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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April 2, 2020| View More
$200 Million in Critical Telehealth Programs Need Quick Approval, Tester Urges FCC
Continuing his aggressive push to expand telehealth resources for Montanans in response to the coronavirus outbreak, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to quickly approve $200 million for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program as appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and …
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April 1, 2020| View More
Tester to Treasury: Act Immediately, Provide $1.25 Billion in Relief to Montana’s State, Local and Tribal Governments
U.S. Senator Jon Tester today called on Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to immediately provide funds from the State-Local Coronavirus Relief Fund to Montana's state, local and Tribal governments.
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April 1, 2020| View More
Get Coronavirus Relief to Indian Country, Tester Urges Administration
After the Trump Administration delayed the disbursing of $80 million in critical health care funds to help Tribes combat COVID-19 for nearly two weeks, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is pressing President Trump to make sure the newest $10 billion Tester secured for Indian Country is distributed quickly and properly.
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March 31, 2020| View More
Tester to Trump: Approve Montana’s Major Disaster Declaration Request
U.S. Senator Jon Tester is urging President Trump to approve Montana's major disaster declaration request submitted by Governor Steve Bullock late last week. Approval of the request would help the state slow and mitigate the effects of the virus by opening up access to new resources for medical supplies, personal …
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March 26, 2020| View More
After Tester Improvements, Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Now Includes $10 Billion in Critical Relief for Indian Country
After 72 hours negotiating substantial, bipartisan improvements to the Senate's COVID-19 stimulus legislation, U.S. Senator Jon Tester voted to deliver $10 billion to strengthen Indian Country's response to the COVID-19 crisis-relief that Tester successfully pushed to include after it was omitted from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's original bill offered …
