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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     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: "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." Since 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: $20 billion for vaccine procurement and distribution $22 billion in grants to states to support contact tracing, COVID-19 testing, and mitigation efforts to control the virus An additional $300 per week in unemployment benefits through March 14, 2021 Extends unemployment benefits to self-employed individuals, gig workers and those who have exhausted their state benefits Extends deadline for use of the Coronavirus Relief Fund for states, cities, and Tribes from the CARES Act one year, until December 31, 2021 $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)(… 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     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 $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 $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 Maintains $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 Up to $18 million for MS… 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     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. Tester 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. "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." The 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. According 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. "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 … 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     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. Tester 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. "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." Montana students who are interested in applying to a military academy in the future can request a nomination from Tester HERE. Senator Jon Tester's 2021 Military Academy nominees: Belgrade Gideon Survoy - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Bigfork Brandon Wenzel - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Billings Natalie Beck - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Kathryn Brower - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Bozeman Erica Brackett - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy Cameron Kyle LaClair - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Columbia Falls Cameron Kahle - U.S. Naval Academy Corvallis Logan VanDenburg - U.S. Naval Academy Harlem Alaynee Hawley - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Helena Ethan Hayes - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Hot Springs EmmaRae Rasmussen - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Lavina Jacob Smith - U.S. Naval Academy Missoula Bremer Deaton - U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Ethan Schroeder - U.… 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     legacy Montana Health Care Providers to Receive Nearly $12 Million in Pandemic Relief, Tester Announces 162 providers in Montana will receive a combined $ 11,916,997 U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Montana health care providers will receive nearly $12 million in pandemic relief funds. 162 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. Montana'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. The funding is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and distribution began today. Tester 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     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: "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." This 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. Earlier 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: Increasing interstate commerce and diversifying meat production in Montana and neighboring states; Legislation to ensure fair prices at the farm gate from large packers; And the first bipartisan Senate push for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling since Congress repealed it in 2015. Tester 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 cat… 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     legacy Tester Statement on Administration of First COVID-19 Vaccine Doses in Montana U.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: 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. Senator 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 a… 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     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. Tester 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. I 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. Noting 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. Tester 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. I'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. Tester'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     legacy Montana VA Slated to Receive First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine for Veterans, Tester Announces U.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: 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. In 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. Last 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 mis… 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     legacy Tester Statement on Arrival of First COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments in Montana As 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: 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. Senator 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 ens… 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     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. This 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. A 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. Atkins 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. Earlier 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     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. With 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. Tester 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. The 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 vetera… 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     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. Rising 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. I'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. According 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. The Seeding Rural Resilience Act creates three initiatives aimed at curbing the growing rate of suicides in rural A… 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     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. This 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. Tester 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. Malmstrom Air Force Base Montana'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: $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. $194 million to fully support the replacement of the Air Force's UH-1N Huey with the MH-139 Grey Wolf. $47 million for procurement of Minuteman III modernization to ensure the viability of our nation's current strategi… 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     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. The 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. Clean 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. In 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. Tester'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     legacy Tester Statement on President-Elect Biden's VA Secretary Selection Ranking 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: 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     legacy Tester Statement Following Release of Damning Watchdog Report on VA Secretary Wilkie Ranking 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: 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     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. During 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. How 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? Smith replied: As our old tagline used to say: Absolutely, positively overnight. Wheeler replied: We're planning on next day 10:30 a.m. arrival anywhere that we're assigned. The 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. Distribution of COVID-19 vaccines throughout the U.S. will be coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control a… 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     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. As 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. I'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? Dr. 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). Tester continued, Can you handle the [vaccine] distribution? And is it an adequate amount for the largest health care system in the nation? It 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. Last month, Tester urged the Department to lay out its plan to allocate a coronavirus vaccine, reach veterans in rural and hotspot areas, combat vaccine … 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     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. As 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). This 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. VA 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. This 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 pas… 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     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. Over 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. I'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. Tester'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… 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     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. In 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. THCs 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. The 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. Tester's bipartisan Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act brings much-needed stability to the THCGME program by: Reauthorizing the THCGME program for five years; Increasing the per-resident funding amount to cover increased residency costs; Adding residents to the existing program; and Providing opportunities for program growth to address physician shortages in areas of need. Without reauthorization, funding for the THCGME program will expire December 11th, 2020. Full text of Tester's… 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     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. The 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. Fast, 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. The 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. The six providers participating in Montana are: Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc. - $12,703,077.60 in 2,687 locations CenturyLink, Inc. - $28,379,920.90 in 9,658 locations Commnet Wireless, LLC - $5,964,913.70 in 2,078 locations Frontier Communications Northwest, LLC - $5,818,165.30 in 1,874 locations Rural American Broadband Consortium - $226,116.00 in 209 locations Space Exploration Technologies Corp. $72,723,246.20 in 29,478 locations As 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 d… 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     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. Tester 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. Health 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. The 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. Throughout 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 Se… 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     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. Tester 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. This 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. As 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 an… 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     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. We 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. In 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. They 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 tax… 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     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). Homeless 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. The 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. "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 ca… 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     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. I 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. Tester 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. From 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. Tester'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     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. Savanna'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. In 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. Indigenous 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. Tester'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. Savanna'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: Law enforcement training on how to record victim Tribal enrollment information … 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     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. Big 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. Under 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. As 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. Tester 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 comm… 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     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. The 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). The 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. 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. 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 … 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     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. Tester'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. We'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. The 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. Tester 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     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. In 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. For 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? Tester 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. The 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… 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     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. We 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. C&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. The 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 concern… 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     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. We'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. In 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. The 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. Tester 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     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. The 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. This 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. In 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. Tester 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 … 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     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. After 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. Rail 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. The Right Track Act contains three main components: It 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. It 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. And 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 imp… 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     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). Native 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. Native 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. Our 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 g… 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     legacy Tester Statement on the Nomination of Judy Shelton for Federal Reserve Board U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after voting against Judy Shelton's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors: 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. Shelton 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     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. Tester'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. By 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. In 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. Native 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. Full 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     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. After 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. For 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. Tester 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     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. While 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. In 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. The Senators continued, We urge you to explore the possibility of a cooperative agreement betwee… 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     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. One 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. The 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. A 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     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. Tester 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. Investments 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. This 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. In that role, Tester plays a significant role in writing the 12 bills that fund the federal government each year. Montana priorit… 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     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. I 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. Tester 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. Secretary 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. The 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. Last week, Tester took Secretary Bernhardt and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to task after they mi… 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     legacy The Presidential Inauguration will take place Wednesday, January 20, 2021 on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Inauguration 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. Due 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. The deadline to request tickets is January 6, 2020. Please 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. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (From the JCCIC) What happens during a traditional Inaugural Ceremony? PROCESSION 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 Swe… 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     legacy Tester on Veterans Day: We have a shared responsibility to serve those who've worn the uniform' U.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: 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. In 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     legacy Tester Statement on Importance of Affordable Care Act Following Supreme Court Arguments U.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): 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. Following 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 … 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     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. Tester 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. Our 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. This 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. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester is responsible for writing the 12 bills that fund the federal government each y… 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     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. I 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. The 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: Care for those in crisis by providing acute crisis care for emergent suicide symptoms. Help 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. Track outcomes of VA's outreach to transitioning servicemembers by conducting an annual report on the Solid Start program of the Department. Tailor education for family members by creating an education program for family members and caregivers of veterans with mental health disorders. Create an outdoor Recreation Task Force by establishing an Interagency Task Force on Outdoor Recre… 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     legacy Tester Statement on Biden, Harris Victory in 2020 Presidential Election U.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: 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     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). I 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. Under 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. Tester'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. Mandatory 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 202… 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     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. Under 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. When 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. 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 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 ca… 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     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. In 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. Tester 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. Senator 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. USMCA 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… 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     legacy Tester Statement on Supreme Court Vote U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement on the procedural vote to begin debate on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett: 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. Senator 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     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. The 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. More 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. In 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. The 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 troubl… 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     legacy Request not Accepted - Security Risk Detected Request not Accepted Your submitted request contained a potential security risk. Please 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: '--', '&'). *As stated in the privacy policy, unauthorized attempts to upload or change information are strictly prohibited. Browse contact information for all current senators. Find Senators by State: Search Senate.gov: Contact: 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. *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     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. Montanans 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. Tester'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. The 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. Tester 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. Tester also wrote to Secreta… 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     legacy Tester Statement on U.S. Court Decision Striking Down USDA Rule that would Rip Nutrition Assistance from 700,000 Americans Senator opposed Trump Administration proposal that would deny SNAP benefits to low-income Montanans Following 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: 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. On 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… 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     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. 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. Tester'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. Tester 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. Amtrak 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. Read 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     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. As 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. This 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. Many 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 commun… 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     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. "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" Tester secured investments in the following programs: Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-Based Programs City of Billings: $900,000 Lewis & Clark County: $600,000 Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Programs Judiciary Courts Of The State Of Montana: $1,352,572 Missoula County: $403,039 Cascade County's 8th District Court: $498,105 Chippewa Cree Tribe (Rocky Boy): $434,332 The City And County Of Butte-Silver Bow: $498,450 Northern Cheyenne Tribe: $484,314 Tribal Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program Chippewa Cree Tribe (Rocky Boy): $600,000 Family Drug Court Program Judiciary Courts Of The State Of Montana: $614,453 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program Montana Board of Crime Control: $172,516 Delinquency Prevention Program Board of Crime Control: $1,000,000 Senator 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     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. It 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. The 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. Senator 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. As 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     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). Earlier 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. It 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. Tester 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. According 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. In addition, financial burdens caused by the Trump Administration's trad… 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     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: 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. Senator 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. Additionally, 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. Currently, 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     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. Leaders 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. The 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, Monta… 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     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. The 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. Census 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. Tester, 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. Tester, 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 quali… 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     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. Better 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. Late 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. What 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. Since 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+ pr… 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     legacy Tester Statement on President Trump Walking Away From Additional COVID Relief Negotiations U.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: 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. Since 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 corona… 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     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. As 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. For 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. The 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 as… 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     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. On 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. As 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: Unreasonable 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. Staffing- According to the July 2020 VA Montana clinical vacancy report, the issue of long-term, … 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     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. It 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. What 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. Since 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. Tester was the only member of Montana's delegation to vote for the legislation containing the fix. Following 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, … 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     legacy U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $9,362,160 in Department of Justice (DOJ) funds for Tribal Justice Programs across Montana. The 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. The 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: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes: $393,597 for Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts $742,865 for Tribal Justice Systems $145,205 for Comprehensive Tribal Justice Systems Strategic Planning $879,900 for Tribal Justice System Infrastructure Program $438,209 for the Tribe's Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking program $655,623 for the Victims' Assistance Program from the Office of Violence Against Women Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes: $778,016 for victims' services through the Tribal Crime Victims Fund $416,030 for truancy prevention and intervention services that promote school attendance Blackfeet Tribe: $1,188,088 for Tribal Victim Services to extend services to include men and their families, elders and LGBQ victims Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy Reservation: $478,311 for Tribal Victim Services Fort Belknap Indian Community: $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. Crow Tribe: $898,003 for Crime Victims Fund for… 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     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. In 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. I 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. The 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. Montana 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. Tester 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… 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     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. The 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. Tester 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. Amtrak 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. As 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 r… 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     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. When 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. Funding 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. Horses 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. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester has continuously fought to increase funding for ada… 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     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. Earlier 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. The 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. A 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. Tester 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… 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     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. It'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. Unlike 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. The 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. The Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act is supported by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Tester, who is Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, is a longtime champion for fi… 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     legacy Tester Statement on VA's Failure to Address Lengthy Process for Community Care Referrals GAO report finds that VA implementation of Veterans Community Care Program needs improvements to ensure timely access to quality care for veterans U.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. 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 e… 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     legacy Tester Statement on Supreme Court Nominee U.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: 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     legacy Tester Statement on Federal Court Ruling Extending Census Deadline U.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. 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. Tester 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… 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     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. Tester 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: Politics 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. Tester continued: So today we celebrate a monumental victory in the battle to keep public lands in public hands. The 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. Tester 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: Our 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. Tester has consistently faced part… 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     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. Tester 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. Native 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. Substance 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. Tester's Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act works to bring more tools into Indian Country to improve behavioral health services by: Creating a Special Behavioral Health Program for Indians (SBHPI) to help Tribes access resour… 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     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: 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. Tester 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. Prior 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. Tester 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. Immediately 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 vi… 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     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. The 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. Montana 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. Delays 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. Senator 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 Congre… 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     legacy Tester Statement on President Trump's Refusal to Commit to a Peaceful Transition of Power U.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: 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     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. We 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. Currently, 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. The 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. Tester 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 mus… 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     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. This 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. As 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. After 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 … 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     legacy Tester Successfully Clears Major Veterans Priorities From Committee Hurdle 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 The 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. Today'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. The 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 includi… 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     legacy Tester Requests VA Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs Restore Damaged Headstones as quickly as possible' in Billings Cemetery Ranking Member: They represent the final resting ground of those who honorably served our country As 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. Given 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. Read 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     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. President 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. Tester 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. Tester 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. Thousands of Vietnam veterans have suffered the negative long-term health effects of Agent Orange, includin… 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     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. When 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. This 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. Senator 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     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. During 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. The funds secured by Tester will be allocated to the following towns, Tribes, and counties: Butte-Silver Bow: $18,949 Flathead County: $24,720 City of Kalispell: $10,120 City of Great Falls: $31,610 City of Helena: $39,104 City of Billings: $84,237 City of Missoula: $58,440 Gallatin County: $11,456 Blackfeet Tribe: $15,461 Chippewa Cree Tribe-Rocky Boy: $11,499 The 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. As 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… 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     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. The 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. Savanna's Act is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was murdered in North Dakota in August. Indigenous 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. Savanna'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: Law enforcement training on how to record victim tribal enrollment information in federal databases; The creation of standardized, regionally-appropriate guidelines for inter-jurisdictional cooperation on cases; and The Attorney General to include data on missing and murdered Indigenous people in an annual report to Congress. The Not Invisible Act: Requires the Department of… 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     legacy Tester Statement on Timeline for Confirmation of a New Supreme Court Nominee U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement on the timeline for confirmation of a new Supreme Court nominee: 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     legacy Tester Secures More Than $11 Million for Glacier International Airport CARES Act and Airport Improvement Program funding will help expand terminal U.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. Montana 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. Tester 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     legacy Tester Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Tonight this country mourns an icon. Justice Ginsburg was a trailblazer who devoted her entire life to equal justice. May her memory be a blessing. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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