Indian Affairs
Jon grew up just down the road from Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in northcentral Montana, and he believes that the U.S. Government must uphold its treaty and trust responsibilities to Indian Country.
As a senior member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Jon has worked closely with Tribal nations to expand resources at the Indian Health Service, increase investments in Tribal schools, and secure resources and expand jurisdiction for Tribal Law Enforcement agencies.
Jon has led the charge in the fight against the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis by pushing the Senate Indian Affairs Committee to pass bills focusing on addressing violence in Indian Country.
Jon has a long history of advocating for strengthening Tribal sovereignty and self-determination, and he is making sure that Tribal leaders have the tools they need to increase opportunity and boost local economies.
Jon regularly visits each Montana Indian Reservation, sits down with Tribal leaders and families, and brings their concerns straight back to the Senate.
Regardless of whether the debate is about health care, education, or infrastructure, Jon is always pushing to empower Native voices, and make sure they have a seat at the table.
Related News
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Senate Unanimously Passes Tester’s Historic Bill to Support Women Veterans in End-of-Year Veterans’ Package
The Senate unanimously passed provisions from 12 Tester-backed bills as part of an end-of-year veterans' package-including his historic legislation to address the needs of women veterans across the country.
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Tester Demands VA Action Following Damning Watchdog Report on Veterans Crisis Line Responder Missteps
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester is demanding action from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following a damning report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) outlining responder missteps in the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) which may have contributed to a veteran’s death. The VCL provides an …
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November 18, 2020| View More
Tester, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Native American Veterans’ Access to VA Health Care, Eliminate Copays
U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)—Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee—are introducing the Native American Veteran Parity in Access to Care Today (PACT) Act, bipartisan legislation eliminating copayments for Native American veterans accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care. This legislation brings …
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November 17, 2020| View More
Tester Honors Native American Heritage Month with Senate Resolution
As a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is joining a bipartisan group of his colleagues to introduce a Congressional resolution celebrating Native American culture, heritage, and history.
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Tester Brings Home Major Investments in Montana’s Rural Communities
U.S. Senator Jon Tester, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured billions in funding for critical Montana priorities as a part of a series of bills to fund the government for the next fiscal year.