Veterans
As Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Jon is widely known as one of the Senate's most effective advocates for veterans. As a leader of the VA Committee, Jon is committed to working with both Republican and Democrats to hold the VA accountable, get meaningful reforms passed, and make sure this country fulfills its promise 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 members of Congress must take their marching orders from veterans--not the other way around. That's why Jon routinely holds veterans listening sessions in Montana to hear from veterans face-to-face.
Tester teamed up with Republicans to craft and pass the Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act and the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. In a political climate when not much is getting done in Washington, Jon successfully worked with Republicans and President Trump to get these major reform bills signed into law.
Tester has also spearheaded bipartisan legislation that would speed up disability claims processing, improve educational benefits for folks returning from war, and provide veterans with transportation to and from VA medical facilities.
And as the number of women in the military increase, Jon has introduced a number of bills focused on improving VA services to empower and better serve women veterans.
Jon believes veterans deserve actionâ??-â??and they deserve elected officials who will stand up for them and 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 who served get the quality benefits and care they have earned.
Related News
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May 23, 2019| View More
Tester’s Bipartisan Veterans Priorities Gain Momentum
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee yesterday debated six bipartisan bills authored by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Committee's Ranking Member. Among the bills were legislation aimed at improving mental health care and preventing veteran suicide, boosting health care resources for women veterans, and ensuring Guard and Reservists can access mental …
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May 21, 2019| View More
Senate Passes Tester Bill to Eliminate Tax on Gold Star Families as Senator Continues Work to Fix Widow’s Tax
The Senate today unanimously passed legislation from U.S. Senator Jon Tester to eliminate the tax burden placed on Gold Star children and their families by President Trump's disastrous tax bill. The bill's passage comes on the same day Tester joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to call for passage of …
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May 16, 2019| View More
At Confirmation Hearing for VA’s #2 Official, Tester Urges Increased Transparency at VA
(U.S. Senate) - At today's confirmation hearing for the VA's Deputy Secretary nominee, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Jon Tester called for the VA to act in a more transparent and collaborative manner. Tester encouraged James M. Byrne, currently the Acting Deputy Secretary and former general …
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May 8, 2019| View More
Tester Introduces Bill to Eliminate Trump’s Tax on Gold Star Families
(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester is defending Gold Star children and families against President Trump's disastrous tax policies by sponsoring legislation to eliminate the tax burden placed on military survivor benefits by the so-called Tax Cut and Jobs Act.
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May 8, 2019| View More
Great Falls Vietnam Veteran Honored with Tester-Backed Legislation
(U.S. Senate) - U.S. Senator Jon Tester is backing bipartisan legislation to honor a Great Falls Vietnam veteran who died during the sinking of the USS Frank E. Evans.
