Veterans
As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Jon is one of Congress’ most effective advocates for veterans. He is committed to working with both Republicans and Democrats to hold VA accountable, pass meaningful legislative reforms, and follow through on this country’s steadfast commitment to the men and women who have served.
Jon knows we must work to improve access to health care, benefits, jobs, education, transportation, and housing for veterans. And he believes that Congress must take their marching orders from veterans— not the other way around. That's why Jon routinely holds veteran hearings and meetings in Montana to hear from veterans face-to-face.
Tester is spearheading legislation to ensure that all veterans are getting the benefits and care they’ve earned. He teamed up with Republicans to pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act into law, to ensure that more veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange can access essential care and benefits. In a political climate when not much is getting done in Washington, Jon successfully worked with Republicans and President Trump to push this bill over the finish line.
He is also continuing to hold VA accountable by making sure that they implement the VA MISSION Act as intended by Congress. Jon is also pushing legislation protecting veterans’ disability payments and calling on VA to implement strategies to relieve financial burdens on veterans in Montana and across the country. And he’s pushing to change the VA’s approach to veterans’ mental health care and suicide prevention through his bipartisan Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019.
As the number of women in the military increase, Jon is also spearheading a number of bills including the Deborah Sampson Act, focused on improving VA services to empower and better serve women veterans.
Jon believes veterans deserve action. And they also deserve elected officials who will stand up for them, not stand in their way. He is deeply grateful for the many sacrifices veterans have made for this nation, and he won't stop until the men and women in uniform receive the quality benefits and care they have earned.
Related News
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September 29, 2020| View More
Tester Slams VA Secretary for Continuing to Limit Montana Veteran Voices in the Disability Claims Process
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.
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September 28, 2020| View More
Tester Statement on VA’s Failure to Address Lengthy Process for Community Care Referrals
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 Program—paving the …
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September 24, 2020| View More
Senate Sends Tester-Backed Bill Expanding Vet Center Eligibility for Guardsmen to President’s Desk
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.
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September 23, 2020| View More
BREAKING: Tester’s Groundbreaking Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bill Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s bipartisan Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act—groundbreaking legislation to improve veterans’ access to mental health care and named for a Montana veteran—is heading to the President’s desk after unanimously passing the U.S. House of Representatives today.
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September 22, 2020| View More
Tester Spearheads Senate Call to Ensure his Landmark Agent Orange Exposure Bill is Included in Final Annual Defense Bill
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.
