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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November 7, 2019| View More
At Banking Hearing, Tester Pushes Expansion of Affordable Housing for Veterans
U.S. Senator Jon Tester today pushed for an expansion of the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on the nation’s growing affordable housing crisis.
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November 7, 2019| View More
Tester, Moran Lead Bipartisan Call to Action for Better Patient Safety and Oversight at VA Facilities
U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are leading eight colleagues in a bipartisan call to action following alarming incidents of veterans receiving inadequate care or mistreatment at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) medical facilities.
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November 1, 2019| View More
‘Stop turning your backs on Vietnam vets who are suffering’ Tester, Colleagues Slam Acting White House Chief Mulvaney
Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and his colleagues are refusing to back down from their fight to ensure Vietnam veterans suffering from toxic exposure to Agent Orange receive necessary benefits and care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
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October 24, 2019| View More
Tester, Colleagues Condemn Administration for Ignoring Vietnam Veterans Suffering from Agent Orange
Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.), colleagues on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and veterans service organizations (VSOs) are condemning the Trump Administration following released documents revealing that the White House blocked efforts by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand the list of presumptive health outcomes for …
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October 18, 2019| View More
Tester Announces More Than $100,000 in Adaptive Sports for Disabled Veterans in Montana
U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced more than $103,000 has been awarded to help disabled veterans in Montana improve their independence, well-being, and quality of life through adaptive sports and therapeutic arts programs.
