inclusion of U.S. Senator Jon Tester's bipartisan Care and Readiness Enhancement (CARE) for Reservists Act in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. Tester's provision ensures that all Guardsmen and Reservists who need mental health services can access them, regardless of whether they have deployed.\nOver the last decade, Tester has led the charge in Congress to improve mental health care for the nation's servicemembers. In 2012, he proposed legislation to expand mental health services for Montana's National Guardsmen and Reservists, which paved the way for the introduction of his CARE for Reservists Act in 2015. He successfully reintroduced the legislation alongside Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) in 2019 after publically urging bipartisan support for his bill.\nI'm thrilled that we're one step closer to delivering consistent mental health care to Guardsmen and Reservists with the inclusion of my bill in the annual must-pass defense package, said Senator Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. The truth is that my CARE for Reservists Act will go far in treating unseen wounds of war by expanding mental health options for members of the Guard and Reserves, particularly those in rural areas with limited access to care. And it'll provide counseling, employment training, and other critical services to help folks return to civilian life. I urge Congress to quickly pass this bill, so that we may follow through on our promise to connect every man and woman in uniform with the life-saving care they've earned. \nTester's CARE for Reservists Act improves Guardsmen and Reservists' access to mental health services by allowing the Defense Department to fund needed behavioral or mental health care, regardless of whether that reservist is within his or her pre-deployment window or has never deployed at all. The bill also allows members of the Guard and Reserve to access Vet Centers for mental health screening and counseling, employment assessments, education training, and other services to help them transition to civilian life. It is estimated that approximately 1.4 million former members of the National Guard or Reserve that were never federally activated could be eligible for this new benefit in 2021.\nTester's bill received strong support from mental health advocates as well as the National Guard and Reserve community.\n\"Congratulations to Senators Tester and Moran for getting this legislation across the finish line,\" said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) CEO Jeremy Butler. \"Sometimes we overuse the word 'critical' in describing the importance of certain efforts, but this legislation truly fits that definition. Many National Guardsmen and Reservists are ineligible for mental healthcare because they have never deployed or they are not in their deployment window. With the worsening veterans suicide crisis, we cannot allow any servicemembers to fall through the cracks. This legislation fills those gaps.\"\nThe American Legion recognizes that all members of the uniformed armed forces, both past and present, are at risk for mental or physical injuries during their service. For far too long those who have served in our National Guard and Reserve military components have not had the protection of all available mental health and suicide prevention services offered through the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Veteran Affairs, said The American Legion's National Veterans Affairs And Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Ralph Bozella. The CARE for Reservists Act addresses this issue and we strongly support legislation that expands mental health care services to National Guardsman and Reservists.\nThe CARE for Reservists Act takes an important step to expand mental health care and treatment to members of the National Guard and Reserves, said President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Lieutenant General Dana Atkins. When a reservist comes home, caring for their mental health needs is essential, not only for their reintegration, but to ensure their readiness for the next time our nation calls on them.\n\"NAMI Montana is incredibly grateful for this legislation to expand access to potentially lifesaving care for more of America's heroes, said National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Montana Executive Director Matt Kuntz. Mental health issues don't discriminate based upon the type of military service. Our nation's willingness to provide access to care for those conditions shouldn't either.\"\n\"The provisions contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021 relating to the CARE for Reservists Act of 2020 will go a long way to address the long-standing gap in mental health care for our National Guard men and women and will provide these individuals with critical counseling and the medical treatment they deserve based on their service to our nation.\" said President of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, retired Commander Sergeant Major Karen Craig. \"We extend our sincere thanks to Senator Tester for introducing this important legislation and the resulting expansion of VA mental health care and programs to National Guard and Reserve members.\"\nYear 2020 is being called The year of the Guard' due to the incredible demands placed upon our National Guard Airmen and Soldiers, said Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard Major General Matt Quinn. On June 8, 2020, more than 118,000 National Guard Service members were deployed at home and abroad serving our states and protecting the nation from COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, and the ongoing war on terror. Senator Tester's CARE for Reservists Act finally acknowledges their service and provides resources to ensure they receive the mental health care needed through the Department of Veterans Affairs. As they give to our states and nation, so should we give them the care to carry on.\nSuicide continues to be a heartbreaking challenge across the National Guard and Reserves, said President of the National Guard Association of the United States, retired Brigadier General J. Roy Robinson. Senator Tester's bill would provide additional resources that just could help make a difference for our some of our soldiers and airmen. We always know that we can count on Senator Tester to do right by those who wear the uniform and their families.\nSuicide has been deadlier than combat for the military, said Montana National Guard Association Executive Director Brad Livingston. More than 45,000 veterans and active-duty service members have killed themselves in the past six years. That is more than 20 deaths a dayin other words, more suicides each year than the total American military deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq. While the Pentagon has made strides in helping those in need, the rate of deaths is rising. This bill will implement a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention that also targets our military population while continuing to support our military families.\nFull text of Tester's bill is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7863", "Tester to Congressional Leadership: Prioritize Funding for Primary Care Physicians in Underserved Communities [press_release]", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is doubling down on his efforts to ensure primary care physicians serving at Teaching Health Centers (THCs) across the country have the support they need to continue on-the-job training before critical funding runs dry on December 11th, 2020.\nIn a letter to Congressional leadership, Tester and a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues are urging the passage of the Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act, legislation that reauthorizes and increases funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program.\nTHCs play a vital role in training the next generation of primary care physicians, with residents handling an estimated one million patient visits annually in rural and urban communities, wrote Tester and his colleagues. Putting aside the economic adversity faced by these community health facilities due to COVID-19, it has been extraordinary difficult for the more than 50 THCs to recruit and operate effectively without the longer term stability our reauthorization bills would provide. We believe THCGME responds to the crisis-level shortage of primary care physicians by delivering doctors to the communities where they are needed most.\nThe THCGME program trains residents in new or expanded primary care resident training programs in community-based patient care centers, including in community health centers and rural health clinics.  Funding for THCGME has been sporadic, leading to negative impacts on program operations and resident recruitment.\nTester's bipartisan Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act brings much-needed stability to the THCGME program by:\n \nReauthorizing the THCGME program for five years;\nIncreasing the per-resident funding amount to cover increased residency costs;\nAdding residents to the existing program; and\nProviding opportunities for program growth to address physician shortages in areas of need.\n \nWithout reauthorization, funding for the THCGME program will expire December 11th, 2020.\nFull text of Tester'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=7865", "BREAKING: Tester Announces $125 Million Investment in Rural Broadband in Montana [press_release]", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced Montana will receive more than $125 million to expand high-speed internet access to more than 45,000 locations across rural Montana.\nThe funds are available through the Federal Communications Commission's Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and will be allocated to providers to help close the digital gap and deliver high-speed internet service to unserved homes and businesses. Tester will now work to hold the companies receiving funds accountable through his role on the Senate Commerce Committee.\nFast, reliable internet service is critical, especially as we continue working, learning, and socializing from home, Tester said. \"But too many folks in Montana have slow, unreliable internet or don't have access altogether, and this groundbreaking investment will help bring those homes and businesses into the 21st century. Now it's time to roll up our sleeves and make sure these resources are deployed quickly and effectively, and ensure no Montanan is left behind.\nThe RDOF funds will help providers build out broadband internet infrastructure to areas where access is currently unavailable. Contracts were awarded through a competitive bidding process, and providers will have 10 years to complete their projects.\nThe six providers participating in Montana are:\n \nBlackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc. - $12,703,077.60 in 2,687 locations\nCenturyLink, Inc. - $28,379,920.90 in 9,658 locations\nCommnet Wireless, LLC - $5,964,913.70 in 2,078 locations\nFrontier Communications Northwest, LLC - $5,818,165.30 in 1,874 locations\nRural American Broadband Consortium - $226,116.00 in 209 locations\nSpace Exploration Technologies Corp.  $72,723,246.20 in 29,478 locations\n \nAs a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and working farmer in an area with limited cell service, Tester has led the charge to force broadband providers to fix inaccurate coverage maps through his Broadband DATA Act. He recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would compensate broadband providers for giving free or discounted services and upgrades to low-income families in rural areas, and he is leading a bipartisan push to make permanent provisions expanding access to telehealth created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.\nHe recently secured $10.8 million to expand access to high-speed internet service in rural Montana through the ReConnect Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7866", "Tester Leads Bipartisan Group Demanding Senate Leadership Prevent Physician Payment Cuts [press_release]", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following up on his efforts to prevent reimbursement cuts for certain Medicare providers earlier this year, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today led a bipartisan group of colleagues in demanding that Senate Leadership work to avert a Trump Administration decision to decrease Medicare payments for certain medical professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, and social workers.\nTester is urging Senate Leadership to address reimbursement rate changes recently finalized by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of their Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for 2021. The proposal would significantly cut payments for many Medicare providers in the midst of a global public health crisis and poses a significant risk to patients in rural communities who already struggle to access quality care.\nHealth care professionals across the spectrum are reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 emergency as they continue to serve patients during this global pandemic, wrote Tester and his colleagues in a letter to Senate Leadership. The payment cuts finalized by CMS would pose a threat to providers and their patients under any circumstances, but during a pandemic the impact is even more profound. Therefore, we hope to work with you to address this critical issue.\nThe rate changes are intended to increase code values and reimbursement rates for in-office, outpatient evaluation and management (E/M) services, which are required for the majority of patient visits. While most Medicare providers recognize the need to increase the value of E/M codes, the cuts that CMS proposed to justify these increases will result in payment reductions for provider groups in 2021 during a time when all health care professionals are struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.\nThroughout the coronavirus crisis, Tester has been fighting tooth and nail to ensure that medical professionals and health care workers have the tools they need to stay safe and healthy. Earlier this year, he wrote to CMS Administrator Seema Verma expressing concerns about the impacts of payment cuts for non-physician providers and its impact on rural communities. He also recently 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.\nRead Tester's full letter to Senate Leadership HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7860", "BREAKING: Tester Secures His Landmark Agent Orange Veteran Exposure Bill in Final Annual Defense Legislation [press_release]", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Vietnam veterans suffering from diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange are now one step closer to receiving the care and benefits they earned from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following the inclusion of U.S. Senator Jon Tester's landmark bill in the final Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Tester's amendment establishes a presumption of service connection for veterans suffering from Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism.\nTester successfully secured his Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act in the annual Senate defense bill in July, when it passed the chamber overwhelmingly by a vote of 94-6. In September, he led 45 Senators in urging leadership from the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to keep his amendment in the final version of the bill as differences were worked out between the House and Senate versions, and repeated his call on the Senate floor.\nThis is a monumental win for more than 34,000 Vietnam veterans who have been subjected to countless delays while living with debilitating illnesses associated with their exposure to Agent Orange, said Tester. Inclusion of my amendment in the annual defense package sends a clear message to Vietnam veterans that their service is not forgotten. I'm proud that Congress could come together to deliver on our sacred promise to these men and women, and I couldn't be more honored to have led this fight on their behalf. It's my hope that both the House and Senate can quickly move this bill to the President, and that he signs it into law without any delay. These Vietnam veterans have already waited long enough. \nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester has fought tirelessly to provide benefits for veterans suffering from diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. In 2017, the Senator led the charge to expand VA's list of medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange, doubled down on his push in 2018, and later urged the Office of Management and Budget to assist the Department in this effort.\nEarlier this year, Tester led 42 Senators in blasting the Administration for stonewalling critical benefits for Vietnam veterans suffering from health conditions connected with their service. He also held a roundtable discussion with Senate Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), stakeholders, and veterans' advocates to address longstanding issues associated with the effects of toxic exposures on our nation's servicemembers and veterans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7861", "Tester, Schatz Demand VA Secretary Halt Questionable Political Actions During Presidential Transition Process [press_release]", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ranking Members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs, are demanding that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) halt questionable political actions during the presidential transition process.\nWe are writing to request information regarding your plans for an organized transition to the Biden-Harris Administration and to direct you to cease any further efforts to rush policies or hiring decisions, during your final weeks as Secretary, which merit more scrutiny and should be left to the incoming Administration, wrote Senators Tester and Schatz to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. We are deeply troubled by previously announced and ongoing efforts to rush potentially harmful policies through the Department in the last days of the Trump Administration while at the same time attempting to embed politically connected individuals into career positions within VA.\nIn their letter, Tester and Schatz noted serious concerns with the Trump Administration's recent attempt to accelerate the hiring of political appointees and the conversion of political appointees to career positions prior to the Biden-Harris Administration taking office. They highlighted VA's recent announcement to convert a senior political appointee into a career position as second in command of the VA's Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP). OAWP, which has had its own significant challenges since its initial days under the Trump Administration, is responsible for conducting investigations into allegations of senior leader misconduct and allegations of whistleblower retaliation by VA supervisors.\nThey continued, We are also concerned by what appear to be accelerated efforts by the Executive Branch, including your Department, to hire and burrow-in political appointees as career employees and otherwise undermine the federal merit system. Not only is this illegal, but it involves expending taxpayer dollars on the salaries of individuals whose foremost qualifications appear that they were loyal to President Trump. That is not a standard that serves veterans or the American people.\nThe Senators also outlined significant concerns and requested information regarding several policy changes implemented by the VA during the COVID-19 pandemicincluding the Department's move to eliminate a rule that previously allowed veterans' representatives 48-hours to review a benefits decision before it was finalized.\nThe General Services Administration's (GSA) initial denial of the outcome of the 2020 electionand harmful withholding of transition resources from the Biden-Harris transition teamunduly delayed efforts to ensure veterans saw no disruption in their care, benefits or services during the transition of Administrations. Following a push from Tester, GSA finally agreed to a formal presidential transition process on November 23. Earlier this year, Tester also led a letter to VA raising serious concerns over the increasing politicization of the VA, including the potential misuse of taxpayer funds and other government assets in an effort to benefit the reelection of President Trump and certain Republican candidates seeking office in 2020.\nFull text of the 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=7857", "Tester Introduces Bill to Cut Red Tape on VA Grants for Organizations Assisting Homeless Veterans During COVID-19 Pandemic [press_release]", "2020-12-01", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Doubling down on his effort to protect homeless veterans during the national health crisis and assist organizations in mitigating the spread of the coronavirus, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently introduced legislation to cut red tape on grants provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\nHomeless veterans are some of the most at-risk for COVID-19 complications, and their safety must remain our top priority, said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. My bill would ensure that facilities nationwide are well-equipped to stop the spread of the coronavirus by removing bureaucratic red tape on VA grants for organizations assisting homeless veterans during the pandemic, and helping to keep those working to end homelessness laser-focused on their mission of providing timely, quality support to those who've served. \nThe Grant Regulation Adjustment during the Coronavirus Emergency (GRACE) for Homeless Veterans Act of 2020 allows the VA to provide grants to organizations to update or acquire spaces to better allow for social distancing and quarantine than present group facilities without unnecessary funding regulations. It removes matching funds requirements for new grant recipients and freezes any property repayment requirements for current grantees during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.\n\"The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) extends our gratitude to Ranking Member Tester for introducing S. 4910, the GRACE for Homeless Veterans Act of 2020, said Kathryn Monet, Chief Executive Officer. Since COVID-19 has gripped this country, the safest spaces for anyone are ones that allow for social distancing and isolation, both of which can be challenging to achieve in congregate facilities. Safe operation of Grant and Per Diem shelters will require renovation, physical expansion in some instances, and other modifications in order to comply with CDC guidelines for infection control and prevention. This bill removes long-standing disincentives that could deter providers from utilizing VA capital grants to fund renovations and improvements at their facilities. NCHV looks forward to working with the Ranking Member and urges Congress to pass this bill before adjournment to improve shelter safety as COVID cases surge once more nationwide.\"\nThe COVID-19 crisis has affected tens of thousands of homeless veterans as shelters have closed and funding for vital services have become strained. To assist these veterans during the pandemic, Tester introduced the Homeless Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 earlier this year to allow VA to use existing funds for a wider range of services, authorize the Department to collaborate with outside organizations to facilitate encampments on its properties, and ensure veterans and community providers participating in VA homeless programs have access to telehealth services.\nAs Ranking Member, Tester has fought tirelessly to ensure that veterans and the staff who provide their care have better access to life-saving supplies during the pandemic. After voting to deliver nearly $20 billion to strengthen the VA's response to COVID-19, Tester called on VA Secretary Wilkie to implement key provisions under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide critical supplies, personal protective equipment, and testing capabilities with veterans and employees.\nFull text of Tester's bill is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7858", "Tester Pushes Senate Leadership to Act on COVID Relief for Montana Workers, Small Businesses [press_release]", "2020-12-01", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester continued his push to break the partisan logjam over the next round of coronavirus stimulus funding for Montana workers and small businesses in a letter to Senate leadership this week.\nI am hearing directly from Montana families, business owners, school administrators and medical professionals that the devastating effects of this pandemic are getting worse, wrote Tester to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. My state has already suffered nearly 700 COVID-19 deaths, and now our medical community is sounding the alarm that medical facilities are at capacity.  Schools are struggling with the additional costs of a providing quality education to students while also keeping them safe. Businesses are fighting  every day to make ends meet but can only do so much with the disruptions to everyday life.\nTester concluded, Instead of continuing to trade proposals back and forth in the press and point fingers at each other for failing to get a COVID-19 relief package done, it is time to come together and find a path forward to get meaningful relief across the finish line.  Montana businesses and families simply cannot afford for us to waste another moment.\nFrom the beginning of the pandemic, Tester has been in constant communication with Montanans from every corner of the state and has used that input to help guide the creation of a bipartisan package that focuses on providing relief workers and small businesses as well as stopping the spread of the virus so Montana's economy can reopen. Since the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act this spring, Tester has been pushing Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle to work together to craft a targeted bipartisan coronavirus relief package that will provide support to Montanans that need it most.\nTester's letter to leadership can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7859", "First Pilot Program to Improve Law Enforcement Response in Native Communities Launched After Passage of Testers Savannas Act [press_release]", "2020-12-01", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A pilot program launched by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation (CSKT) is developing a collaborative community response plan to quickly address emergent Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) cases in Indian Country, thanks to directives outlined through the recent enactment of U.S. Senator Jon Tester's groundbreaking legislation, Savanna's Act.\nSavanna's Act gives us the tools to help address the MMIP crisis, and now those tools are being put to use, said Tester. The implementation of this program is a step forward for Montana Tribes, MMIP advocates, and the survivors of violence that worked tirelessly to see Savanna's Act over the finish line. I'll keep pushing to ensure Indian Country has the resources necessary to continue to combat this crisis head-on and ensure our Native communities are safe.\nIn accordance with Tester's Savanna's Act, the CSKT's pilot project will develop a Tribal Community Response Plan (TCRP) to improve the collaborative response to missing Indigenous person cases by Tribal governments, law enforcement, and other partners through regionally appropriate guidelines. CSKT's TCRP pilot project is the first of its kind in the nation, and its results will serve as a guide to establish similar regional programs across the U.S.\nIndigenous women and girls in Montana face murder rates that are ten times higher than the national average, and according to the National Institute of Justice, more than 80 percent of Native American women have experienced violence, and half have experienced it within the last year.\nTester's Savanna's Act, signed into law earlier this year, is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was murdered in North Dakota in August of 2017.\nSavanna's Act works to improve information sharing between Tribal and federal law enforcement agencies and increase data collection on cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people. It requires:\n \nLaw enforcement training on how to record victim Tribal enrollment information in federal databases;\nThe creation of standardized, regionally-appropriate guidelines for inter-jurisdictional cooperation on cases; and\nThe Attorney General to include data on missing and murdered Indigenous people in an annual report to Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7856", "Pioneer League Baseball to Stay in Montana, Tester Announces [press_release]", "2020-11-30", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced an agreement between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Pioneer League to keep Montana's baseball clubs in Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula in Montana.\nBig Sky Country is professional baseball country, which is why I am pleased to announce that I successfully worked with MLB and our minor league teams to keep America's favorite pastime in Montana, said Tester. The roots of our Pioneer League clubs run deep, and I'm going to keep working to strengthen MLB's relationship with our state so that baseball will continue to thrive in our communities and across rural America.\nUnder the agreement, the Pioneer League has been designated a Partner League of MLB. Starting in 2021, the Pioneer League will transition from affiliated status to an independent professional MLB Partner League that continues to provide high-quality baseball to the states of Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. All eight members of the Pioneer Leagueincluding the Billings Mustangs, the Great Falls Voyagers, and the Missoula Paddleheads will continue participating in the league and will maintain their existing team names and brands.\nAs a Partner League, the Pioneer League will collaborate with MLB on initiatives to provide organized baseball to communities throughout the Western U.S. and Canada. MLB will provide initial funding for the league's operating expenses, as well as install scouting technology in Pioneer League ballparks to provide MLB Clubs with first-class scouting information on Pioneer League players. The agreement will also include a procedure for player transfers to MLB Clubs. The Leagues also will explore joint marketing, ticketing and fan engagement opportunities.\nTester has fought hard to keep baseball in Montana, and he was slated to host a meeting with MLB executives in Montana before the COVID-19 outbreak. Recently, he urged MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred to maintain and expand the Pioneer League in Montana, outlining the positive impact of Montana's Minor League teams have on their communities and local economies. He also urged MLB not to abandon Montana and met with Deputy MLB Commissioner of Baseball Administration Dan Halem to discuss the League's proposal. Tester, a Montreal Exposand later, Washington Nationalsfan since the 1980s, would watch games broadcast from Canada after long days working on his farm in Big Sandy.\nMontana is one of only two states that does not have a single major league professional sports team, nor does it border a state that has a major league professional sports team. Montana's Pioneer League ball clubs build connections between Treasure State communities and baseball, and dozens of small businesses invest in marketing with Montana's teams to support the franchises and grow their customer bases.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7854", "Following Tester Push on Behalf of Veterans, GSA Administrator Begins Formal Presidential Transition Process Ensuring Support to VA During COVID-19 Pandemic [press_release]", "2020-11-24", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The General Services Administration (GSA) has agreed to begin a formal presidential transition process to ensure that critical resources are delivered to veterans and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic following a push from U.S. Senator Jon Tester.\nThe GSA's denial of the outcome of the 2020 election, and harmful withholding of transition resources from the Biden-Harris transition team, jeopardized the lives and well-being of veterans nationwide. As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester urged GSA Administrator Emily Murphy to proceed with the presidential transition process and work with the Biden-Harris transition team so that veterans are provided with the services and support they earned under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\nThe biggest current threat to the health and livelihood of veterans is the COVID-19 pandemic, Ranking Member Tester wrote. As the largest integrated health care system in the country with the responsibility of backing up the nation's health care systems, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is on the frontlines of this crisis. It is therefore critical for VA to supply all of its most recent information on the Department's COVID-19 efforts, high risk areas, Fourth Mission work, PPE availability and challenges, and vaccine supply and distribution planning to the Biden-Harris transition team. The incoming Administration needs this information to assess how VA's current leadership is handling the pandemic in order to ensure the greatest needs and safety of veterans and VA staff are being properly addressed. \nTester has fought tirelessly to ensure that veterans and the staff who provide their care have better access to life-saving supplies during the pandemic. In a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie yesterday, Tester led his committee colleagues in urging VA to swiftly develop and release its own COVID-19 vaccine strategyprior to the Biden-Harris Administrationto keep veterans and staff safe during the ongoing crisis. The Senators pressed VA on its plan to allocate a coronavirus vaccine, reach veterans in rural and hotspot areas, combat vaccine misinformation, and strengthen cross-government and community partnerships. They also requested VA's strategy in allocating its initial doses among staff and vulnerable veterans to make sure those at highest risk receive the vaccine first.\nFull text of Tester'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=7852", "Testers Bipartisan Bill to Stop Scams Targeting Montana Seniors Clears U.S. Senate [press_release]", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In a big win for Montana seniors who are more likely to be the target of malicious scams, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today celebrated the Senate's passage of his bipartisan Senior Fraud Prevention Act.\nTester's legislation will direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish an office that will combat fraud targeting the elderly, educate seniors and their families on how to detect scams, and improve fraud reporting systems.\nWe've seen an unprecedented increase in scams targeting Montana's older generations in the last few years, and so far Washington hasn't done nearly enough to put an end to it, said Tester. One in four seniors contacted by scammers end up losing money, and during these trying times, Montanans can't afford to lose a dime. I'm happy to see my bipartisan bill clear this hurdle, and I urge the House to bring it up for a vote as quickly as possible so we can give some much needed peace of mind to our elderly and their families.\nThe Government Accountability Office reports that scams cost seniors an estimated $2.9 billion annually. According to the FTC, one in four seniors contacted by scammers ended up sending them money in 2018losing an average of $9,000 each. That is up from just one in 14 seniors the year before.\nTester has proven himself a tried and true advocate for Montana's seniors, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently secured nearly $1 million to help seniors with Alzheimer's in Missoula and Ravalli Counties remain independent, and he secured more than $300,000 in pandemic relief funding for older Montanans this spring. He also 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.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7853", "Tester, Colleagues Press VA on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan for Veterans and Staff [press_release]", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is leading the effort to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking necessary steps to swiftly develop and release its own COVID-19 vaccine strategy to keep veterans and staff safe during the pandemic.\nIn a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie today, Tester led his committee colleagues in urging the Department to lay out its plan to allocate a coronavirus vaccine, reach veterans in rural and hotspot areas, combat vaccine misinformation, and strengthen cross-government and community partnerships.\nFor COVID-19 vaccine distribution to succeed there must be a well-organized plan to meet the needs of all veterans and their providers, the Senators wrote. Given all 50 states already had to submit their COVID-19 vaccine plans to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in mid-October and the CDC already released their COVID-19 Vaccine Program Interim Playbook on October 29, I am concerned VA is behind the curve. If the states and other Federal agencies have already publicly released their plans, why is VA lagging behind? When will VA's COVID-19 vaccine plan be available and released to Congress and the public?\nTester and his colleagues implored the VA to distribute the vaccine following guidance from public health experts and requested the Department's strategy in allocating its initial doses among staff and vulnerable veterans to ensure those at highest risk receive the vaccine first.\nThe Senators continued, Veterans and staff need to feel safe receiving any future COVID-19 vaccine, and this vaccine should be administered at no-cost to them. While the incoming Biden-Harris Administration is just a few months from taking office, the COVID-19 pandemic is still causing unprecedented sickness and death in our communities. Veterans and VA staff can't afford to wait until January 20 for a COVID-19 vaccine plan. The Department needs to take action now to ensure the health and safety of veterans, staff, and their families during this pandemic.\nA copy of the 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=7850", "Tester, Colleagues Slam VA Privatization of Compensation and Pension Exams for Disabled Veterans [press_release]", "2020-11-20", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ranking Member Jon Tester of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee today led ten colleagues in expressing grave concerns over the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) recent decision to increase the privatization of Compensation and Pension (C&P) exams, negatively impacting services and benefits provided to disabled veterans.\nWe were alarmed to learn that VA's vision for the future of the C&P program is to fully utilize private contractors to take over the VA personnel's workload, which we believe has the potential for serious long-term negative impacts on the services and benefits provided to our nation's veterans, Tester and his colleagues wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. As you know, when Congress established the pilot program to contract C&P exams with non-VA medical professionals, it was done in order to supplement VA's internal capacity to perform exams to help veterans, not supplant it.\nC&P examinations are a key component of ensuring veterans receive their earned disability benefits from VA. Eliminating associated VA personnel conducting these examsin addition to outsourcing examinations to private contractors at a potentially enormous cost to American taxpayerswould severely impact veterans and VA employees across the country, especially those in rural America.\nThe Senators continued, Given's VA's admission that there is a 350,000 backlog of C&P exams throughout the nation, and more than 480,000 claims are awaiting decisions, we fail to see the logic for continuing to reduce VA's internal capacity to perform these exams as VA already has experienced, qualified, and well-trained personnel ready to perform these duties. Veterans with unique health issues and conditions including Military Sexual Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and health impacts as a result of toxic exposures, benefit greatly from being seen by a VA medical professional compared to someone with less experience with veterans' unique medical and mental health conditions. We have concerns that these external contracted medical examiners, with less experience evaluating veterans' unique health conditions, could contribute to a growth in appeals when non-VA examiners misdiagnose these veterans.\nTester has been leading the effort in Congress to better protect veterans and their benefits during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Earlier this year, he called for more transparency and accountability in the VA disability claims process during the national health crisis. He also pressed VA to use its regulatory authority to grant waivers or extensions for veterans applying for disability benefits during the pandemic.\nA copy of the 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=7851", "Tester Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Assess 200,000 Highway-Railroad Crossing to Boost Safety  Efficiency [press_release]", "2020-11-20", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In his efforts to make Montana's roads safer and more efficient, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently introduced bipartisan legislation along with Senators Deb Fischer (R-Nebr.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to identify and address instances of blocked railroad crossings by examining more than 200,000 crossings across the country.\nWe've got to do a better job ensuring that our highway-railroad crossings aren't blocking critical routes for emergency responders or causing significant delays or traffic, said Tester. In order to do that, Congress needs better data on these blocked crossings so that we can make our highways safer, more efficient, and get people where they need to go a lot faster. That's exactly what this bipartisan bill will do.\nIn December 2019, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) opened a Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter portal that the public and law enforcement could report blocked grade crossings to the agency. Tester's bill would authorize this portal as a three year pilot program, and the FRA would be required to analyze submissions to the portal based on key criteria and provide an analysis to Congress. By authorizing the blocked crossing portal and examining the results, Congress can better understand the scope and severity of blocked crossings and develop targeted, effective policy to address them.\nThe bill also requires the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to evaluate the requirements of the Section 130 railway-highway grade crossing program to identify any additional flexibilities in the program that could support states' efforts to make grade crossings safer.\nTester and Fischer also recently introduced their Right Track Act, which is aimed at bolstering train safety in rural communities across the country by requiring the FRA and FHWA to make recommendations on improving rail safety in rural America, increase public outreach on grade crossing safety, and target resources for grade crossing safety in rural areas.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7849", "Tester Demands VA Action Following Damning Watchdog Report on Veterans Crisis Line Responder Missteps [press_release]", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is demanding action from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following a damning report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) outlining responder missteps in the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) which may have contributed to a veteran's death. The VCL provides an important service for responding to veterans in crisis and preventing veteran suicide.\nThe OIG report highlighted VCL staff's failure to request an emergency dispatch and adequately respond to a veteran in crisis, as well as underlying staff training and policy issues within the VCL and VA. Less than 12 hours after first contacting the VCL in July 2018, the veteran caller was found dead from an overdose.\nThis report is particularly disturbing because the veteran spoke to two different VCL responders and reported suicidal ideation, a past suicide attempt, access to lethal means, and intoxication from alcohol and drugs, Tester wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. Despite these red flags, neither VCL responder requested an emergency dispatch to check on the veteran and provide any necessary, immediate intervention. Instead, VCL staff conducted safety planning with the veteran and submitted a routine consult to the veteran's local VA suicide prevention coordinator for follow-up.\nIn its review, the OIG found both VCL responders failed to adequately clarify the veteran's access to lethal means and therefore did not appropriately utilize the VCL protocol to reduce the veteran's access to a gun. Responders also failed to include key safety plan elements. In the letter, Tester stressed the urgent need for VA to evaluate its policies, training, and quality review mechanisms for determining veteran callers' suicide risk.\nTester continued, It is vital that VA ensure call responders are fully trained on how to properly assess suicide risk, and that VA leadership has strong quality assurance mechanisms in place to monitor staff's ability to respond to veterans in crisis. This OIG report should serve as a call to action for the Department and the VCLWe must ensure no veteran who reaches out for life-saving assistance falls through the cracks.\nRead Tester's full letter to Secretary Wilkie HERE.\nThe Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you are a veteran in crisis, or concerned about a veteran in crises, please call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7846", "Tester, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Safety at Rural Train Crossings [press_release]", "2020-11-18", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following a series of train accidents across Montana in the last yearincluding a fatal crash in Bainville in MayU.S. Senators Jon Tester and Deb Fischer (R-NE) today introduced their bipartisan Right Track Act to bolster train safety in Eastern Montana and other rural communities.\nAfter far too many preventable tragedies at Montana rail crossings, we've got to provide rural communities with the resources they need to stay safe, said Tester. My bipartisan Right Track Act will provide towns across our state with critical investments to improve safety infrastructure and educate the public about the risk of collisions at grade crossings. The fact is, we can't let rural America get left behind when it comes to rail safety, and I'm going to work aggressively to get this bill passed as soon as possible.\nRail transportation is critical to keeping America's businesses and communities running, but more can be done to improve rural grade crossing safety, said Fischer. This legislation will enable the FRA and FHWA to make recommendations, facilitate public outreach, and target resources to keep our Heartland safe.\nThe Right Track Act contains three main components:\n \nIt will help counties and states better target safety infrastructure investments by requiring the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to provide recommendations to public and private stakeholders to reduce the number of highway-rail collisions at public at-grade crossings in counties with a population of 10 or fewer people per square mile.\nIt will increase public safety awareness by requiring the FRA and FHWA to conduct a public outreach and educational initiative to reduce collisions at grade crossings in rural counties.\nAnd it will provide a dedicated pool of funding for rural crossings by increasing the authorization for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program by $10 million per year for five years, and before any funds are distributed, that funding is set-aside for grants to improve grade crossing safety in rural counties. This funding can be used to install gates, add bells and lights, and creating overpasses at train crossings.\n \nTester is a longtime champion of safe and secure rail service to rural communities. Last month, he personally secured a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee on recent cuts to the Empire Builder service across Montana's Hi-Line. He also helped secure $1 billion for Amtrak in the CARES Act to maintain long distance routes during the pandemic and led the charge to restore ticket agents in Amtrak stations in Havre and Shelby.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7847", "Tester, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Native American Veterans Access to VA Health Care, Eliminate Copays [press_release]", "2020-11-18", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committeeare introducing the Native American Veteran Parity in Access to Care Today (PACT) Act, bipartisan legislation eliminating copayments for Native American veterans accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care. This legislation brings parity between Native American veterans receiving services at VA and Native Americans who receive services through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Indian Health Service (IHS).\nNative Americans receiving care at IHS are not subject to health care copayments in accordance with United States trust and treaty obligations. Native American veterans, however, are required to pay copayments when receiving services at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), creating a disparity for those who receive health care at VA rather than IHS and causing a potential barrier to access to care. The Senators' bipartisan bill would require VA to treat hospital care and medical services at VHA similarly to health care provided at IHS, eliminating copayments for Native American veterans.\nNative Americans serve our nation at the highest rates, and we have a responsibility to ensure they have access to benefits and care they've earned when they return home from service, said Ranking Member Tester. The fact is that the federal government is tasked with providing health care to all Native American veterans free of chargeand the buck stops with VA. Our bipartisan bill requires VA to bring its copay requirements in line with the Indian Health Service, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for our nation's Native veterans. \nOur nation is proud of the 21,000 Native Americans who have served our country, and it is our responsibility to make certain the care they are provided at the Department of Veterans Affairs is in line with current federal practice, said Chairman Moran. This legislation would eliminate the VA copay for Native American veterans to help them have greater access to the care and resources they have earned.\n\"The federal government's responsibility to provide quality healthcare to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans comes both from their service to this country and the federal government's treaty and trust obligations to American Indian and Alaska Native people. Currently, American Indian and Alaska Native veterans are required to pay a copayment before receiving services at the Veterans Health Administration, representing a significant barrier to care,\" said Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians. \"The Native American Veteran Parity in Access to Care Today Act improves accessibility to Veterans Health Administration services by eliminating copayments for our American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.\"\nThat National Indian Health Board is committed to ensuring the highest health status and outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans, and the Native American Veteran Parity in Access to Care Today (PACT) Act would allow Native Veterans to receive care from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) without a copayment, said Stacy A. Bohlen, CEO of the National Indian Health Board. The PACT Act moves us closer to fulfillment of the federal government's dual responsibility to Native Veterans. NIHB commends Senator Tester and Senator Moran for leading this bill, and stands ready to work with Congress in a bipartisan manner to enact legislation that strengthens the government-to-government relationship, improves coordinated care between the Indian Health Service and VHA, and ultimately elevates healthcare access for all Native veterans across Indian Country.\nAs a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester joined his colleagues yesterday in introducing a Congressional resolution recognizing November 2020 as National Native American Heritage Month and the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day, highlighting the powerful contributions of Native Americans, including Native veterans, to the United States.\nFull text of the Senators' bill is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7842", "Tester Statement on the Nomination of Judy Shelton for Federal Reserve Board [press_release]", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on the Nomination of Judy Shelton for Federal Reserve Board \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 against Judy Shelton's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors:\n Judy Shelton has repeatedly displayed a staggering ignorance of basic economic principles and a clear pattern of partisan political opportunism, not to mention she has advocated kneecapping rural America by selling off public lands, the Postal Service, and Amtrak to artificially prop up the budget. Frankly, she is uniquely unqualified to serve as a member of the Federal Reserve, and I have no confidence at all that she would be an independent voice helping steer our country through the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. \n\nShelton has advocated selling off public lands, the Postal Service, and Amtrak, and was recently forced to step down as the United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development after she missed too many meetings. She has advocated returning to the Gold Standard, eliminating deposit insurance, and for replacing the U.S. dollar with a global currency. Additionally, she has questioned the independence of the Federal Reserve, and whether the central bank should even exist.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7843", "Tester Honors Native American Heritage Month with Senate Resolution [press_release]", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is joining a bipartisan group of his colleagues to introduce a Congressional resolution celebrating Native American culture, heritage, and history.\nTester's resolution officially recognizes November 2020 as National Native American Heritage Month and the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day, highlighting the powerful contributions of Native Americans to the United States.\nBy marking November as Native American Heritage Month, we recognize the past, present, and future contributions of Native communities to the fabric of Montana and this nation, said Tester. From honoring Tribal sovereignty to promoting self-governance and determination, Native American Heritage Month serves as a reminder of our trust and treaty responsibilities to Indian Country.\nIn the resolution, Senator Tester and his colleagues recognize the commitment of the United States to supporting Tribal self-governance and self-determination and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States Armed Services.\nNative Americans have moving stories of tragedy, triumph, and perseverance that need to be shared with future generations, the resolution reads. Native Americans have distinguished themselves as inventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and scholarsthe people of the United States have reason to honor the great achievements and contributions of Native Americans and their ancestors.\nFull text of Tester's resolution is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7844", "Malmstrom Named First U.S. Air Force Base to Receive New MH-139 Grey Wolf Helicopters to Replace Huey Fleet, Following Tester Efforts [press_release]", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following sustained efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the U.S. Air Force announced today that Malmstrom Air Force Base will be the first to receive new MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters to replace the decades-old Vietnam-era Huey fleet. The new fleet is expected to be fully operational by 2023.\nAfter repeated delays, this announcement is welcomed news for our brave men and women at Malmstrom Air Force Base who will be first in line to receive this long-awaited helicopter replacement fleet, said Tester. At a time of increased global threats and near peer adversaries, this new batch of helicopters will strengthen our nation's defense capabilities, secure our ICBM fields, and provide greater relief and certainty to the airmen who work tirelessly to keep us safe. I'm proud to have championed this effort in Congress to ensure our Air Force's defense needs are met now, and well into the future. \nFor years, Tester fought tirelessly to secure new helicopters for Malmstroma critical component of the Air Force's land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) mission and used to secure and transport airmen between launching sites. In 2016, Tester expressed serious concerns regarding Malmstrom's outdated Huey helicopter fleet, detailing that it lacked the capability to fully secure the country's ICBM sites and proposed a plan to use an existing Army contract to replace the fleet with modern helicopters.\nTester successfully secured funding for the replacement helicopters through the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act and the Defense Appropriations bill. After multiple delays, Tester pressed the Air Force in 2018 to provide a detailed timeline on the program's replacement. He later sent a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Defense to replace the UH-1N helicopters used at ICBM sites.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7840", "Tester, Stabenow Push to Address Veteran Food Insecurity by Urging VA, USDA Coordination During COVID-19 and Beyond [press_release]", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry are urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase coordination and take swift action to address veteran food insecurity during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.\nWhile USDA is primarily responsible for food and nutrition assistance programs, the VA also has an important role to play in ending veteran hunger, Senators Tester and Stabenow wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. Some studies have found that more than 20 percent of veterans using VA health care experience food insecurity. However, the food insecurity screening used in VA health care is only one question covering the last three months, which is inadequate and may allow veterans to fall through the cracks. We ask that VA evaluate the use of an enhanced and validated screening tool, such as the Hunger Vital Sign' screening, which is only two questions but more accurately identifies individuals at risk of food insecurity over the past year.\nIn their letter, the Senators also urged VA to explore approaches for addressing food insecurity among vulnerable veteransincluding homebound veterans, homeless veterans, and student veteranswho have trouble accessing and affording nutritious food. The letter pressed USDA to halt the implementation of changes to the Supplementation Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which will be particularly harmful to veterans experiencing unemployment or homelessness, and to improve data collection of veteran participation in nutrition programs. Tester and Stabenow highlighted the importance of having both agencies work collaboratively to employ all available Federal and local tools to aggressively curb veteran hunger during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.\nThe Senators continued, We urge you to explore the possibility of a cooperative agreement between your agencies to allow VA and its extended stakeholder community to do SNAP eligibility screenings and enrollment, utilizing available data and records for veterans, looking to the example of the cooperative agreement currently in place with USDA and the Social Security Administration. Giving VA the tools to bridge the gap between nutrition counseling and actual nutrition assistance would make the difference for many veterans.\nA copy of the Senators' 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=7841", "Tester Secures More Than $1.1 Million for Havre Area Head Start [press_release]", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Havre Area Head Start and Early Head Start program will receive $1,145,047 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funding to continue providing early education opportunities and child care services for families in Northcentral Montana.\nOne of the most critical investments we can make is in the next generations of Montanans who will lead our state into the future, said Tester. Havre's Head Start program gives Montana families the resources they need to ensure their kids have the tools they need to be successful right off the bat, and I'm proud to have pushed for this funding.\nThe funding comes from the Administration for Children & Families, which oversees Head Start programs across Montana. Havre's Head Start program offers preschool and infant care options for parents who need daycare for their children, information for young families on pregnancy and fetal development, and school readiness material to make sure Montana kids are prepared for kindergarten.\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 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=7838", "Tester Brings Home Major Investments in Montanas Rural Communities [press_release]", "2020-11-13", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured billions in funding for critical Montana priorities as a part of a series of bills to fund the government for the next fiscal year.\nTester worked diligently to include priorities in the Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration; Interior-Environment; and Energy and Water Development spending bills that invest in Montana's rural communities, specifically championing funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Milk River Project including St. Mary's, and provisions addressing price fixing and trade disparities within agricultural markets that impact Montana producers.\nInvestments in rural America are investments in Montana's future, said Tester. These bills include critical funding to address some of the most pressing issues folks in rural areas facethe rising rate of suicide among farmers and ranchers, consolidation and price disparities in production agriculture, and outdated or damaged infrastructure in and around our public lands. And while I'm happy to see that these bills include many of the Montana priorities I fought for, I'm very disturbed by Majority Leader McConnell's disregard for legislative process. By dodging the critical process of a good old-fashioned markup, Senators are unable to propose amendments on behalf of their states and Americans miss out on a critical public discussion of where exactly their tax dollars are going.\nThis year, Majority Leader McConnell chose to cancel Committee markups of the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations bills, eliminating the ability of Senators to both offer amendments and discuss issues in public before the American people in an open and transparent process. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Tester has repeatedly expressed frustration and discontent towards subverting the usual process of holding markup.\nIn that role, Tester plays a significant role in writing the 12 bills that fund the federal government each year.\nMontana priorities Tester successfully included in the Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations are:\nFarm and Ranch Mental Health:\n \n$10 million for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network\nRequirements directing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a national strategy for addressing farm and ranch mental stress and establish best practices for state and community implementation\nRequirements directing USDA to expand the existing staff training pilot program to ensure that all farmer-facing employees have access to voluntary suicide prevention training\nRequirements directing USDA to provide quarterly reports detailing the indicators of stress, data on stress response strategies, and emerging trends in rural economic and health care needs resulting from these stress interventions\n \nBroadband:\n \n$400 million for USDA's ReConnect Program\n$87 million for broadband supporting Distance Learning and Telemedicine\n \nCattle, Grains, and Hemp:\n \nExpressions of concern regarding USDA's decision to resume imports of Brazilian beef\nRequirements directing USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to provide a report to the committee with strategies being employed to ensure Brazilian beef imports are meeting set standards\nRequirements directing the Agriculture Secretary to work with the Attorney General to ensure meat pricing mechanisms are transparent and there is competition in the cattle industry\nExpressions of concern regarding Canada's unfair wheat grading practices, specifically acknowledging the need to address the Varietal Registration System in order to achieve parity in grain trade\nRequirements directing USDA to revise the hemp sampling and testing protocols within the interim final rule for hemp\n \nExtension:\n \n$3 million to research technology-based rangeland and livestock management strategies to optimize health and productivity of both Western rangeland based livestock and the rangeland ecosystem\n \nMontana priorities Tester successfully included in the Interior-Environment Appropriations bill are:\nLand and Water Conservation Fund:\n \nU.S. Forest Service Projects: \n$8 million for the Miller Lake Valley\n$6 million for Lolo Trails maintenance and restoration\n$6 million for the Kootenai Forestlands Conservation Project\n$4 million for the Bad Rock Canyon Conservation Project\nBureau of Land Management Projects \n$10 million for the Lower Musselshell River Conservation Project\n$3.3 million for the Blackfoot River watershed\nU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Projects \n$2 million for Montana National Wildlife Refuges and Conservation Areas\n \nPayment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT):\n \n$515 million for PILT programming\n \nEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA):\n \n$4.283 billion in State and Tribal Assistance Grants\n$1.184 billion for Superfund emergency response, removal, and remedial actions\n$64.5 million to address PFAS Contamination \nRequirements directing EPA to continue analyzing the impacts of Canadian coal mining on the Kootenai watershed\nRequirements directing EPA to finalize its risk assessment for asbestos\nExpressions of support for research into the impacts of wildfire smoke\n \nU.S. Department of Interior:\n \n$1.313 billion in wildland fire preparedness and suppression\n \nU.S. Forest Service:\n \n$4.014 billion in wildland fire preparedness and suppression \n \nMontana priorities Tester successfully included in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill are:\nMilk River Project at St. Mary's:\n \n$3.2 million for the Milk River Project\nRequirements directing the Bureau of Reclamation to work with local stakeholders to upgrade and repair infrastructure without undue impact to water users\n \nRural Water Projects:\n \n$1.9 million for the Rocky Boy's/North Central rural water system\n$2.4 million for the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie rural water systems\n$117.4 million in additional rural water funding\n \nU.S. Department of Energy:\n \n$115 million for wind energy research\n$233.8 million for solar energy research\n$105 million for geothermal energy research\n$213.6 million for carbon capture and storage research\n \nWeatherization Assistance Program:\n \n$305 million in state assistance grants\n \nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers:\n \n$11 million for watercraft inspection stations for aquatic invasive species, including invasive mussels\n$5.3 million for operations and maintenance of Fort Peck Dam and Lake\n$1.7 million for operations and maintenance of Libby Dam", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7839", "Tester Demands Interior Secretary Reverse Order Forcing Regulations on Private Landowners, Kneecapping LWCF [press_release]", "2020-11-13", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After Interior Secretary David Bernhardt issued a secretarial order undermining the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) by placing additional burdensome federal regulations on private landowners and their property, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today demanded that Bernhardt reverse course and rescind the directive.\nI am deeply concerned by the Department of Interior's repeated attempts to undermine LWCF over the last two weeks, wrote Tester. Secretarial Order number 3388 issued by the Department today puts further restraints on LWCF, one of our nation's most critical conservation and public land access programs.  I urge you to immediately rescind this anti-public land order.\nTester continued, This undercuts what a landowner can do with their own private property, and creates unnecessary, additional levels of bureaucracy that will hamstring future land acquisition through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.\nSecretary Bernhardt's order requires private landowners to obtain written support from county and state governments before they can voluntarily initiate a land sale through LWCF. It also requires Interior to prioritize projects for the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service over any other bureau, neglecting the Bureau of Land Management's 245 million acres of public land, and relies on LWCF projects to resolve public land access issues, and it constrains all land acquisitions to current boundaries of federal land. This will significantly impede Interior's ability to utilize LWCF to resolve complex land access issues.\nThe strength of this program has been its ability to work with a wide array of stakeholders to protect our most important landscapes and create new recreational opportunities, Tester concluded. Any changes to implementing this program should be made as a result of careful, collaborative public engagement, and in line with the intent of Congress.  This order meets neither standard.\nLast week, Tester took Secretary Bernhardt and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to task after they missed a statutory deadline to submit a list of priority LWCF projects to Congress, as required by Tester's recently passed Great American Outdoors Act. In lieu of a project list from the Administration, Tester used his position in the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to include a number of priority Montana LWCF projects in the Senate's Interior Appropriations legislation released earlier this week. Those projects include:\n \nU.S. Forest Service Projects:  \n$8 million for the Miller Lake Valley\n$6 million for Lolo Trails maintenance and restoration\n$6 million for the Kootenai Forestlands Conservation Project\n$4 million for the Bad Rock Canyon Conservation Project\nBureau of Land Management Projects: \n$10 million for the Lower Musselshell River Conservation Project\n$3.3 million for the Blackfoot River watershed\nU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Projects: \n$2 million for Montana National Wildlife Refuges and Conservation Areas\n \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 to Bernhardt can be found HERE.\nTester's letter to Bernhardt and Perdue from last week can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7835", "Inauguration Tickets [press_release]", "2020-11-12", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Presidential Inauguration will take place Wednesday, January 20, 2021 on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.\nInauguration is overseen by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), which is committed to traditional, inclusive, and safe ceremonies. As the Senator's office does not oversee inaugural ceremonies, the number of available tickets are limited and cannot be guaranteed. Constituents can request up to four (4) Inauguration tickets below.\nDue to COVID-19, the ticket distribution process is currently being assessed. The JCCIC will continue to monitor the situation and provide more information as it becomes available. We cannot guarantee the number of tickets requested per person until the JCCIC makes a determination on how to proceed with ticketing. Constituents will likely need to pick up tickets in-person a few days prior to the Inauguration at Senator Tester's Washington, DC office. The person who reserved the Inauguration tickets must be the same person to pick them up, as verified by ID. Tickets are free and cannot be sold. Please take into consideration the travel restrictions for arriving in Washington, D.C. from Montana. There is typically a fourteen day quarantine required for travelers. Updates can be found here.\nThe deadline to request tickets is January 6, 2020.\nPlease note  neither the Senator's office nor the JCCIC are involved in the Official Inaugural Balls or the Inaugural Parade. Those events are handled by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.\nFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (From the JCCIC)\nWhat happens during a traditional Inaugural Ceremony?\nPROCESSION TO THE CAPITOL:  By tradition, the outgoing President accompanies the President-elect to the Capitol for the Swearing-In Ceremony.    VICE PRESIDENT'S SWEARING-IN CEREMONY PRESIDENT'S    SWEARING-IN CEREMONY INAUGURAL ADDRESS:  Since George Washington in 1789, every President has delivered an Inaugural address, ranging in length from 8,445 words to just 135.    HONORARY DEPARTURE:  Following the Swearing-In Ceremonies on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, the outgoing President and First Lady leave the Capitol to begin their post-presidential lives.    SIGNING CEREMONY:  The first official actions taken by the newly sworn President of the United States occur in the President's Room just off the Senate Chamber in the U.S. Capitol.    INAUGURAL LUNCHEON:  Since 1953, the JCCIC has hosted a luncheon at the U.S. Capitol for the new President, Vice President, and guests.    PASS IN REVIEW:  After the conclusion of the Inaugural Ceremonies and the luncheon, the President and Vice President make their way to the East Front steps of the Capitol where they review military troops before leading a procession of ceremonial military regiments, citizens' groups, marching bands, and floats down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.\nWhere will the tickets allow me to go?\n \nThe tickets allow access to specific sections of the Capitol Grounds. Additionally, there typically is a large section on the National Mall (past 4th Street) that is accessible to the general public.\nAccessibility services are provided in each ticketed section and will be available upon entering the section by request to the Accessibility Services Representative.\nTickets are free and may not be sold.\n \nWhat should I bring and how should I dress?\n \nYou should be prepared to spend at least three hours in the cold in a very large crowd.  This event may not be Montana-cold, but is historically wet and chilly.\nDress for warmth. As most tickets reserve spots in grassy areas, dress in clothing and shoes that can withstand mud.\nPack your patience. Security measures will be in place and taken very seriously. Be prepared to go through layers of safety measures, including metal detectors and bag checks.  Security requires ticket holders to arrive hours early. carrying no seats or large bags. Bags over 18x13x7 are prohibited.\nProhibited items include:           \nBags over 18x13x7;\nWeapons of any kind: firearms and ammo, explosives, knives/blades/sharp objects, mace/pepper spray; \nUmbrellas; \nDrones; \nBalloons;\nSigns larger than 20'x3'x1/4; \nCoolers;\nGlass or metal bottles, including insulated or double-walled water bottles; \nPets (unless they are service animals); \nAny other items determined to be potential safety hazards.\n \nWhat is the best way to get to the Inauguration?\n \nDue to street closures around the Capitol grounds and massive crowds using public transit, transportation options will be very limited. Please be prepared to walk several blocks and to wait in long lines.\n \nWhat if I cannot get tickets?\n \nSpectators can still gather along the National Mall, which typically includes large screens for viewing the Inaugural Ceremony.\nAdditionally, the new President typically goes on a ceremonial parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the U.S. Capitol to the White House after being sworn in. Spectators can line up along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade. A number of bleacher seats can usually be reserved through the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Sidewalk viewing is free and will not be reserved.\n \nIf you have additional questions about the Inauguration, please visit the official website for the 59th Inauguration here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7837", "Tester on Veterans Day: We have a shared responsibility to serve those whove worn the uniform [press_release]", "2020-11-11", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester on Veterans Day: We have a shared responsibility to serve those who've worn the uniform' \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 and Montana's only member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today released the following statement to commemorate Veterans Day:\n Veterans Day stands as an important reminder to honor those who've served and reflect on the enduring sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and their families. But we shouldn't honor our nation's heroes just once a yeartheir service deserves our appreciation year-round. As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I'm honored and humbled to work every day to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable and connect more veterans with the proper care and benefits they've earned. As a nation, we have a shared responsibility to serve those who've worn the uniform and fought on behalf of our freedoms. To all our veterans and their familieswe thank you for your sacrifice. May you be celebrated today, and every day. \n  \nIn 2013, Senator Tester cosponsored bipartisan legislation to facilitate the construction of a Native American Veterans' Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, to honor the military service of Native Americans. The new memorial opened today on the National Mall.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7832", "Tester Statement on Importance of Affordable Care Act Following Supreme Court Arguments [press_release]", "2020-11-10", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Importance of Affordable Care Act Following Supreme Court Arguments \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 U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in California v Texas, the Republican-backed lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA):\n This reckless effort by national Republicans to dismantle the Affordable Care Act isn't small potatoesa decision to strike down the law would destroy the health care system as we know it, jeopardizing lives, our economy, and the rural Montana hospitals that keep our communities safe. The ACA isn't perfect, but it provides critical protections for Montanans with pre-existing conditions and the care they depend on to stay healthy. We've got to make health care more accessible and more affordablenot leave millions out to dry in the middle of a national public health crisis. \n  \nFollowing the submission of a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the invalidation of the ACA by a group of Republican Attorneys General, Tester led his colleagues in demanding the Department of Justice defend the ACA as existing law in court and halt its efforts to repeal the health care protections for millions of Americans in the midst of a surge in cases in a global pandemic. If the Supreme Court overturns the ACA, 112,000 Montanans could lose coverage, including the 85,000 Montanans enrolled through Medicaid expansion and 7,000 Montanans under the of age 26 who have stayed on their parents' health coverage could lose their care.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7833", "Tester Secures Montana Priorities in Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Bill [press_release]", "2020-11-10", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today secured billions in funding for critical homeland security priorities for Montana and the country as part of a series of bills to fund the government for the next fiscal year.\nTester worked diligently to include priorities in the spending package that would restore funding for the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) that the Trump Administration attempted to eliminate as well as robust investments in the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and critical border security programs.\nOur country is facing significant threats to our national security during these unprecedented times, and this legislation will help keep Montana families safe by investing in threat reduction for wildfires and natural disasters, bolstering Coast Guard readiness, and making new advancements in security technology at our airports and on the northern border, said Tester. And while I'm happy to see that this package includes many of Montana's priorities I fought for, I'm deeply disturbed that our usual legislative processes have been thrown out the window. Circumventing a markup prevents us from crafting legislation that will do the most good for the American people, and instead allows my colleagues to bypass a meaningful process and include provisionslike nearly $2 billion for an ineffective border wallwithout any accountability to the public.\nThis year, the Republican majority chose to cancel Committee markups of the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations bills, eliminating the ability of Senators to both offer amendments and discuss issues in public before the American people in an open and transparent process. As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, Senator Tester has repeatedly expressed frustration and discontent towards subverting the usual process of holding markup.\nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester is responsible for writing the 12 bills that fund the federal government each year. Among the Montana provisions Tester successfully included in today's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations package are:\nFEMA Fire Grants \n \n$355 million for Fire grants which provide equipment and training to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters. Montana received $1,932,922 in FY 2019, FY 2020 awards are still being made.\n \nFEMA SAFER Grants \n \n$355 million for SAFER grants which help communities increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters. Montana received $2,256,067 in FY 2019, FY 2020 awards are still being made.\n \nOperation Stonegarden\n \n$90 million for Operation Stonegarden grants which provide funding to state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to enhance coordination with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) to defend America's borders. Montana received $1,287,580 in FY 2020.\n \nMontana State University\n \n$7 million for Partnership Intermediary Agreements, which supports a partnership between DHS Science and Technology (S&T) and Montana State University, to use technical expertise at MilTech and the Applied Research Lab to help transition innovative technologies to address critical mission needs across DHS.\n$5 million to support collaboration between MSU and DHS (S&T) to continue to develop software analysis services that identify and measure security weaknesses in software design for data researchers and program developers. This funding is also to support growing collaboration between MSU and S&T on general cyber related projects.\n$6 million for DHS to create a national testing capacity to assess vulnerabilities and mitigate biological risks, including COVID-19, in building air and water handling systems, multi-building facilities, and waste water systems. The Center for Biofilm Engineering at MSU will partner with the Idaho National Laboratory for research to assess the role of biofilm in the transportation of pathogenic organisms in the built environment to create innovative biosurveillance and monitoring capabilities. \n \nBorder Security Technology\n \n$28 million for 30 autonomous surveillance towers (AST)\n$15 million for Mobile Modular Surveillance Systems (M2S2)\n$5 million for the small Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (UAS) System\n \nElection Security\n \n$43 million for the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)\n \nTribal consultation \n \nA requirement is included mandating DHS to update Tribal consultation training in conjunction with Tribes \n \nFEMA Grants\n \n$560 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP)\n$665 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)\nA set aside of $90 million for Nonprofit Security Grants through UASI and SHSGP\n$710 million for Firefighter grants \n$100 million for Port Security Grants \n$100 million for Transit Security Grants \n$355 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants \n$263 million for flood mapping \n$14 million each for Regional Catastrophic Preparedness and High Hazard Dams \n$125 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program\n$288 million for education, training and exercises\n \nTSA Funding\n \n$46 million for the TSA Law Enforcement Reimbursement Program to partially reimburse airports for providing law enforcement officer staffing\n$59 million for the TSA Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) Program which funds 31 teams that are deployed to airports and transit systems to guard against terrorist attacks\n$169 million to sustain 1,097 explosives detection canine teams\n$84 million to continue funding TSA staffing of exit lanes \n$140 million for 141 new computed tomography (CT) screening units for airport checkpoints\n$61 million for 960 Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units. Of the 960 units, 467 will be deployed to small and rural airports\n$40 million to continue reimbursing airports for in-line baggage screening systems built after 9/11\n \nCoast Guard\n \n$1.911 billion is provided for Coast Guard Procurement, Construction and Improvements, including $555 million for the Coast Guard's 2nd Polar Security Cutter (PSC) \n$546 million for the third Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and long lead time materials for the fourth OPC \n$160 million for two Fast Response Cutters \n$321 million for construction of shore facilities, $116 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7836", "Senate Unanimously Passes Tester-Backed Veterans COMPACT Act to Enhance Access to Mental Health Care [press_release]", "2020-11-10", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester today applauded the Senate's unanimous passage of the Veterans' Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020, or Veterans' COMPACT Act, a package of critical mental health provisions to support women veterans, eliminate emergency mental health care costs, and assist servicemembers transitioning to civilian life.\nI applaud my Senate colleagues for quickly passing the Veterans' COMPACT Act to increase access to critical mental health care and enhance the lives of our nation's heroes, said Ranking Member Tester. Effectively curbing the growing national suicide rate starts by taking an aggressive, all-hands-on-deck approach with an increased focus on supporting our veterans and those who are most frequently left behind, including women and individuals at-risk of homelessness. Building on the success of my landmark Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, this bipartisan, bicameral package will ensure we're doing just that by implementing the most effective tools to connect more veterans with life-saving care.\nThe Veterans' COMPACT Act features the following nine provisions that complement Tester's Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act to reduce veteran suicide:\n \nCare for those in crisis by providing acute crisis care for emergent suicide symptoms.\nHelp veterans build networks of support by creating a pilot program on information sharing between Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and designated relatives and friends of veterans regarding the assistance and benefits available to the veterans.\nTrack outcomes of VA's outreach to transitioning servicemembers by conducting an annual report on the Solid Start program of the Department.\nTailor education for family members by creating an education program for family members and caregivers of veterans with mental health disorders.\nCreate an outdoor Recreation Task Force by establishing an Interagency Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for veterans. \nContact veterans who have not had contact with VA in two or more years to encourage them to receive comprehensive exams so that they continue their eligibility for coverage of emergency care not related to service-connected disabilities. \nRequire annual VA Police de-escalation and crisis intervention training.\nConduct a gap analysis of VA programs that provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless. \nProvide a report on locations where women veterans are using health care from the VA.\n \nTester has been leading the charge in Congress to connect American servicemembers and veterans with mental health resources to heal invisible wounds of war following their service. As Ranking Member, he introduced his bipartisan Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act last Congress to bolster VA's mental health workforce and increase rural veterans' access to care, while expanding veterans' access to alternative and local treatment options like animal therapy, outdoor sports and activities, yoga, and acupuncture. President Donald Trump signed Tester's monumental bill into law on October 17, 2020.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7830", "Tester Statement on Biden, Harris Victory in 2020 Presidential Election [press_release]", "2020-11-07", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Biden, Harris Victory in 2020 Presidential Election \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 former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris were projected to win the 2020 presidential election:\n Sharla and I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their momentous victory and I look forward to working with them to move this country forward. We must come together and focus on what connects us, not what divides us. We live in the greatest nation in the world and I know we are capable of creating an even better future for generations to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7829", "Tester Demands Interior Secretary and Forest Service Produce LWCF Priority Project List After Departments Miss Deadline [press_release]", "2020-11-06", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today took Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and the Forest Service to task after the land management agencies missed a statutory deadline to submit a list of priority Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) projects to Congress, as required by Senator Tester's landmark Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).\nI am writing to you regarding the Department of the Interior's and Forest Service's failure to meet the statutory requirement to submit a list of Land and Water Conservation projects to the Senate today, wrote Tester. Ninety four days ago, the President signed the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act into law, which required the Department to submit a list by November 2nd.  The Department of the Interior missed this statutory deadline.  This is unacceptable and must be corrected immediately.  I urge the Department to uphold it role in administering LWCF and provide the project list to Congress.\nUnder Tester's Great American Outdoors Act, the Department of Interior and Forest Service are required to provide a list of proposed projects to be funded  by Congress through the Land and Water Conservation Fund by November 2nd. Without such a list, priority projects that have languished in funding for years could fall through the cracks.\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. Earlier this year, Tester wrote to Secretary Bernhardt and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging them to quickly submit a list of projects to Congress so that funding could get to communities 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 in August. 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.\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 to Bernhardt can be found HERE.\nTester's August letter to Bernhardt and Perdue can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7828", "Tester to VA: Stop Denying Personal Protective Equipment for Home Health Care Workers Caring for Vulnerable Veterans During COVID-19 [press_release]", "2020-10-30", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ranking Member Jon Tester of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee is continuing to push the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement key provisions under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to ensure veterans and health care workers are protected during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.\nUnder the CARES Act, VA is required to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for home health care workers who provide care to veterans. In a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie yesterday, Ranking Member Tester demanded the Department comply with the law and quickly distribute essential PPE to home care providers and contractors during the pandemic.\nWhen I fought to include this provision in law, it was so that home health workers could have the necessary PPE before they even stepped foot into a veteran's homenot for them to be forced to show up empty-handed and have to rely on the veteran patient to supply them with essential PPE, Ranking Member Tester wrote. VA should not be gambling with veterans' and providers' health by denying home health workers the PPE they need to safely do their jobs. Further, if the Department ran into issues implementing the law as intended, VA officials should have come directly to me and the other leaders of the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees.\nTester has fought tirelessly to ensure that veterans and the staff who provide their care have better access to life-saving supplies during the pandemic. After voting to deliver nearly $20 billion to strengthen the VA's response to COVID-19, Tester quickly called on Secretary Wilkie to implement key provisions under CARES to provide supplies to State Veterans Homes. He demanded VA proactively share PPE with veterans and employees at these facilities, and with home health care workers. Tester also pressed the federal government to make full use of its powers under the Defense Production Act, imploring Vice President Mike Pence to prioritize VA in any supply chain decisions to better protect veterans, health care professionals, and all Americans from the coronavirus.\nRanking Member Tester continued, Seven months after enactment, it is unacceptable that VA is not complying with the CARES Act and leaving homebound veterans and their providers at-risk during a major pandemic. What is VA's plan to comply with the CARES Act and provide both employees and contractors with appropriate PPE so they can care for veterans safely?\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=7826", "Tester Pushes White House to Enforce USMCA, Resolve Canadas Grain Grading Issues Immediately [press_release]", "2020-10-26", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following reports that despite the ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) earlier this year, Canada has continued to downgrade American wheat imported into the country, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today urged U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer to immediately reach out to the Canadian trade representatives to resolve the issues and enforce the Agreement.\nIn theory, USMCA ends the Canadian practice of automatically downgrading all imported wheat to feed wheat, which is the lowest grade and therefore the cheapest to import, wrote Tester As USMCA goes into effect, the State of Montana is hearing that the Canadian government is unwilling to make changes to the [Varietal Registration System] that would bring any real equity to the grain grading system.  If Canada continues to refuse to accept U.S. varieties into the VRS, then U.S. grain growers are back at square one, and will be forced to sell their high-quality product as a low-quality import.\nTester continued: USMCA held such promise, but if we are unable to deliver any real outcomes for Montana farmers from the deal, we are failing folks in production agriculture.  Without robust enforcement, negotiated trade agreements will be unable to bring certainty and market stability to American farmers and ranchers.\nSenator Tester supported the USMCA and voted for it when it passed the Senate in January. His support was based in large part on the fix to Canada's unfair wheat grading practices, and he has long argued that, without strict enforcement, the trade agreement cannot provide a substantial benefit to Montana producers.\nUSMCA addressed a critical discrepancy in U.S.-Canada wheat trade by prohibiting either country from discriminating against the other's grain, ending the Canadian practice of automatically downgrading all imported wheat to feed wheatthe lowest grade and therefore cheapest to import. However, USMCA does not address the inherently discriminatory Canadian Varietal Registration System (VRS), a list of wheat varieties that may be sold on Canadian markets.  Wheat varieties not registered in the VRS must be sold as feed wheat, regardless of USMCA, and the VRS excludes many varieties grown in Northern tier states like Montana. Canada has indicated that it is unwilling to make changes to the VRS, allowing it to continue to unfairly downgrade Montana wheat.\nWhile I continue to hear the Administration and my Republican colleagues tout the success of USMCA in press releases, the fact remains that there is still work to do for Montana's wheat farmers, concluded Tester. That's why I ask that you immediately work to remedy the grain grading discrepancy, rather than tout USMCA as an untarnished success.\nTester has been an outspoken critic of President Trump's trade war and has pushed to hold the Administration accountable by passing legislation to give Congress a role in imposing tariffs. He has heard about the impact of these tariffs firsthand, holding in-person listening sessions with Montana farmers, ranchers, and small business owners about the consequences of the trade war.\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=7825", "Tester Statement on Supreme Court Vote [press_release]", "2020-10-25", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Supreme Court Vote \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 procedural vote to begin debate on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett:\n Montanans are already voting in this election, and I believe it is deeply irresponsible to ram a partisan nomination through in the final days before polls closea precedent my Republican colleagues established four years ago and are breaking now. With health coverage for 120 million Americans with pre-existing conditions soon to be decided by the Court, I cannot support Judge Barrett's nomination because I do not believe we should be confirming a Supreme Court Justice, no matter who that is, before the American people have a chance to make their voices heard. \n  \nSenator Tester repeatedly requested a meeting with Judge Barrett before making his decision on her nomination. This meeting is customarily offered to all Senators. The White House did not make Barrett available for a phone call or meeting with Senator Tester.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7823", "Tester Leads 30 Senators Urging VA to Follow Through on Promises Under Administrations 2018 Executive Order to End Veteran Suicide Epidemic [press_release]", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following the historic signing of his landmark Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act this week, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is leading 30 colleagues in a push for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to follow through on authorities under President Donald Trump's Executive Order (EO) 13822 to increase veterans' access to mental health care.\nThe Senators also urged the Administration to aggressively implement critical provisions and new authorities under the law to provide more veterans with the mental health resources they need and earned.\nMore than 6,000 veterans die by suicide annually, and each loss of life is immeasurable, Tester and his colleagues wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. Congress has done its part by providing consistent and robust resources for VA's mental health budget and developing and passing comprehensive veterans' mental health care legislation, most recently the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act. Hopefully the issuance of EO 13822 was more than a hollow press opportunity by the Administration, and we can expect it to do right by our nation's military and veterans by fully implementing the EO and all laws passed by Congress focused on mental health and suicide prevention.\nIn parallel with Congress' effort to end the veteran suicide epidemic, President Donald Trump signed EO 13822 on January 9, 2018, promising to make significant changes to improve the transition experience and connect servicemembers to mental health resources. Howeveralmost three years after the EO was signedVA failed to complete critical authorities under this order.\nThe members highlighted, At the EO signing, Secretary Shulkin stated this expanded mental health care benefit would be available by March 9, 2018. However, almost three years later, the Department has not increased access to mental health care, leaving up to 60 percent of newly transitioned servicemembers without access to life-saving care. Also troubling, the Joint Action Plan for implementing EO 13822 contains no references or commitments to providing transitioning servicemembers with this one year of mental health care. When can veterans expect to receive access to the essential mental health care promised to them by the Trump Administration? \nTester has been leading the charge in Congress to connect our nation's servicemembers and veterans with mental health resources to heal invisible wounds of war following their service. As Ranking Member, he introduced bipartisan legislation last Congress to bolster VA's mental health workforce and increase rural veterans' access to care, while expanding veterans' access to alternative and local treatment options like animal therapy, outdoor sports and activities, yoga, and acupuncture. President Trump signed Tester's monumental bill into law this past week.\nA copy of the Members' 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=7824", "After Years of Working to Expand Tribal Broadband, Tester Announces FCC Approval of Montana Tribes Spectrum Licenses [press_release]", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Request not Accepted - Security Risk Detected\n                    \n                    \n                \n                \n                Request not Accepted\r\n\n  \r\n                   \r\nYour submitted request contained a potential security risk.\r\n\r\nPlease try your submission again using natively composed plain text (not copied and pasted from another document), with few or no hyperlinks, or other syntax that may be interpreted as computer code (examples: '--', '&').\r\n\r\n*As stated in the privacy policy, unauthorized attempts to upload or change information are strictly prohibited.\r\n\r\n  \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n                            \nBrowse contact information for all current senators.\n\r\n                            \r\n                            \nFind Senators by State: \r\n                            \r\n                            \r\n                            \nSearch Senate.gov: \r\n                                                      \r\n                            \r\n                            \nContact: E-mail webmaster@sec.senate.gov to report a broken link, ask technical questions, or provide feedback on www.senate.gov.  For all other correspondence contact your senators. \r\n                            *NOTE: Please do not ask the webmaster to forward mail to senators' offices.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7821", "Tester Introduces Legislation to Block William Pendleys Illegal Leadership at BLM: dont tread on our public lands [press_release]", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following William Perry Pendley's refusal to follow direct orders from a Federal District Court Judge to vacate his position as de facto Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Senator Jon Tester today introduced legislation to put the matter to rest permanently by barring the Department of Justice from appealing Pendley's case.\nMontanans have known since day one that William Perry Pendley is nothing more than an unelected Washington bureaucrat who is willing to break the law to sell off our public lands, said Tester. Now he's ignoring a court order and thumbing his nose at the Constitution, so I'm introducing legislation that will put an end to this executive overreach and make sure he can't continue in his illegal role leading the BLM. Pendley, you aren't a kingdon't tread on our public lands.\nTester's Public Lands Leadership Act, which is cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), would prohibit the Department of Justice from defending Pendley in Bullock v. United States Bureau of Land Management, the lawsuit brought by Montana Governor Steve Bullock. Last month, Judge Brian Morris of the Federal District Court of Montana ruled in favor of Governor Bullock, ordering Pendley to be removed as Acting Director of BLM, and he issued a second ruling earlier this week invalidating three land-use plan revisions in Montana because they were approved under Pendley's illegal tenure.\nThe Department of Interior has indicated they intend to appeal the rulings and Pendley has claimed that the ruling will not affect his role at BLM.\nTester has led the charge against Pendley since he was first installed at BLM in August 2019. Before Pendley's nomination to lead BLM was rescinded, Tester 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.\nImmediately after his appointment 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.\nPendley previously ran the anti-public lands group Mountain States Legal Foundation, served as counsel for Solenex LLC, the firm seeking to restore illegally-issued drilling leases in the sacred Badger-Two Medicine Area, and has encouraged armed standoffs between federal law enforcement officials and ranchers.\nText of the Public Lands Leadership 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=7819", "Tester Statement on U.S. Court Decision Striking Down USDA Rule that would Rip Nutrition Assistance from 700,000 Americans [press_release]", "2020-10-20", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on U.S. Court Decision Striking Down USDA Rule that would Rip Nutrition Assistance from 700,000 Americans \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 opposed Trump Administration proposal that would deny SNAP benefits to low-income Montanans \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 more than a year of efforts to get the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to drop a proposed rule that would have kicked 700,000 low-income Americans off of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement on a recent U.S. District Court ruling striking down the proposal:\n I've said it from the beginning, the Trump Administration's proposal to drastically cut SNAP benefits for low-income Montanans is cruel and unnecessary. Instead of trying to strip away what little help folks get to keep food on the table, USDA should be working to improve nutrition assistance programs so that no family has to worry about where their next meal is coming from, especially during a pandemic. This ruling is great news for hundreds of thousands of Americans who can rest easier knowing that they have a safety net if they need it. \n  \nOn Sunday, U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled against USDA regarding the proposed rule that would make it more difficult for states to provide SNAP benefits to Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) in areas with high unemployment or low job opportunity. Testerwith the support of the Montana Food Bank Networkhas been sounding the alarm on the rule since March of 2019, demanding that USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue reverse course.\nThe USDA rule would specifically make it more difficult for states to waive working requirements for ABAWDs and also limit a state's discretion in granting waivers in areas with low job opportunity. The individuals who would no longer receive benefits are usually among the lowest income.\nTester has long been a champion in the fight against hunger in Montana. He recently secured extended SNAP benefits for Montanans during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he slammed a Trump Administration decision last year to rip critical food aid from millions of American families. He also is backing two bipartisan bills that would increase availability for kids to receive meals in the summer through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in rural areas that are consistently underserved.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7818", "Tester on unacceptable Empire Builder Cuts: Amtrak Needs to Give Montanans clear answers [press_release]", "2020-10-19", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement as Amtrak's cuts in service to the Empire Builder line, which crosses the entire state of Montana along the Hi-Line, go into effect today. Those cuts reduce the number of trains running along the route from seven days a week to three.\n I've been sounding the alarm for months that this reduction in service will be devastating to Hi-Line communities, economies, and families who use the train to visit family across the country. It's unacceptable, and I will be pushing Amtrak for clear answers about why they're cutting service and when it will be returned during my oversight hearing in the Commerce Committee on Wednesday. \n  \nTester's Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing on Amtrak will be held on Wednesday, October 21st at 8am MT. Havre's Paul Tuss, Executive Director of Bear Paw Development Corporation, will testify before the panel.\nTester personally requested the hearing in a letter sent to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) earlier this year, urging them to listen to community members who have been devastated due to service cuts, low ridership, and decreased revenue. The hearing will discuss the oversight of funding allocated to Amtrak in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the future of long-distance rail services across the country.\nAmtrak operates 15 long-distance routes in 47 states across the country, connecting rural and urban centers and providing inter-state mobility to underserved communities and populations. Earlier this year, Amtrak announced that it would cut jobs and reduce service in rural communities on the Empire Builder Long-Distance Line beginning in October, which includes 12 stations along the Montana Hi-Line that served 121,429 passengers who boarded or disembarked in the state in 2019.\nRead Tester's letter to Senate Commerce Committee leadership HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7817", "Testers Groundbreaking Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bill Signed into Law [press_release]", "2020-10-17", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester's landmark Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, legislation to improve veterans' access to mental health care and named for a Montana veteran, was signed into law today by President Donald Trump.\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester introduced his bipartisan bill last Congress alongside Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) and the Hannon family, to bolster the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) mental health workforce and increase rural veterans' access to care, while expanding veterans' access to alternative and local treatment options like animal therapy, outdoor sports and activities, yoga, and acupuncture.\nThis is a historic day for veterans across the country who will now have better access to live-saving mental health services, said Ranking Member Tester. This new law combines the best ideas from veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, the VA, and mental health care advocates to deliver innovative solutions that'll help heal invisible wounds of war through increased access to care, alternate therapies and local treatment options. I couldn't be prouder to have worked alongside the Hannon family and Chairman Moran to successfully push for this monumental bill to become law. Together, we are following through on our commitment to supporting our nation's heroes, making sure that no veteran falls through the cracks. \nMany of our veterans are suffering from daunting, sometimes overwhelming mental health challenges, that have only been made worse by this pandemic, and lack access to modern, effective and compassionate mental health care and suicide prevention services, said Chairman Moran. Today, President Trump signed into law the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act that will reform mental health care at the VA by hiring and training more professionals in this field, developing innovative methods to reach veterans with care, and establishing a grant program to better collaborate with community organizations across the country already serving veterans. This is a significant day for veterans, and I am grateful to Ranking Member Jon Tester, President Trump and many of my colleagues for working tirelessly this Congress to get this landmark bill signed into law and improve suicide prevention research, services and programs for our nation's veterans.\nThis law honors the legacy of Commander John Scott Hannon, a member of the Navy SEALs who served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years. Scott Hannon retired to Montana where he received treatment for his invisible wounds of war while helping other veterans find their own paths to recovery. Scott died by suicide on February 25, 2018.\nThis is a very proud moment for my brother and our entire family, as we celebrate the landmark signing of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act into law, said Kim Parrott, John Scott's sister, on behalf of the Hannon family. This law will provide veterans greater and earlier access to the mental health care they need by requiring the DOD and VA to work together to bridge the transition between military service and civilian life and conduct research in evidence-based treatments. This has been a long journey shepherded by the shared vision and leadership of both Senators Tester and Moran, and my family thanks them and the many others who worked tirelessly to make this law a reality. Not only will veterans benefit from this work, so will their families and communities.\nIt is estimated that more than 20 veterans die by suicide every day. Of those, 14 have received no treatment or care from VA. The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act will improve outreach to veterans and their mental health care options in six major ways:\n \nBolstering VA's mental health workforce to serve more veterans by offering scholarships to mental health professionals to work at Vet Centers, and placing at least one Suicide Prevention Coordinator in every VA hospital.\nImproving rural veterans' access to mental health care by increasing the number of locations at which veterans can access VA telehealth services. \nImplementing a pilot program to provide veterans access to complementary and integrative health programs through animal therapy, agritherapy, sports and recreation therapy, art therapy and post-traumatic growth. \nEstablishing a grant program that requires VA to better collaborate with community organizations across the country already serving veterans. This collaboration will result in earlier identification of veterans who are at risk of suicide and will provide the ability to intervene with preventative services. \nStudying the impact of living at high altitude on veterans' suicide risk and diagnostic biomarker research to identify depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and other conditions. \nHolding the VA accountable for its mental health care and suicide prevention efforts by examining how the Department manages its suicide prevention resources.\n \n\"We started working on this legislation with Senator Tester and Senator Moran's staff two years ago, said Matt Kuntz, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Montana. It's been a remarkable journey to get to this point, and I look forward to seeing the critical efforts laid out in this legislation to help our nation's heroes get the right care at the right time for their mental health conditions. NAMI is deeply grateful to Congress and the President for putting this bill into law and in naming it after Commander Hannon, a dear friend and ally.\"\n\"On behalf of IAVA, I offer our strongest congratulations to Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Tester on the occasion of President Trump signing into law the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act,\" said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America CEO Jeremy Butler. \"Battling veteran and military suicide has been, and remains, a very personal priority for our organization, and we greatly appreciate the incredibly bipartisan response to this national crisis. Time and again, we are proud of the work that you do to rise above partisanship on behalf of our community.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7816", "Tester Secures $7.5 Million for Veterans and Family Courts, Drug Treatment and Prevention [press_release]", "2020-10-16", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $7,557,781 million in Department of Justice grants for drug treatment and prevention programs as well as treatment courts across Montana to help support victims of crime and folks struggling with addiction.\n\"The simple fact is that we have to do more to support all Montanans who are struggling with addiction or who have become involved in the criminal justice system,\" said Tester. \"These funds will provide folks from Missoula to Northern Cheyenne with resources to get back on their feet, and I'll keep fighting in Washington to make sure these programs continue to receive the investments they need to succeed\"\nTester secured investments in the following programs:\nComprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-Based Programs \tCity of Billings: $900,000  \tLewis & Clark County: $600,000\nAdult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Programs  \tJudiciary Courts Of The State Of Montana: $1,352,572  \tMissoula County: $403,039   \tCascade County's 8th District Court: $498,105   \tChippewa Cree Tribe (Rocky Boy): $434,332   \tThe City And County Of Butte-Silver Bow: $498,450  \tNorthern Cheyenne Tribe: $484,314\nTribal Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program\tChippewa Cree Tribe (Rocky Boy): $600,000\nFamily Drug Court Program\tJudiciary Courts Of The State Of Montana: $614,453\nResidential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program\tMontana Board of Crime Control: $172,516\nDelinquency Prevention Program\tBoard of Crime Control: $1,000,000\nSenator Tester is a longtime champion of treatment courts. President Trump signed his Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act in 2018, allowing for the hiring of 50 additional Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists across the nation to work with Veterans Treatment Courts and help provide timely access to VA services.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7814", "Tester Delivers $10.8 Million to Expand High-Speed Internet in Rural Montana [press_release]", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hundreds of rural Montana families are slated to receive improved access to high-speed internet, thanks to a $10,890,338 grant and loan secured by U.S. Senator Jon Tester through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ReConnect Program.\nIt doesn't matter where you livehigh-speed internet is critical in the 21st century, said Tester. These funds will help give folks in south-central Montana the tools to stay connected, provide new opportunities for families, schools, and businesses, and bring us one step closer to closing the digital divide.\nThe funding will be awarded to Project Telephone Company to create or upgrade broadband infrastructure, improving network connections for 943 households, 160 farms, and 67 businesses in Big Horn, Stillwater, and Carbon counties through a 50 percent grant and 50 percent loan package from the USDA ReConnect Program.\nSenator Tester was the only member of the Montana delegation to vote for the ReConnect Program when it was approved in 2018. In March, Senator Tester negotiated an additional $100 million for the ReConnect Program in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.\nAs a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and working farmer in an area with limited cell service, Tester has led the charge to force broadband providers to fix inaccurate coverage maps through his Broadband DATA Act.  He recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would compensate broadband providers for giving free or discounted services and upgrades to low-income families in rural areas, and he joined a bipartisan call to establish better access to telephone-based health care for Montanans without internet connectivity.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7815", "Tester Pushes for his Seeding Rural Resilience Act to Become Law as Part of Must-Pass Annual Defense Bill [press_release]", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the crisis of farmer suicide continues to rise in rural America amid poor economic conditions, ongoing trade wars, severe weather, and now the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today demanded that the House and Senate Armed Services Committees ensure that his bipartisan Seeding Rural Resilience Actwhich would provide tools to rural communities to prevent suicideis included as part of the final must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\nEarlier this year, Tester's bill was included in both the House and Senate versions of NDAA and both chambers must now work to reconcile differences between the two before it can be signed into law. In a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Committee leadership, Tester stressed the need for his bill, demanding that it remain part of the final NDAA that moves forward to the President's desk.\nIt is essential that Congress support folks in production agriculture, especially as they face uncertainty due to weather, trade, and COVID-19, wrote Tester. While this bill is not a silver bullet in solving the mental health crisis in rural America, it provides important investments for the well-being of folks in farm country. We need to ensure that producers have the resources they need to weather this storm so that they can continue to do what they do bestfeeding the world.\nTester continued: By retaining these critical measures in a conference agreement, Congress can support farm and ranch mental health during a trying time, and broadly continue to support global food security.\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate is 45 percent higher in rural America than in urban areas, and Montana already has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Americans in rural communities deal with substantial isolation, significant travel times for basic health services, lack of broadband access that would enable telehealth services, and stigmas against receiving counseling.\nIn addition, financial burdens caused by the Trump Administration's trade war have resulted in even more stress for American farmers and ranchers, making life tougher for those trying to make a living in rural communities.\nThe Seeding Rural Resilience Act creates three initiatives aimed at curbing the growing rate of suicides in rural America:\n \nImplements a Farmer-Facing Employee Training Program that requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide voluntary stress management training to Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and National Resources Conservation Service Employees.\nForms a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services and USDA to create a $3 million public service announcement campaign to increase public awareness of farm and ranch stress and destigmatize mental health care in rural communities.\nDirects the Secretary of Agriculture to work with state, local and nongovernmental stakeholders to collaborate and determine best practices for responding to farm and ranch mental stress.\n \nRead Tester's letter to the Armed Services Committees HERE.\nAnyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK, or 1-800-273-8255.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7813", "Tester Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Undermining Census Count in Montana [press_release]", "2020-10-14", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration could end the 2020 Census count before the October 31 deadline, potentially resulting in an undercount in Montana:\n This is a disappointing act of judicial activism from the Supreme Court, which will allow this Administration to undermine the Census and disadvantage Montanans and rural America for the next decade. Every Montanan needs to be counted because funding for our schools, hospitals, emergency serviceseven a second congressional seathangs in the balance. Congress must step in and prevent this abuse of executive power by passing my bipartisan legislation to give the Census Bureau more time to do its job, and I urge Senator McConnell to stop blocking this bill and work with me to get it done. \n\nSenator Tester's bipartisan 2020 Census Extension Act would extend two key statutory deadlines for the 2020 Census and require the Census Bureau to continue field operations through October 31, 2020.\nAdditionally, last week Senator Tester, Montana Governor Steve Bullock, and Montana Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney urged U.S. Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham to follow a U.S. District Court ruling ordering the Trump Administration to halt its attempts to end Census operations early. They also insisted that Dillingham immediately conduct Tribal consultation on Census data processing to ensure accurate and quality results in Indian Country.\nCurrently, Montana ranks 45th among states in its overall response rate, and delays in operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the decision to end field operations early could result in a severe undercount of the populationparticularly in the state's Native American, minority, and rural communities. If Montana is unable to complete a full and accurate count, the state risks losing access to funding for education, infrastructure, hospitals, and emergency services, in addition to an additional seat in the U.S. Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7812", "Tester, Takano Demand Answers on Politicization of VA and Potential Hatch Act Violations [press_release]", "2020-10-13", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) are expressing serious concerns over the increasing politicization of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)including the potential misuse of taxpayer funds and other government assets, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, in an effort to benefit the reelection of President Trump and certain Republican candidates seeking office in 2020.\nLeaders at VA have historically risen above partisan politics, the members wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. Unfortunately, our review of publicly available information, media reports, social media postings, and other data suggests that the travel, events, and other related official actions of VA senior leaders are steering the Department away from its apolitical mission and potentially using Department resources in an attempt to tip the scale in favor of the President and other Republican candidates. Furthermore, efforts to engage in overtly political activity may have come at the expense of legitimate functions of the Department's missionto provide health care, benefits, and memorial services to our nation's veterans, as well as care for their families. This mission should bring together Americans and all elected officials, rather than divide us along party lines.\nThe Hatch Act, relevant regulations, Office of Special Counsel (OSC) advisories, and VA policies lay out distinct rules and guidelines to prohibit senior government officials from misusing taxpayer funds to inappropriately influence elections. In their letter, Tester and Takano cited numerous examples of senior leaders at VA appearing to use the power, reach, and resources of the Department to inappropriately involve themselves in political campaigns to benefit the President and his supporters in Congress. This includes visits and events in key Presidential or 2020 U.S. Senate battleground states such as Ohio, South Carolina, North Carolina, Michigan, Montana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maine, Arizona, Kentucky, and Florida.\nThe members continued, OSC lays out a series of 12 non-exhaustive guidelines for agencies to use when deciding the appropriateness of events and whether they are political in nature. Therefore, the sequence and origin of each event or trip, and the related ethics reviews and other oversight activities taken by the Department in advance of each trip, are critical to our understanding of how VA applied the appropriate rules and whether taxpayers financed the trips or events. Past Administrations, under the tenure of presidents of both parties, have had to comply with these laws and rules. VA and its leadership does not get a pass and must be held accountable.\nTester and Takano also noted concerns that in 2020, the Department actively prevented Democratic Members of the House and Senate from visiting their local VA facilities to conduct meetings with local VA employees and administrators while making exceptions for Republican Members. The members went on to highlight VA's inconsistent and possibly politically-motivated efforts to block Members of Congress from conducting oversight and fulfilling their legislative dutiesan unacceptable violation of the law.\nThe Democratic leaders of the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees' letter requests detailed information from the Secretary, including internal e-mails, documents, financial records, communications with the White House and other materials regarding his and other VA officials' travel and events in the months and weeks leading up to the upcoming November 3 election in order to determine the extent and degree of the possible violations of the Hatch Act, OSC guidelines, and VA's own policies.\nA copy of the members' 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=7809", "Tester, Bullock, Cooney Push Census Chief to Follow Federal Judges Ruling Reinstating October 31st Deadline [press_release]", "2020-10-09", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With funding for schools, roads, hospitals, and an additional seat in Congress hanging in the balance, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Montana Governor Steve Bullock, and Montana Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney this week urged U.S. Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham to uphold a U.S. District Court ruling ordering the Trump Administration to halt its attempts to end Census operations early.\nThe ruling extended the deadline to October 31st, 2020the end date planned at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemicafter the President attempted to end operations on September 30th. Tester, Bullock, and Cooney are demanding that Dillingham adhere to the rule of law and observe the ruling to ensure that every Montanan is able to get counted, even though the Trump Administration unsuccessfully appealed the extension in the 9th Circuit Court earlier this week and has appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.\nCensus data is the basis for distributing funding to our schools, hospitals, emergency services and 300 critical programs. It is essential that the U.S. Census Bureau continues field operations until the end of October and meets their Constitutional obligation to get an accurate count, wrote Tester, Bullock, and Cooney. After three decades of waiting, the 2020 Census could result in Montana regaining a second representative in Congress, bringing more Montana common sense to Washington.  Right now, Montana's response rate lags behind most of the country.\nTester, Bullock, and Cooney continued: As the Trump Administration attempts to derail the 2020 Census in our judicial system, it is critical that the Census Bureau utilizes this last month of field operations to procure an accurate count.\nTester, Bullock, and Cooney also want to ensure that the Census Bureau is able to meet its statutory deadline requiring them to collect, process, and deliver the 2020 Census to the President by December 31st and are insisting that Dillingham immediately conduct Tribal consultation on Census data processing to ensure accurate and quality results in Indian Country.\nCurrently, Montana ranks 45th among states in its overall response rate, and delays in operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the decision to end field operations early could result in a severe undercount of the populationparticularly in the state's Native American, minority, and rural communities. If Montana is unable to complete a full and accurate count, the state risks losing access to funding for education, infrastructure, hospitals, and emergency services, in addition to an additional seat in the U.S. Congress.\nRead Tester, Bullock, and Cooney's full letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7811", "Following Tester Demands, Farm Service Agency Promises Relief Details for Montana Farmers Facing Quality Losses [press_release]", "2020-10-09", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following an aggressive push last week by U.S. Senator Jon Tester to secure answers for Northeastern Montana farmers who have waited nearly a year for disaster relief for last year's quality losses, Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce today announced that FSA will soon provide details about how they can apply for relief.\nBetter late than never, but when it comes to providing relief to Northeastern Montana farmers who have been waiting nearly a year for FSA to get its act together, this is unacceptable, said Tester. I shouldn't have to hold FSA's feet to the fire just to get them to follow the law and do right by folks in production ag, but you better believe I'm keeping the coals hot and ready so Montana farmers don't get left out in the cold. Disaster relief needs to make it into the pockets of these producers immediatelyno more delays.\nLate last week, Senator Tester blasted the USDA in a letter to FSA Administrator Fordyce for delaying payments to Montana farmers for more than a year and demanded answers about when Montanans could expect payments.\nWhat is the latest date that Montana farmers should expect payments from the WHIP+ program related to 2019 quality loss, excessive moisture, or drought? Tester wrote. I am disappointed in Farm Service Agency's inability to administer this program as Congress intended, and deliver WHIP+ payments to producers impacted by excessive moisture. I look forward to receiving your action plan as to how FSA can correct this situation for Montana farmers, and ensure that going forward WHIP+ does not experience a one-year delay before paying producers.\nSince September 2019, Tester has been fighting to get relief for producers in Eastern Montana facing quality losses due to excessive rain and flooding in the region, and he repeatedly pushed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to use his authority to support these farmers through the existing WHIP+ guidelines. When Secretary Perdue refused, Tester used the 2019 omnibus appropriations bill to expand the WHIP+ program to include quality loss, drought, and excessive moisture and increased its funding by $1.5 billion to cover the new categories.\nTester was the only member of Montana's delegation to vote for the legislation containing the fix.\nFollowing Tester's fix, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a disaster declaration for 17 Montana counties, including Cascade, Chouteau, Pondera, Glacier, Teton, Dawson, Prairie, Toole, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Wibaux, Daniels, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, and Valley. The FSA opened signup for disaster assistance on March 23, 2020 for producers to apply for eligible losses of drought (D3 or above) and excessive moisture, but this sign-up did not include folks who faced quality losses.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7808", "Tester Statement on President Trump Walking Away From Additional COVID Relief Negotiations [press_release]", "2020-10-08", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on President Trump Walking Away From Additional COVID Relief Negotiations \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 Trump's refusal to continue negotiations on an additional COVID-19 stimulus package until after the 2020 election:\n I'm deeply disappointed that President Trump called off bipartisan negotiations aimed at providing relief to hundreds of thousands of Montanans who have been hit hard by the pandemic. Since March, I have repeatedly urged Senator McConnell and my Republican colleagues to come to the table and work with me on a bipartisan package that will provide critical support to Montana workers, small businesses, and frontline health care workers. Montanans expect us to hammer out our differences and find commonsense solutions that help hardworking families across our state. \n  \nSince the beginning of the pandemic, Tester has been in constant communication with Montanans from every corner of the state and has used that input to help push for a bipartisan package that focuses on supporting workers and small businesses. Since the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act this spring, Tester has been pushing Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle to work together to craft a targeted bipartisan coronavirus relief package that will provide support to Montanans that need it most.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7807", "Tester, Colleagues: VA Must Take a proactive role in Ensuring Quality Care at State Veterans Homes [press_release]", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following cases of horrific negligence at State Veterans Homes nationwide, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is leading a group of colleagues in calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to step up its monitoring and support of these long-term care facilities, to better protect the health and lives of veteransespecially during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nAs the nation's largest integrated health care system, the Department of Veterans Affairs should commit to taking a more proactive role in protecting the health and lives of all veterans in nursing homes, especially those who reside in State Veterans Homes, Tester and his colleagues wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. These nursing homes have been the site of many deadly outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. While operated by the states, VA has legal authority from the CARES Act to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), supplies, and assistance to State Veterans Homes, and should play an active role in supporting those facilities for the sake of veterans who rely on them for care. VA also has a duty to oversee the quality of care at State Veterans Homes.\nFor months, State Veterans Homes have been particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, often lacking the infection control expertise, staffing, and PPE to appropriately respond to this deadly virus. The most glaring example of this negligence has been at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Massachusetts, which resulted in the deaths of 76 veterans. In the last few weeks, two former leaders of the Holyoke home were indicted on charges of criminal neglect and serious bodily injury resulting from the outbreak. Months after the Holyoke outbreak, VA officials found similar health and safety risks for veterans at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, Hawaii.\nThe Senators continued, Veterans and their families should be able to count on the Department to monitor the quality of care at State Veterans Homes, especially during this deadly pandemic when residents are most vulnerable. We ask that you take swift action to assess the needs of State Veterans Homes and work with the states to provide assistance to keep veterans and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.\nTester has fought tirelessly to ensure that veterans and the staff who provide their care have better access to life-saving supplies during the pandemic. After voting to deliver nearly $20 billion to strengthen the VA's response to COVID-19, Tester called on VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to implement key provisions under Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide supplies to State Veterans Homes. He demanded VA proactively share PPE with veterans and employees at these facilities, and with home health care workers. Ranking Member Tester also joined his Republican counterpart on the Committee in sending a letter urging Secretary Wilkie to improve COVID-19 oversight and support, such as conducting spot checks to monitor State Veterans Homes' coronavirus response and provide assistance through VA nursing home support teams.\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=7806", "Tester Urges VA Secretary to take a serious interest in Addressing Challenges Facing Montana Veterans, Following Visit This Week [press_release]", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take a serious interest in addressing longstanding issues to better support veterans and their families across Montanaespecially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Tester's request follows VA Secretary Robert Wilkie's visit to the Treasure State earlier this week.\nOn the heels of your recent trip to Montana, I respectfully request your plan to resolve various issues of access to care and benefits that are most pressing to Montana veterans and their families, Tester, the Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, wrote to Secretary Wilkie. And given your lack of direct engagement with Montana veterans during your trip, I would like to relay some of the firsthand accounts of the current challenges facing these folks so the Department of Veterans Affairs is better prepared to meet their needs. Particularly during this pandemic, it is vital that veterans feel their concerns are not only heard, but also addressed by VA. And while some of these issues preceded COVID-19, many have been aggravated by this global health crisis and need your immediate attention.\nAs the only member of the Montana delegation to serve on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester has been a longtime champion for securing benefits and care for veterans and their families. In his letter, Tester outlined the following six areas in need of immediate attention from VA to better meet the needs of Montanans who served:\n \nUnreasonable Wait Times for VA and Community Care for Veterans- Wait times for VA care and community care facilitated through the Montana VA Health Care System continue to be a chief concern among veterans across the state. Tester is pushing VA to address these exceedingly long wait times, as well as the unacceptable wait times for inpatient treatment for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder. \nStaffing- According to the July 2020 VA Montana clinical vacancy report, the issue of long-term, unfilled HUD-VASH staffing vacancies remains a consistent problem that has gone largely unaddressed. These vouchers are especially vital during this pandemic as they provide socially-distant and quarantine-ready housing for a population particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Tester is urging VA to improve HUD-VASH caseworker hiring in Montana, and fill long-standing vacancies throughout the Department. \nGrowing Claims Backlog- The Department recently eliminated the 48-hour review rule and removed Disability Benefits Questionnaires from its website despite protests from veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, and Congress, greatly reducing the voice veterans and their representatives have before a final decision is rendered on a claim. Tester is doubling down on his effort for VA to account for the errors in claims that will arise as a result of limiting veterans and their advocates' access to a pre-decisional claim and reduce the current pending claims backlog. \nCOVID-19 Response- As the winter months approach, it is vital that VA facilities in Montana and around the country are prepared to address not only COVID-19, but also the flu. Tester is pressing VA to outline its plan to provide critical Personal Protective Equipment to staff, patients, and veterans in Montanain light of an already strained supply chain. Tester is also demanding information from VA on racial or ethnic health disparities in COVID-19, including death rates among veterans. \nLack of Transparency with Veterans and VSOs- VA continues to fall short in certain areas of transparency and clear communication to veterans, their families, and their advocates, especially over the last few months regarding issues that have brought a great deal of stress and uncertainty to Montana veterans in an already unsettling time. Tester is urging VA to increase communication with CHAMPVA beneficiaries regarding eligibility requirements and warnings regarding the potential loss of eligibility.\nToxic Exposure related to Agent Orange- More than forty percent of Montana's veterans served in the Vietnam Era, many of them suffering from illnesses scientifically proven to be connected to toxic exposure during the war. Tester is continuing his longtime push for VA to add Bladder Cancer, Hypertension, and Parkinsonism to the Agent Orange presumptive list, providing earned benefits and care to this veteran population. \n \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=7803", "Montana producers are still waiting for Last Seasons Disaster Relief, Tester Tells Farm Service Agency [press_release]", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Northeastern Montana farmers who were hit hard by crop losses last year due to excessive moisture still have not received disaster relief funds, and U.S. Senator Jon Testerwho secured an expansion of the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to cover these farmers and increased funding for the program by $1.5 billion to pay for itis taking the Trump Administration to task for the nearly 12-month delay.\nIt is absolutely unacceptable that nearly a year after securing this fix, I am hearing from Montana farmers that they are still waiting for payments, wrote Tester in a letter to Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce.\nWhat is the latest date that Montana farmers should expect payments from the WHIP+ program related to 2019 quality loss, excessive moisture, or drought? I am disappointed in Farm Service Agency's inability to administer this program as Congress intended, and deliver WHIP+ payments to producers impacted by excessive moisture. I look forward to receiving your action plan as to how FSA can correct this situation for Montana farmers, and ensure that going forward WHIP+ does not experience a one-year delay before paying producers.\nSince September 2019, Tester has been fighting to get relief for producers in Eastern Montana facing quality losses due to excessive rain and flooding in the region, and he repeatedly pushed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to use his authority to support these farmers through the existing WHIP+ guidelines. When Secretary Perdue refused, Tester used the 2019 omnibus appropriations bill to expand the WHIP+ program to include quality loss, drought, and excessive moisture and increased its funding by $1.5 billion to cover the new categories.\nTester was the only member of Montana's delegation to vote for the legislation containing the fix.\nFollowing Tester's fix, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a disaster declaration for 17 Montana counties, including Cascade, Chouteau, Pondera, Glacier, Teton, Dawson, Prairie, Toole, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Wibaux, Daniels, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, and Valley. The FSA opened signup for disaster assistance on March 23, 2020 for producers to apply for eligible losses of drought (D3 or above) and excessive moisture. However, this money has been slow to make it to farmers, if it has made it to them at all.\nAs the only working farmer in the U.S. Senate, Tester has been a champion for farmers and ranchers across the country. Earlier this year, he attached his Seeding Rural Resilience Act, which will help combat rising rates of farmer suicide, to the must pass National Defense Authorization Act. Additionally, the Trump Administration recently adopted his Restoring Rural Residencies Act into a rule change to bring more medical professionals into rural hospitals.\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=7804", "Tester Secures $9.3 Million for Montana Tribal Justice Programs [press_release]", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $9,362,160 in Department of Justice (DOJ) funds for Tribal Justice Programs across Montana.\nThe federal government has a responsibility to ensure that folks in Indian Country are safe and that victims of crime have the resources they need to get back on their feet, said Tester. This funding will help make sure we honor that commitment to Montana's Tribal nations, but we have to do more. I'm going to keep pushing folks in Washington to keep Native communities front and center when it comes to providing resources for Tribal justice and public safety programs, and combating the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis.\nThe funds will be awarded to six Montana Tribes as well as to the University of Montana and the Montana Legal Services Association for a range of Tribal justice and victims services programs, including:\nConfederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes:\n \n$393,597 for Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts \n$742,865 for Tribal Justice Systems \n$145,205 for Comprehensive Tribal Justice Systems Strategic Planning \n$879,900 for Tribal Justice System Infrastructure Program \n$438,209 for the Tribe's Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating \n \nViolence and Stalking program\n \n$655,623 for the Victims' Assistance Program from the Office of Violence Against Women\n \nFort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes:\n \n$778,016 for victims' services through the Tribal Crime Victims Fund \n$416,030 for truancy prevention and intervention services that promote school attendance\n \nBlackfeet Tribe:\n \n$1,188,088 for Tribal Victim Services to extend services to include men and their families, elders and LGBQ victims\n \nChippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy Reservation:\n \n$478,311 for Tribal Victim Services\n \nFort Belknap Indian Community:\n \n$694,698 for Tribal Victims Services to improve the mental, physical, and spiritual health of individuals, families, and the community by improving services to victims of crime and their families.\n \nCrow Tribe: \n \n$898,003 for Crime Victims Fund for Tribal Victim Services\n \nMontana Legal Services Association:\n \n$150,000 for criminal legal assistance for Tribes\n$150,000 for civil legal assistance for Tribes\n \nUniversity of Montana:\n \n$1,000,000 for training and technical assistance to expand Children's Advocacy Centers that service American Indian and Alaska Native communities\n \nMontana Native Women's Coalition:\n \n$353,615 for training and technical assistance to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault programs\n \nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations and Indian Affairs Committees, Tester is committed to standing up for Tribal sovereignty, providing funding for Tribal justice programs, and increasing public safety in Indian County.  He secured a five-percent Crime Victim Fund set-aside for Tribes, providing resources to help prosecute criminals and assist survivors of violent crimes, and introduced the SURVIVE Act to make the set-aside permanent.   He is also pushing Leader McConnell to pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, which would strengthen Tribal justice systems and expand Tribal jurisdiction over domestic violence crimes and crimes against children and Tribal law enforcement officers.\nTester has relentlessly pushed for his bipartisan legislation Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act, which he originally introduced in 2017 and 2019 respectively, signed into law. These bills will address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis by bolstering data collection and information sharing between Tribes and law enforcement agencies and strengthening violent crime prevention efforts on Tribal lands. The bills have passed both the House and the Senate, and now await the President's signature.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7800", "Tester Goes to Bat for Rural Baseball Fans, Presses MLB to Play Ball on New Pioneer League Contract [press_release]", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, as the agreement that has kept professional baseball in play across Montana reaches its expiration date, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is pressing Major League Baseball (MLB) officials to step up to the plate and commit to preserving the Pioneer League.\nIn a letter to MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, Tester is urging MLB to negotiate a new contract with Minor League Baseball (MiLB) that maintains and expands the Pioneer League in Montana, outlining the positive impact of Montana's minor league teams on their communities and local economies.\nI hear from local officials in my state about the heartbreak the absence of the Pioneer League could have on their communities' fans and businesses, Tester wrote. I strongly believe the future of MLB will also be harmed by pulling out of rural states like Montana.  A baseball fan pays the same amount for an MLB.TV subscription whether they live in Manhattan, Montana or Manhattan, New York. MLB should not walk away from its rural fans.\nThe Professional Baseball Agreement between MLB and minor league teams expires September 30, 2020, potentially signaling the end of professional baseball in Montana. Last fall, MLB stated their intention to restructure the minor league system, leading to a proposal that would eliminate more than 40 MiLB teams, including the Billings Mustangs, Great Falls Voyagers, Missoula Osprey, and the remainder of the Pioneer League.\nMontana is one of only two states that does not have a single major league professional sports team, nor does it border a state that has a major league professional sports team. Montana's Pioneer League ball clubs build connections between Treasure State communities and baseball, and dozens of small businesses invest in marketing with Montana's teams to support the franchises and grow their customer bases.\nTester has fought hard to keep baseball in Montana, and he was slated to host a meeting with MLB executives in Montana before the COVID-19 outbreak. He also urged MLB not to abandon Montana and met with Deputy MLB Commissioner of Baseball Administration Dan Halem to discuss the League's proposal. Tester, a Montreal Exposand later, Washington Nationalsfan since the 1980s, would watch games broadcast from Canada after long days working on his farm in Big Sandy.\nRead the Senator's letter to Commissioner Manfred HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7801", "As Passenger Rail on the Hi-Line Hangs in the Balance, Tester Secures Senate Hearing on Amtrak [press_release]", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Amid looming Amtrak service cuts that threaten jobs and connectivity on Montana's Hi-Line, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he secured a Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing on the future of Amtrak to be held on October 7th with testimony provided by Havre's Paul Tuss, Executive Director of the Bear Paw Development.\nThe truth of the matter is, Amtrak keeps Montana's Hi-Line communities connected to the rest of the country while providing jobs and revenue to folks in places like Shelby, Havre, and Glasgow, said Tester. The coronavirus pandemic has devastated Amtrak ridership, and looming cuts to long-distance lines like the Empire Builder are threatening the livelihood of thousands of Montanans. I'm proud to have secured this hearing so politicians in Washington can finally hear firsthand from folks like Paul Tuss just how critical Amtrak services are to rural America.\nTester personally requested the hearing in a letter sent to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) earlier this year, urging them to listen to community members who have been devastated due to service cuts, low ridership, and decreased revenue. The hearing will discuss the oversight of funding allocated to Amtrak in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the future of long-distance rail services across the country.\nAmtrak operates 15 long-distance routes in 47 states across the country, connecting rural and urban centers and providing inter-state mobility to underserved communities and populations. Earlier this year, Amtrak announced that it may cut jobs and reduce service in rural communities on the Empire Builder Long-Distance Line beginning in October, which includes 12 stations along the Montana Hi-Line that served 121,429 passengers who boarded or disembarked in the state in 2019.\nAs a member of a community serviced by the Empire Builder, Tester knows how critical Amtrak is to Montana's Hi-Line and has fought tirelessly to defend it. He recently led a group of his colleagues in demanding that the railroad commit to a timeline for resuming full, long distance passenger service and helped secure $1 billion for Amtrak in the CARES Act to maintain long distance routes during the pandemic. He also led the charge to restore ticket agents in Amtrak stations in Havre and Shelby, and grilled former Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson last year over the railroad's plans to maintain passenger service in rural America despite the Administration's proposal to cut 25 percent of the agency's funding in Fiscal Year 2020.\nRead Tester's letter to Senate Commerce Committee leadership HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7802", "Tester Announces More Than $136,000 in Adaptive Sports Grants for Disabled Veterans in Montana [press_release]", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $136,100 has been awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help disabled veterans in Montana improve their independence, well-being, and quality of life through adaptive sports and therapeutic arts programs in Billings and Whitefish.\nWhen our nation's veterans return home with seen and unseen wounds of war, we have an obligation to ensure they have a path toward recovery and can participate in programs that are adapted for their disabilities, said Tester. These resources will boost the quality of life of those who served by helping them participate in more activities in their communities. \nFunding is provided under VA's Adaptive Sports Grant Program, which provides grants across the country to support veteran mental health. Of the total, $88,500 has been awarded to Horses Spirits Healing, Inc., a nonprofit organization outside of Billings that specializes in equine therapy for veterans. $47,600 has been awarded to Disabled Recreation Environmental Access Movement (DREAM) Adaptive Recreation, Inc. in Whitefish, an organization that helps enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities by providing year-round outdoor adaptive recreational opportunities.\nHorses Spirits Healing appreciates the confidence placed in us by VA Adaptive Sports through this grantthe fifth consecutive one we've received, said Horses Spirits Healing co-founder Barbara Skelton. This funding allows us to continue to build and deliver the programs our veterans utilize to improve and change their lives. It works because of the support from our elected officials, the referrals, and from local VA Clinic staff. The dedicated veterans who participate, the steady hands of our staff, and support from our local and regional donors keeps us moving forward. It is truly a team effort, and we thank Senator Tester for his efforts.\nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester has continuously fought to increase funding for adaptive recreation opportunities for disabled veterans. Earlier this year, he sent letters of support to VA, urging the Department to award these critical funds to support Montana's veteran population. VA awarded 119 grants to national, regional, and community programs across the country that provide these services.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7798", "Tester Slams VA Secretary for Continuing to Limit Montana Veteran Voices in the Disability Claims Process [press_release]", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is slamming the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for continuing to deprive veterans in Montana and across the country a last look for errors before their ratings become final.\nEarlier this year, VA authorized a decision eliminating the critical 48-hour review perioda longstanding rule for decades, allowing veterans and their representatives to review benefits determinations prior to VA's final decisionas it promotes efficiency, mitigates potential errors, and reduces the need for appeals.\nThe bottom line is VA's role is to make it easiernot harderfor veterans to access earned benefits in a process that should be non-adversarial, Tester wrote in a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. Given that we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and veterans are relying on their benefits more than ever, it makes no sense to implement a policy change of this significance. The negative effects of this decision fall directly on the veteran, and I strongly urge VA to reconsider this decision. Veterans and their representatives deserve a voice during the claims process, and the removal of the 48-hour review severely reduces it. \nA recent VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report found that Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) staff failed to properly apply a new rule allowing for the postmarked date of a claim to be the effective date 98 percent of the time for approximately 3,200 claims during OIG's April review period. The report also found that VBA staff did not follow the updated date of receipt guidance because VBA managers failed to ensure regional office staff were aware of and understood the new policy.\nTester highlighted, Recent conversations with Montana veterans have reinforced my belief that this decision severely degrades the integrity of the claims process and is an example of VA's propensity to favor timeliness over quality. The negative effects of this decision have already been realized as multiple Veteran Service Organizations have reported an increase in avoidable errors leading to incorrect rating decisions for veterans.\nMontana Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) joined Tester's effort to provide veterans with the ability and resources they are owed when disputing their disability claims with VBA.\nThe professional expertise of the Veteran Service Officers (VSO) of the VFW and the American Legion has been a critical component of providing quality control in reviewing the claims for disability, said National/Montana VFW Legislative Representative Tom Johnson. My own experience with filing a claim in 2006 after an Iraq deployment literally took the wind out of my sails when it all was denied. A VFW VSO assisted me in refiling my claim, which eventually led the Veterans Benefits Administration awarding me 30 percent for bilateral shoulder and right knee injuries. As a Company First Sergeant in the Montana Army National Guard, it was a stressful and daunting experience. For younger enlisted troops, it can even more so. I thank Senator Tester for championing our effort to reinstate the 48-hour review of service, as it has been a vital component of the disability rating review process.\nEarlier this year, Tester introduced his bipartisan Veterans Claim Transparency Act to reinstate the critical 48-hour review period to ensure accredited Veteran Service Organizations, attorneys, and claims agents have the ability to review and course correct benefits determinations. In April, he also doubled down on this effort by leading his colleagues on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee in demanding that VA reconsider recent efforts to restrict a veteran's ability to review and dispute their disability claims before they are finalized.\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=7795", "Testers Bipartisan Bill Will Enhance Flexibility for Federal Firefighters [press_release]", "2020-09-28", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To correct a longstanding disparity between federal firefighters and their state, local, and municipal counterparts, U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced the bipartisan Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act, allowing federal firefighters more flexibility in shift trades without risking pay or affecting annual leave.\nIt's no secret that wildfires across the West are burning bigger and longer, meaning our federal firefighters work overtime, putting their lives on the line to keep our communities safe, said Tester. This critical bill gives them the flexibility they need to better balance their work and home lives, and it saves taxpayer dollars. Switching shifts is common practice among state and local firefightersit's only commonsense that our federal firefighters are able to do the same.\nUnlike state, local, and municipal firefighters, federal firefighters can only swap shifts within a two-week pay period. Any shift swaps occurring outside of that period affect the calculation of hours worked and overtime pay, resulting in one firefighter with increased pay and the other with their pay reduced. Consequently, some federal departments refuse to allow their firefighters to switch shifts at all.\nThe Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act excludes hours worked as part of any trade time arrangement from the calculation of overtime pay for the federal sector. This fix allows federal firefighters to engage in trade time, permitting federal firefighters, solely at their option and with the approval of their supervisor, to trade shifts without affecting the pay of either firefighter.  Trade time enables firefighters to meet personal obligations without exhausting their annual leave and helps ensure departments across the country can maintain staffing requirements and keep communities safe.\nThe Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act is supported by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).\nTester, who is Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, is a longtime champion for firefighters and first responders.  He recently secured more than $400,000 through the Department of Homeland Security's competitive Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to support local departments in Missoula, East Missoula, Great Falls, and Manhattan. Additionally, Tester has demanded that Washington provide Montana's firefighters with the necessary resources to keep safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and is leading legislation that protects the pensions of hard-working federal first responders who have been injured on the job.\nFull text of Tester's Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7797", "Tester Statement on VAs Failure to Address Lengthy Process for Community Care Referrals [press_release]", "2020-09-28", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on VA's Failure to Address Lengthy Process for Community Care Referrals \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 GAO report finds that VA implementation of Veterans Community Care Program needs improvements to ensure timely access to quality care for veterans \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 today after a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) failed to establish an overall wait time measure for the Veterans Community Care Programpaving the way for veterans to wait an indefinite amount of time before they are connected with care.\n When President Trump signed my legislation to streamline veterans' access to care in the community into law, it fell to the Administration to ensure the VA MISSION Act was implemented correctly. Unfortunately, the Administration bungled the very health care program designed to provide veterans with timely, quality care by taking too long to get them scheduled for appointments. As Ranking Member, I'm doubling down on my push to ensure that veterans can make an informed choice on where to seek carewhether it's at Department facilities or in the community. If VA cannot get its house in order, Congress will take action to better ensure that veterans from the Big Apple to Big Sandy can access their earned care in a timely manner. \n\nIn the report, GAO also found that few community providers use VA's new software system to exchange information electronically with VA medical centers, and that only a handful of VA medical centers have the recommended number of staff for the program.\nIn recent years, VA staff in Montana and elsewhere have struggled with processing both internal and community care referrals, resulting in delayed health careveterans in Montana wait an average of 44.4 days to receive care in the community. In response to the growing backlog of Montana veterans waiting for health care, Tester introduced the Accountability in VA Scheduling and Consult Management Act, which requires VA to take a hard look at its scheduling protocols and report regularly on how long it is taking to get veterans into the community for care.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7793", "Tester Statement on Supreme Court Nominee [press_release]", "2020-09-26", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Supreme Court Nominee \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 President Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Supreme Court Justice:\n Four years ago, McConnell and his allies made up a rule that the Senate can't vote on a Supreme Court nominee eight months before an electiona rule they now intend to break by ramming one through just days before election day when hundreds of thousands of Montanans will have already voted. Regardless of the nominee, I believe there aren't different sets of rules for Democrats and Republicans, and we must follow McConnell's precedent: giving the American people a voice in this selection by filling the vacancy when the next President is sworn is, no matter who that is.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7791", "Tester Statement on Federal Court Ruling Extending Census Deadline [press_release]", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Federal Court Ruling Extending Census Deadline \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 a U.S. District Court ruling ordering the Administration to abandon its attempt to shorten the 2020 Census schedule, extending the deadline until October 31st. The Trump Administration has appealed the decision.\n This ruling restores Census operations to their originally planned deadline, and it's the right call to make sure every Montanan is counted, said Tester. But the Administration's appeal is another blatant attempt to undermine the Census and keep folksparticularly Native American communities across our statefrom participating, which puts Montana's chances of gaining a second Congressional seat in jeopardy. Congress needs to put this issue to rest, and I urge Senator McConnell and my Republican colleagues to stop blocking my bipartisan legislation to give the Census Bureau the time it needs to get the job done. \n  \nTester is cosponsoring the bipartisan 2020 Census Extension Act,  which would require the Census Bureau to continue 2020 Census field operations until October 31, 2020, giving the Census Bureau more time to ensure every Montanan is counted. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for the delivery of apportionment data to the U.S. House of Representatives from December 31, 2020 to April 30, 2021 and extends the statutory delivery of redistricting data to states from March 31, 2021 to July 31, 2021. Senate Republicans, led by Senator Mitch McConnell, have refused to bring the legislation up for a vote.\nMontana currently ranks second to last in overall response rate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7792", "Tester at Great Falls Celebration: Today we celebrate a monumental victory in the battle to keep public lands in public hands [press_release]", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On the eve of Public Lands Day, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today addressed a socially distanced and masked up crowd of public land advocates and community members who gathered to celebrate his central role in the passage of his Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)which included full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and was signed into law earlier this year.\nTester spoke about the critical work that Montana's public lands advocates and citizens did to get the GAOA across the finish line, thanking them for their tireless efforts:\nPolitics in America move slowly until they don't, and it often takes years of garnering immense, grassroots support in order for the folks in power to start listening, said Tester. But you've done it. You didn't let Washington ignore your demands. And that's why I'm so proud to be standing here today, because y'all made me listen many years ago. And I've been fighting with you ever since.\nTester continued: So today we celebrate a monumental victory in the battle to keep public lands in public hands.\nThe event, hosted by the Montana Wildlife Federation, honored Tester's work to gain permanent funding for LWCF at $900 million per yearefforts he has championed since 2009. LWCF has invested more than $540 million into Montana's $7.1 billion outdoor recreation economy, and the GAOA will additionally invest $9.5 billion to address maintenance backlogs on public lands across the country.\nTester also spoke about the importance of voting in the November 3rd election and the impact of electing strong leaders who will defend Montana's public lands:\nOur state, and our country, need level-headed leaders who are going to make bold strides towards fighting climate change, said Tester.  Leaders who ground their policy in solid science, and who are going to listen to the every-day folks who truly make our state the Last Best Place. Because Washington would look a whole lot better if it learned a thing or two about how Montanans do business.\nTester has consistently faced partisan obstruction in previous efforts to provide full, permanent funding for LWCF, and has many times called on his Republican colleagues to apply pressure to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take up legislation. In early March, in the face of widespread, bipartisan support on the ground built over years of grassroots work by public lands advocates across the country, President Trump abruptly announced his support for full funding of the program, and Senator McConnell promised to bring legislation up for a vote.\nUntil recently, Tester has been 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=7794", "Tester Pushes Indian Health Service Director to Improve Tribal Behavioral Health By Boosting Telehealth Services [press_release]", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At a recent Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Jon Tester pressed Indian Health Service (IHS) Director Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee on the state of behavioral health services in Indian Country, particularly in the light of a global pandemic that is disproportionately impacting Native communities and where broadband access often obstructs telehealth services.\nTester also discussed his Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act which creates an Indian behavioral health program to curb disproportionate rates of substance misuse and other behavioral health challenges in Indian Country. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted these disparities, especially when it comes to accessing telehealth in Native communities where reliable broadband access is often lacking.\nNative American communities often find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide, and if you're on the wrong side of the digital divide, you know that telehealth doesn't work all that great, said Tester. Reliable telehealth is critical to behavioral health servicesespecially right now when Tribes are some of the hardest hit by coronavirusand we need to be working to bring more tools into Indian Country so that folks struggling with substance misuse or serious mental health conditions can get the care and attention they need. \nSubstance misuse and other behavioral health challenges disproportionately impact Native American communities where serious mental health conditions are seen at rates 1.6 times higher than the national average. Additionally, Native youth experience the highest rates of youth suicide and depression in the country and Native American communities are often unable to access the comprehensive, community-designated, culturally-competent services needed to address these issues.\nTester's Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act works to bring more tools into Indian Country to improve behavioral health services by:\n \nCreating a Special Behavioral Health Program for Indians (SBHPI) to help Tribes access resources to address mental health needs and substance use disorders in their communities; \nAllowing Tribes to develop solutions that incorporate traditional and cultural practices into evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs; \nRequiring robust programmatic accountability through the development of grant reporting requirements in consultation with Tribes; and\nAuthorizing $150 million in mandatory funding for these efforts.\n \nAs the former chairman and longtime member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has worked tirelessly to improve health care systems in Indian Country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently introduced his bipartisan Tribal Health Data Improvement Act to provide Tribes with more access to public health data, and he secured $1 million in grant funding to help fight opioid use disorder in Big Horn, Rosebud, and Custer Counties. He also recently pushed IHS Director Weahkee to strengthen the COVID-19 response in Indian Country as the Trump Administration continues its push to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.\nWatch Tester's questioning of Director Weahkee HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7796", "Tester Statement on Court Order Removing William Perry Pendley from the Bureau of Land Management [press_release]", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement on tonight's U.S. District Court ruling on the removal of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) acting head William Perry Pendley after determining he had served unlawfully for 424 days:\n This ruling enshrines in law what Montanans already knew: William Perry Pendley has no business overseeing our public lands. Montanans and future generations will benefit from Governor Bullock's work protecting our public lands from Pendley's reckless agenda. \n  \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, and recently vowed his continued opposition to any continued role for Pendley, who continued to serve at BLM even after the White House withdrew his nomination to formally head the agency in August.\nPrior to the August withdrawal, Tester 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, 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.\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=7788", "Tester Backs Legislation to Extend Key 2020 Census Deadlines [press_release]", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In response to the Trump Administration's reckless efforts to prematurely end its constitutionally mandated Census count, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is cosponsoring the bipartisan 2020 Census Extension Act to extend two key statutory deadlines for the 2020 Census and require the Census Bureau to continue field operations through October 31, 2020.\nThe implications of an incomplete or inaccurate Census count would be felt across Montana for the next ten years, Tester said. A second Congressional seat in addition to federal support for local governments, schools, health care and more hinge on a fair and accurate Census countsomething that is already notoriously difficult to get in frontier and Native American communities across the Treasure State. Without these extensions, hardworking Montana families stand to lose big. \nMontana currently ranks second to last in overall response rate. The 2020 Census Extension Act would require the Census Bureau to continue 2020 Census field operations until October 31, 2020, giving the Census Bureau more time to ensure every Montanan is counted. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for the delivery of apportionment data to the U.S. House of Representatives from December 31, 2020 to April 30, 2021 and extends the statutory delivery of redistricting data to states from March 31, 2021 to July 31, 2021.\nDelays in census operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the decision to end field operations on early, on September 30, 2020, could result in a severe undercount of the populationspecifically Native American, minority, and rural communities across the country. Extensions for both statutory deadlines would allow the Census Bureau to continue collecting and processing data, leading to a more complete and accurate count.\nSenator Tester has slammed the Administration's decision to end its effort to count all Americans a month early. He pressed the Census Bureau and Department of Commerce to maintain the previously announced completion date for field operations, and called on Congressional leadership to include extensions of the statutory deadlines for delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files to be included in the next COVID-19 relief package.\nFull text of the 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=7789", "Tester Statement on President Trumps Refusal to Commit to a Peaceful Transition of Power [press_release]", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on President Trump's Refusal to Commit to a Peaceful Transition of Power \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 President Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the election:\n President Trump's horrifying refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the election are comments that have no place in a democracy. My Republican colleagues need to join me in strongly denouncing the President's statement and pledging to ensure a peaceful transitionall three branches of government must be united in protecting our democratic institutions.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7790", "Senate Sends Tester-Backed Bill Expanding Vet Center Eligibility for Guardsmen to Presidents Desk [press_release]", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation today backed by U.S. Senator Jon Tester to expand counseling for members of the National Guard, Reserves, and Coast Guard at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities across the nation. This bill now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.\nWe are now one step closer to providing critical counseling and support to the men and women of the Guard at VA facilities nationwide, said Ranking Member Tester. The Senate came together to swiftly pass this bill to connect more Guardsmen and Reservists with the resources they need to transition to civilian life. I'll continue fighting until every Guardsman and Reservist has access to the mental health screening, counseling, and treatments they've earned. \nCurrently, servicemembers are only eligible for counseling services at Vet Centers if they have served in a combat theater, experienced military sexual trauma, or been part of an unmanned aerial vehicle crew that supported combat operations or have provided emergency medical care or mortuary services to casualties of war.\nThe Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act would expand Vet Center eligibility to Reservists who mobilized in support of a national emergency or natural disaster, National Guard members who responded to a natural disaster or civil disorder, and Coast Guard members who supported drug interdiction operations. The bill would also require a Report to Congress on VA's plan to provide Vet Center services to veterans living in geographic areas where no Vet Center is located.\nTester has been a longtime champion for improving Guardsmen and Reservists' access to consistent mental health services, regardless of deployment status. His bipartisan Care and Readiness Enhancement (CARE) for Reservists Act of 2019 would 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 successfully included his bill in both the House and Senate's must-pass annual defense bill for fiscal year 2021.\nA copy of Tester's 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=7786", "BREAKING: Testers Groundbreaking Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bill Heads to Presidents Desk [press_release]", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester's bipartisan Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Actgroundbreaking legislation to improve veterans' access to mental health care and named for a Montana veteranis heading to the President's desk after unanimously passing the U.S. House of Representatives today.\nThis is a monumental day: passage of my landmark bill honoring a Montana hero sends a very important message to veteransand all Americansthat Congress can come together during politically turbulent times to do the right things and support those who have sacrificed on our behalf, said Ranking Member Tester. One life lost to suicide is one too many, and I thank the Hannon family for partnering with me to honor their son, father, and brother, along with Chairman Moran and countless Veterans Service Organizations, advocates, and veterans in our steadfast effort to connect more veterans with the life-saving mental health care they need and earned. I urge the President to swiftly sign the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act into law, to better treat service-connected mental health conditions and help heal the invisible wounds of war.\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester introduced his bipartisan legislation alongside Chairman Moran last year to bolster the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) mental health workforce and increase rural veterans' access to care with alternative and local treatment options. The Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan bill on August 5. On September 8, Tester and Moran led 33 Senators in calling on the House to swiftly pass this legislation and doubled down on this effort during a committee hearing on September 9, where they urged their colleagues to bring the bill to the floor for immediate passage.\nAfter working with veterans service organizations, mental health patient advocacy groups, organizations that serve veterans across the country, hundreds of veterans and their families, Ranking Member Tester and I led the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act to improve mental health care and suicide prevention programs for veterans across the country, especially those in hard-to-reach areas, said Chairman Moran. Every day we lose 20 veterans to suicide and this pandemic has further worsened mental health conditions and resulted in more veterans being isolated from friends and family. I applaud Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe for prioritizing this important legislation that will bring life-saving care, service and support to veterans. Passing this legislation to serve veterans was our top priority this Congress, and I look forward to the president quickly signing the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act into law.\nThis bill honors the legacy of Commander John Scott Hannon, a member of the Navy SEALs who served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years. Scott Hannon retired to Montana where he received treatment for his invisible wounds of war while helping other veterans find their own paths to recovery. Scott died by suicide on February 25, 2018.\nMy family is overjoyed that this critical bill has been passed by the House, said Kim Parrott, John Scott's sister, on behalf of the Hannon family. Not only does this honor my brother's legacy, it provides closure for my family. Most importantly, this legislation is a beacon of light to so many more veterans and their families on their journey home from military service to civilian life. Senators Tester and Moran have provided exemplary bipartisan leadership throughout the entire process, and they are an inspiration to all of us. Even in the most contentious times, we can partner and move forward. My family urges the President to sign the bill swiftly so that the momentum can build in providing our veterans with the life-saving mental health care services they need and deserve.\nIt is estimated that more than 20 veterans die by suicide every day. Of those, 14 have received no treatment or care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act will improve outreach to veterans and their mental health care options in six major ways:\n \nBolstering VA's mental health workforce to serve more veterans by offering scholarships to mental health professionals to work at Vet Centers, and placing at least one Suicide Prevention Coordinator in every VA hospital.\nImproving rural veterans' access to mental health care by increasing the number of locations at which veterans can access VA telehealth services. \nImplementing a pilot program to provide veterans access to complementary and integrative health programs through animal therapy, agritherapy, sports and recreation therapy, art therapy and post-traumatic growth. \nEstablishing a grant program that requires VA to better collaborate with community organizations across the country already serving veterans. This collaboration will result in earlier identification of veterans who are at risk of suicide and will provide the ability to intervene with preventative services. \nStudying the impact of living at high altitude on veterans' suicide risk and diagnostic biomarker research to identify depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and other conditions. \nHolding the VA accountable for its mental health care and suicide prevention efforts by examining how the Department manages its suicide prevention resources.\n \n\"Commander Hannon was a dear friend and ally in the fight to heal the hidden wounds of war, said Matt Kuntz, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Montana. NAMI is very grateful for the essential efforts laid out in this legislation and for the man it honors.\"\n\"We are profoundly appreciative of the significant bipartisan accomplishment by Sens. Jerry Moran and Jon Tester, and Reps. Mark Takano and Phil Roe achieved in the final House and Senate passage of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act,\" said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) CEO Jeremy Butler. \"IAVA has made a top priority of this legislation from its beginning and we are pleased that Congress is taking the next big step in combating the veteran suicide crisis.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7787", "Tester Successfully Clears Major Veterans Priorities From Committee Hurdle [press_release]", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Successfully Clears Major Veterans Priorities From Committee Hurdle \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 Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee unanimously passes bill to expand health care access for veterans of the War on Terror, and improve benefits for veterans and survivors \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\tThe Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee today unanimously passed the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act of 2020 and Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020two bills to expand Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits to veterans nationwide.\nToday's bipartisan agreement will mean expanded health care access for veterans of the War on Terrorespecially those exposed to toxins, said Ranking Member Tester. This common-sense solution will make sure that our youngest generation of veterans have access to quality and timely VA health care services when they need them, as we continue our work to ensure all veterans impacted by toxic exposurefrom those who served in Vietnam to those still serving todayget the care and benefits they earned. \nThe Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act of 2020 will fundamentally reform and improve how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care from VA. It will provide health care coverage to many veterans that served in the Armed Forces in recent decades including:\n \nVeterans who earned certain campaign medals; \nVeterans who are eligible for VA's burn pit registry; or\nVeterans identified by the Department of Defense as being exposed to a toxic substance, inside or outside of the U.S. \n \nThe Committee also ushered the Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020, legislation to provide more education benefits for servicemembers and their families; improve the Department's oversight of veterans' pension benefits; enhance benefits for National Guardsmen and Reservists and their survivors as well as burial benefits for our servicemembers and veterans; and expand survivors benefits for the families of Medal of Honor recipients. Within this package, Tester successfully secured a number of key bills he authored including his bipartisan Veteran Pension Protection Act of 2019, Veterans Cemetery Grants Improvement Act of 2020, and Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act of 2020.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7784", "Tester Requests VA Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs Restore Damaged Headstones as quickly as possible in Billings Cemetery [press_release]", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Requests VA Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs Restore Damaged Headstones as quickly as possible' in Billings Cemetery \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: They represent the final resting ground of those who honorably served our country \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\tAs the only member of the Montana delegation to serve on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Ranking Member Jon Tester is requesting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs take immediate action to restore 32 veteran headstones after they were damaged by a vehicle crash at Mountview Cemetery in Billings.\nGiven the age of these headstones, and the fact most are completely shattered, Chris Waite, superintendent of Mountview Cemetery, has expressed concerns that it may be challenging to capture all of the correct information required, Tester wrote to VA Under Secretary Randy Reeves. Therefore, I am requesting that you and your staff work directly with Mountview Cemetery and the City of Billings to repair and replace each of these damaged headstones. They represent the final resting ground of those who honorably served our country, and they must be restored as quickly as possible.\nRead Tester's full letter to Under Secretary Reeves HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7785", "Tester Spearheads Senate Call to Ensure his Landmark Agent Orange Exposure Bill is Included in Final Annual Defense Bill [press_release]", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "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 continuing his fight to ensure thousands of veterans suffering from exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam receive the benefits they've earned from the Trump Administration.\nPresident Trump claims to support our veterans but the shameful reality is that his Administration continues to deny benefits to veterans suffering as a result of their exposure to toxic chemicals in Vietnam, said Ranking Member Tester. The truth is that more and more veterans are dying every single day because this Administration refuses to do the right thing and pay for the cost of war. I'll be continuing to fight tooth and nail until we push this bill across the finish line on behalf of the thousands of veterans who are being ignored by a government unwilling to honor those who've bravely servedand sacrificedfor our country. \nTester led 45 Senators in urging leadership from the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to adopt his amendment requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide benefits to veterans suffering from conditions related to Agent Orange exposure in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. In July, Tester successfully secured his landmark Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act in the must-pass annual defense bill that passed overwhelmingly by the Senate with a vote of 94-6.\nTester and his colleagues wrote, It is time for Congress to acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence put forth by veterans, scientists and medical experts, and to end the wait for more than 34,000 frustrated and desperate veterans living with and dying from these health conditions. Inclusion of this legislation in the conference agreement for the Fiscal Year 2021 NDAA would be consistent with scientific and historic precedent, and is simply the right thing to do for these veterans and their families. \nThousands of Vietnam veterans have suffered the negative long-term health effects of Agent Orange, including diseases like Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism, said National Commander of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Stephen Whitehead. While all three conditions have been scientifically linked to Agent Orange exposure almost four years ago, the VA has still not added these conditions to the list of presumptive diseases. It is time to end the wait for these veterans by keeping Amendment No. 1972 in the NDAA. We thank Senator Tester for his commitment to ensure that Vietnam veterans suffering from these three diseases have access to the VA health care and benefits they need and have earned.\nVietnam veterans suffering from Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism have been subject to years of delays based on calls for further scientific research. The time is now for Congress to enact the Senate NDAA language and make thousands of Vietnam veterans eligible for Agent Orange benefits, said Director of Veterans and Military Policy for TREA: The Enlisted Association Ken Greenberg. TREA is grateful for the tireless efforts of Ranking Member Jon Tester and Committee staff to secure Section 1090B and have it included in the final NDAA.\nThe passage of Senator Tester's bipartisan amendment to add Agent Orange presumptives filled 34,000 veterans suffering from Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism with hope, said President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Lieutenant General Dana Atkins. If passed, ill veterans will finally receive the care and benefits they deserve after being exposed to herbicides over 45 years ago. MOAA urges the House conferees to show their support for these veterans and include these presumptives in the final version of the NDAA.\nWounded Warrior Project is pleased to support Senator Tester's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendment which would require VA to provide benefits on a presumptive basis to veterans suffering from Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism related to Agent Orange exposure, said Vice President of Government Affairs at the Wounded Warrior Project Jose Ramos. This amendment will go far in ensuring that VA supports those who have served in the past, as well as those who will serve in the future. We thank the Ranking Member for his diligent work on behalf of veterans of all generations exposed to toxic exposure-related illnesses.\nVietnam veterans did their part and served with honor, said Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Deputy Director Matthew Doyle. 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 Cladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinson-like symptoms to Agent Orange exposure. The VFW urges Congress to keep the provision to add Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism to the list of presumptive conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange in the NDAA.\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 AMVETS Executive Director Joe Chenelly. Tester Amendment No. 1972 would provide health care and disability benefits to more than 34,000 affected veterans who have already waited far too long for this change.\"\nThe Agent Orange Act of 1991 called for a decision by the Secretary no later than 60 days after receiving the IOM'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 National President and CEO of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) John Rowan. \"These delays continue. 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.\nFor too long, our Vietnam veterans have had to fight forand have been deniedthe critical health care they need to treat medical conditions resulting from exposure to Agent Orange,\" said Commander James W. Bill Oxford of The American Legion. \"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. The American Legion is proud to support this amendment and believes the evidence overwhelmingly supports adding Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism to the presumptive list.\n\"PVA urges House and Senate conferees to retain this language in the fiscal year 2021 NDAA to help ensure Vietnam veterans receive appropriate care and compensation for conditions related to Agent Orange exposure, said Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Associate Executive Director for Government Relations Heather Ansley. Adding these three diseases to VA's list of presumptive conditions is the right thing to do for these veterans and their families.\"\nThe more than 5.5 million members represented by the 35 organizations comprising The Military Coalition (TMC) support the addition of the three presumptives connected to Agent Orange exposure, said TMC President and United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA) Executive Director Jack Du Teil. The science has met the evidentiary threshold needed to irrefutably link Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism with exposure to herbicide agents. TMC calls on Congress to pass, and the President to sign, these three presumptives into law in the NDAA.\nCurrently, 34,000 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.\nA copy of the Senators' 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=7781", "Tester Secures $5.7 Million for Montana Crime Victims [press_release]", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $5,785,585 in Department of Justice funding for the Montana Board of Crime Control to provide funding to community organizations and services  for crime victims.\nWhen folks have suffered because of the crimes of others, we have a responsibility to support them, said Tester. These grants are some of the best ways to help folks move forward, and I'm proud to have helped secure this funding to do that.\nThis funding, which is allocated through the Victims of Crime Act, are competitively awarded by the state to local, community-based organizations that provide direct services to crime victims.\nSenator Tester has led the charge to support victims of violent crime, 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.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7782", "Tester Secures $305,000 for Drug Taskforces, Crime Prevention for Ten Montana Towns, Tribes [press_release]", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $305,596 in Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program funds to ten Montana towns, Tribes, and counties to support local law enforcement's drug taskforces and crime prevention efforts.\nDuring this pandemic, Montana's first responders and law enforcement have been asked to do more with less, and they have risen to the challenge by working overtime to keep our communities safe, said Tester. The bottom line is we need to get them the tools they need to do their jobs, and this funding will provide much-needed backup to Montana's local law enforcement as they work to keep our communities safe and drugs off our streets.\nThe funds secured by Tester will be allocated to the following towns, Tribes, and counties:\n \nButte-Silver Bow: $18,949\nFlathead County: $24,720\nCity of Kalispell: $10,120\nCity of Great Falls: $31,610\nCity of Helena: $39,104\nCity of Billings: $84,237\nCity of Missoula: $58,440\nGallatin County: $11,456\nBlackfeet Tribe: $15,461\nChippewa Cree Tribe-Rocky Boy: $11,499\n \nThe Byrne JAG Program provides states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives and mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams.\nAs a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Tester has been a strong supporter of the Byrne JAG Program and a staunch advocate for local crime prevention initiatives. Last month, Tester backed legislation that 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 its use and prevent overdoses. 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. 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=7783", "Testers Savannas Act and Not Invisible Act Clear the U.S. House of Representatives [press_release]", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following years of constant pressure since originally introducing the Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today celebrated the U.S. House passage of two of his bipartisan pieces of legislation that work to combat the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) by bolstering data collection and information sharing between Tribes and law enforcement agencies and strengthening violent crime prevention efforts in Indian Country.\nThe passage of my bipartisan Savanna's Act and Not Invisible Act through the House puts us one step closer to securing better tools for combating the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons in Indian Country, said Tester. This is big news for Montana Tribes, MMIW advocates, and victims of violence who have worked tirelessly to get these pieces of legislation where they are today, and I'm proud to have helped shepherd these bills through Congress. I urge the President to sign these bills immediately so that Native American communities can use these resources as soon as humanly possible.\nSavanna's Act is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was murdered in North Dakota in August.\nIndigenous women and girls in Montana face murder rates that are ten times higher than the national average, and according to the National Institute of Justice, more than 80 percent of Native American women have experienced violence, and half have experienced it within the last year.\nSavanna's Act would improve information sharing between Tribal and federal law enforcement agencies and increase data collection on cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous people. It requires:\n \nLaw enforcement training on how to record victim tribal enrollment information in federal databases;\nThe creation of standardized, regionally-appropriate guidelines for inter-jurisdictional cooperation on cases; and\nThe Attorney General to include data on missing and murdered Indigenous people in an annual report to Congress.\n \nThe Not Invisible Act:\n \nRequires the Department of Interior (DOI) to designate a coordinator within the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (OJS) to coordinate violent crime prevention efforts across federal agencies who must submit an annual report summarizing coordination activities and recommendations for improving federal coordination efforts; and\nDirects DOI and the Department of Justice to establish a commission composed of relevant federal agencies, Tribal leaders, Tribal law enforcement, mental health providers, survivors, and state and local law enforcement to develop recommendations on improving the federal response to MMIW, human trafficking, and violent crime in Indian Country.\n \nAs a member and former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Tester has led the charge in the fight against the MMIW crisis, pushing relentlessly to get both the Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act signed into law. He originally introduced the Savanna's Act in 2017, and the Not Invisible Act in 2019.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7780", "Tester Statement on Timeline for Confirmation of a New Supreme Court Nominee [press_release]", "2020-09-19", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on Timeline for Confirmation of a New Supreme Court Nominee \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 timeline for confirmation of a new Supreme Court nominee:\n Montanans begin voting in two weeks and, as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and my Republican colleagues said just four years ago, the American people must have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. There isn't a separate set of rules for Republicans and Democratswe should follow the precedent McConnell set and fill this vacancy when the next President and Senate are sworn in, regardless of who wins.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=7778", "Tester Secures More Than $11 Million for Glacier International Airport [press_release]", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Secures More Than $11 Million for Glacier International Airport \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 CARES Act and Airport Improvement Program funding will help expand terminal \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 $11,245,807 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for Glacier International Airport to continue expansion of a new terminal.\nMontana is a big state, and many of our communities rely on our airports to feed local economies and keep folks connected, said Tester. During these uncertain times, we need to be investing in our transportation infrastructure so we're prepared for the other end of this crisis. This grant will help Glacier International Airport ensure it's able to continue serving the community and tourism economy for years to come.\nTester has worked tirelessly to ensure that Montana airports are able to serve their communities amid 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. This summer, 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=7779", "Tester Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg [press_release]", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tester Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg \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 passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:\n Tonight this country mourns an icon. Justice Ginsburg was a trailblazer who devoted her entire life to equal justice. 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