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
-
December 20, 2018| View More
Tester Sends 21st Bill to President’s Desk
The United States Senate passed Ranking Member Jon Tester's 21st bipartisan bill, capping off a landmark Congress with numerous victories for America's veterans.
-
December 19, 2018| View More
Tester Grills VA Secretary on Future of Veterans Community Care
Tester specifically questioned Wilkie on the VA's recent decision to backtrack its agreement with Congress to designate certain …
-
December 17, 2018| View More
Tester, Boozman Intensify Call for Better VA Care for Women Veterans
Following VA Secretary Robert Wilkie's September presentation of the "State of the VA" to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee that showed that strides must still be made to improve services for women veterans, Tester and Boozman are urging VA Secretary Wilkie to implement low-cost and common sense reforms from their …
-
December 14, 2018| View More
Tester to Continue Leadership on Veterans' Affairs Committee
"It's no secret there are challenges at the VA. But there are opportunities too," Tester said. "When I came to the Senate I made it my mission to make sure our nation's service men and women are supported in every way, and I'm honored to continue this important work on …
-
December 11, 2018| View More
Tester Statement Following Blue Water Navy Vote
"I'm incredibly disappointed in the obstructionism that blocked our bipartisan and widely supported Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. Republicans and Democrats have worked in good faith to move this bill with plenty of opportunities for debate along the way. Taking care of our veterans is a cost of war. …
