Tester Recognized as National Champion for Community Health Centers

Senator Receives 2018 Distinguished Community Health Champion Award

(Big Sandy, Mont.) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester is being recognized as a national champion for community health centers and an advocate for Montana’s patients and medical professionals.

The National Association of Community Health Centers presented the Community Health Champion Award to Tester on Capitol Hill with representatives from Montana’s community health centers in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Hardin, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Libby, and Missoula.

“From Bullhook in Havre to RiverStone in Billings, Montana’s community health centers provide affordable and quality health care to folks across our state,” said Tester. “It is a true honor to receive this award. Throughout my time in the U.S. Senate, I have fought for lower health care costs and stood up to demand that Washington prioritize access to health care in rural America.”

Montana is home to about 40 community health centers that serve more than 100,000 patients each year. Federal funding for them expired in September 2017 and lapsed until February 2018 when Tester was able to broker a deal to secure two years’ worth of funding.

“Thanks to your consistent vigilance and steadfast support, every American who looks to a health center for cost-effective, high quality preventitve and primary health care can rest assured that their care will continue,” wrote Tom Van Coverden, President and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers, to Senator Tester. “Your leadership in support of America’s health centers was key to the resolution of our immediate funding crisis. On behalf of our nation’s community health centers and the 27 million Americans they serve I want to personally thank you.”

Tester is the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation who voted in support of community health centers earlier this year. If Tester had not secured funding in the February budget deal, clinics across the country would have seen a 70 percent drop in federal grant funding, forcing many to cut services, lay off medical professionals, or consider closing altogether.

A full timeline of Tester’s work on behalf of community health centers:

2009
Tester votes for the Affordable Care Act, which establishes the Community Health Center Fund.

2012
Tester joins bipartisan Community Health Center Caucus.

2015
Tester supports two-year extension of Community Health Center funding.

2015-2017
Tester uses the Community Health Center Fund to secure more than $7 million in grant funding for Montana Community Health Centers.
• Cut Bank: Glacier Community Health Center – $1,685,166
• Great Falls: Cascade County Community Health Center – $1,558,934
• Hamilton: Sapphire Community Health Center – $704,000
• Miles City: Custer Community Health Center – $919,183
• Shelby: Marias Health Service Inc. – $716,936
• Helena: PureView Health Center – $625,000
• Butte: Southwest Montana Community Health Center – $944,000
• Billings: Yellowstone City/County Health Department and RiverStone Health – $350,000
• Libby: Lincoln County Community Health Center and Northwest Community Health Center – $350,000
• Hardin: Bighorn Valley Center -$350,000

December 15, 2016
Tester hosts health care listening session in Helena with local Community Health Center leaders.

December 21, 2016
Tester hosts health care listening session in Havre with local Community Health Center leaders.

January 7, 2017
Tester hosts health care listening session in Missoula with local Community Health Center leaders.

January 14, 2017
Tester hosts health care listening session in Billings with local Community Health Center leaders.

January 14, 2017
Tester hosts health care listening session in Bozeman with local Community Health Center leaders.

May 24, 2017
Tester calls on Congress to take action and reauthorize Community Health Center funding before it expires in September.

September 7, 2017
Tester uses his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure $1 million in additional funding for Community Health Centers in September, but that bill is not brought up for a final vote by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

September 30, 2017
Failed Congressional leadership allows Community Health Center funding to expire.

October 3, 2017
Tester cosponsors bipartisan CHIME Act to reauthorize funding for Community Health Centers.

January 19, 2018
Tester opposes short-term budget that doesn’t contain Community Health Center funding.

January 20, 2018
Tester scolds colleagues on the Senate floor and demands Community Health Center funding is included in a long-term budget bill.

January 21, 2018
Tester again takes to Senate floor saying “Enough is enough” and calls for budget agreement to include Community Health Center funding.

January 22, 2018
Tester again opposes short-term budget that doesn’t contain Community Health Center funding.

January 31, 2018
Tester sends letter to Congressional leaders demanding Congress include Community Health Center funding in upcoming budget bill.

February 2, 2018
Tester, on the Senate floor, keeps heat turned up on colleagues to reauthorize Community Health Center funding after a report sheds light on consequences of Congress’ failures to fund Community Health Centers.

February 5, 2018
Tester sends another letter to Congressional leaders demanding they take action to fund CHCs.

February 6, 2018
Tester hosts press conference on Capitol Steps with Community Health Center leaders, urging Congress to reauthorize Community Health Center funding.

February 7, 2018
Tester secures two years of funding for Community Health Centers in a bipartisan budget deal.