National Security & Military
As a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Jon's top priority is keeping Montanans safe. That's why he works hard to ensure our country's military, law enforcement officers, and first responders have the resources they need to keep our families secure.
Jon has voted for pay raises for America's troops, protected the flying mission at the Montana Air National Guard, and passed legislation to better secure Montana's 540-mile northern border with Canada.
In response to a growing number of hacks and security breaches, Jon has also led the effort to close security loopholes and prevent future insider threats by reforming the security clearance and background check processes to ensure that America's most sensitive information doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
Jon also believes the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) fleet at Malmstrom Air Force Base is the most cost-effective deterrent to ensure the nation's safety. That's why Jon has worked so hard to help modernize Malmstrom's ICBM fleet, ensuring that the base remains safe and active for many years to come.
As Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Jon crafts the Homeland Security budget which includes U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Transportation Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This makes him acutely aware that while we must keep America safe, the cost of war is profound and will be felt by returning service members and American taxpayers for decades to come.
Related News
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September 22, 2021| View More
Tester Secures Millions for Air Force, Fights for $10.8 Million in Malmstrom Investments in Critical Spending Bill
Funding would address Malmstrom damage from winter storms
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September 11, 2021| View More
Tester Statement on Anniversary of September 11th Attacks
U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Chairman of both the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today released the following statement in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks:
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July 28, 2021| View More
Tester Pushes Department of Homeland Security to Expand Workforce Opportunities for Transitioning Servicemembers
U.S. Senator Jon Tester is pushing the Department of Homeland Security to expand participation in the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program to provide the country’s armed forces access to critical job opportunities to ensure servicemembers have meaningful careers before leaving military service.
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July 23, 2021| View More
Chairman Tester Secures Air Force Commitment On Montana Air National Guard C-130s
During a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on Navy and Air Force Weapons Systems Divestments, Chairman Jon Tester secured a commitment from the U.S. Air Force that they would not decommission the Montana Air National Guard’s (MANG) C-130H aircraft without first consulting with and receiving agreement from the state of …
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July 21, 2021| View More
Tester to Department of Homeland Security: It’s Time to Fully Re-open the Northern Border
Senator: "I am concerned that this [uncoordinated reopening] will unfairly impact Americans and cause confusion along the United States-Canadian border."
