Tester Passes Bill to Invest in Education, Help Working Families

Senator Scores Big Wins for Montana in Annual Labor & Education Appropriations Bill

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester scored big wins for Montana students, workers, and families today as the Senate passed bipartisan legislation that invests in education, childcare, and job training programs across rural America.

“Investing in Montana families is an investment in our future,” Tester said. “By giving working families the support they need, this bipartisan legislation will help parents get good-paying jobs and prepare their kids to compete in a 21st Century economy.”

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured critical investments for Montana in the 2019 Labor and Education Appropriations Bills-two of the 12 major bills that fund the federal government each year. The investments Tester secured include an additional:

WORKERS & FAMILIES

• $15 million for Apprenticeships 
• $5 million for Veterans Employment and Training
• $500,000 for Native American Job Training
• $50 million for Child Care and Development Block Grants

Read more about Tester’s plan to #EmployMT HERE.

EDUCATION

• $200 million for Head Start
• $32 million for Impact Aid
• $10 million for 21st Century Community Learning Centers
• $50 million for TRIO
• $96 million in IDEA funding to help educate students with disabilities
• $100 in the maximum Pell Grant award 

In addition to these major investments, Tester also secured a provision to help bring more teachers to rural America and Indian Country by providing professional development opportunities to educators. This provision-included in Tester’s REST and NEST Acts-will provide funding to help teachers in rural and Native schools become National Board certified.

Read more about Tester’s investments in education HERE and HERE.