http://www.tester.senate.gov News & other important information from SenatorJon Tester. en-us Copyright 2013 Jon Tester Thu, 23 May 2013 22:39:46 EST Senator Jon Tester, a steadfast advocate for rural America, opened his new Governmental Affairs subcommittee today by holding federal agencies accountable for providing better health care in rural parts of the country like Montana. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2926 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:29:00 EST Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) today released the following statements after the Senate passed the Senators' Stolen Valor Act. The Stolen Valor Act makes it a federal crime to lie about receiving a military decoration or medal, like the Medal of Honor, in order to profit or benefit financially: http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2923 Thu, 23 May 2013 13:36:00 EST Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after joining Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to find new ways to reduce the Department of Veterans Affairs claims backlog that is preventing veterans from getting the benefits they earned: http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2920 Wed, 22 May 2013 18:24:00 EST With fire season heating up, Senator Jon Tester today told the head of the Forest Service that his agency left 'better options on the table' when it recently contracted for seven next-generation fire-fighting air tankers. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2919 Wed, 22 May 2013 18:19:00 EST Montana's Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus secured support for their Veterans Employment Transition Act or 'VETS Act' in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania and Rep. Scott Peters of California introduced Tester and Baucus's Senate bill in the House, greatly boosting the bill's chances of passing this Congress. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2918 Wed, 22 May 2013 13:59:00 EST U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell told a congressional subcommittee Wednesday that he's considering overriding Neptune Aviation's protest of next-generation air tanker contracts in order to have firefighting planes available for this summer. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2922 Wed, 22 May 2013 10:45:00 EST Amtrak plans to study the feasibility of adding a stop in Culbertson for people traveling to the Baaken region for work. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2921 Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:00 EST Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus today announced that Amtrak will study the possibility of adding an Amtrak stop in Culbertson, Mont. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2916 Tue, 21 May 2013 17:58:00 EST Senator Jon Tester today told a group of the nation's leading government watchdogs that their work saves taxpayers money, holds officials accountable and rebuilds trust in government. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2915 Tue, 21 May 2013 15:36:00 EST Montana U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus are looking forward to a major victory this week in their efforts to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the nation's first ever Special Operations Force, known as the ‘Devil's Brigade.' Tester and Baucus's bill is expected to pass the U.S. House of Representatives tomorrow, and has more momentum than ever in the Senate, where 30 Senators support it. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2912 Mon, 20 May 2013 18:19:00 EST With President Obama saying that actions - not words - are needed to combat sexual assault in the military, Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are telling the President that immediate steps are available to better support survivors of sexual assault. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2908 Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 EST Senator Jon Tester is telling U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that the Justice Department 'flagrantly crossed the line' when it seized Associated Press telephone records and placed journalists under surveillance. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2904 Wed, 15 May 2013 19:25:00 EST Montana business leaders this week delivered Senator Jon Tester a clear message: Preserving clean and accessible public lands will bring new business opportunities to Montana. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2903 Wed, 15 May 2013 12:41:00 EST Montana Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus are demanding that the EPA take immediate action to better protect the personal information of Montana ranchers after the agency accidentally released livestock producers' names, addresses, and telephone numbers - not once, but twice. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2900 Mon, 13 May 2013 17:48:00 EST Senator Jon Tester is leading the effort against sexual assault in the military by providing more help to survivors of sexual violence and taking steps to prevent sexual assault in the first place. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2899 Mon, 13 May 2013 17:23:00 EST Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus are joining forces to tell the U.S. Defense Department to cut spending on military bases and facilities overseas - not on bases here in the United States. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2897 Thu, 09 May 2013 17:16:00 EST Senator Jon Tester is looking for more ways to strengthen rural America and make it easier for young farmers and ranchers to get a start in the agriculture business. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2896 Thu, 09 May 2013 16:35:00 EST Montana U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus have introduced a bill to help boost veteran employment through farming. The Senators plan to attach the provisions to the upcoming Farm Bill, which is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Agriculture Committee next week. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2895 Wed, 08 May 2013 17:58:00 EST Senator Jon Tester today pushed President Obama and Congress to move quickly to nominate and confirm government officials tasked with saving taxpayer money and stopping wasteful spending. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2894 Wed, 08 May 2013 17:56:00 EST Senator Jon Tester announced today that the nation's top tourism expert, Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, will be a keynote speaker at the Senator's upcoming Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Bozeman on Friday, May 17. http://www.tester.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2893 Wed, 08 May 2013 17:54:00 EST