19 key wins for veterans, veteran families
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
News from the office of Senator Tester
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Jon Tester successfully introduced, spearheaded, and sent 19 veterans bills to the President’s desk in his second year as Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. These new laws are part of Tester’s continued commitment to deliver timelier, quality care, benefits, and services to veterans and their families in Montana and nationwide at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“We took great strides this year on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee to make good on our promises to veterans and their families across the country—making it one of our most productive Congresses yet,” said Tester. “I’m especially proud to have worked with Republicans and Democrats to deliver toxic-exposed veterans of all generations historic relief under the PACT Act—a bill that’ll do right by these men and women for years to come. It’s an honor of lifetime to serve as Chairman of this committee, and I look forward to continuing the good work alongside my colleagues, veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, Military Service Organizations, and other stakeholders in the new year to keep holding the Administration accountable in delivering our nation’s bravest the support they need, earned, and deserve.”
President Joe Biden signed the following veterans’ bills authored by Tester in 2022:
— Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act
— Making Advances in Mammography & Medical Options (MAMMO) for Veterans Act
— Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act
— Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2022
— VA Electronic Health Record Transparency Act
— Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act of
— Fiscal Year 2023 Expiring Authorities Act
— Fiscal Year 2022 Major Medical Facility Authorization Act
— A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transfer the name of property of the Department of Veterans Affairs designated by law to other property
— National Cemeteries Preservation & Protection Act of 2022
He also secured a package of veterans’ legislation and the following bills he authored as part of an omnibus federal funding package:
— The Joseph Maxwell Cleland & Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2022
— Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021
— Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2021
— Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Reform Act of 2021
— Veterans Prostate Cancer Treatment & Research Act
— VA Supply Chain Resiliency Act
— Post-9/11 Veterans’ Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2021
— Revising and Expediting Actions for the Crisis Hotline (REACH) for Veterans Act
— American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act
Chairman Tester received the following awards for his efforts on behalf of veterans and their families in the 117th Congress: the Student Veterans of America’s Sonny Montgomery Student Veteran Champion Award, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans’ 2021 Policy Award, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors’ TAPS Congressional Award, the Retired Enlisted Association’s Legislator of the Year Award, the Fleet Reserve Association’s Pinnacle Award, the Jefferson Islands Club Citizen of the Year Award, and the Wounded Warrior Project’s Legislator of the Year Award.
