(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after President Trump met with leaders of some of the nation’s Veterans Service Organizations:

“President Trump and Congress need to take their cues from veterans, and this meeting is certainly a step in the right direction.  Moving forward, I am hopeful the Administration will better engage with key veterans’ advocates to ensure they have a seat at the table in shaping policies for veterans.  It is critical that the feedback and priorities of the veterans organizations represented at today’s discussion, as well as those key veterans leaders who were unfortunately not invited, do not take a backset to special interest groups with political agendas.”

In January, Tester called for Trump to sit down with Veterans Service Organizations before making any major decisions regarding veterans’ issues.

While hearing the legislative priorities of several Veterans Service Organizations, Tester asked veterans’ leaders if they had been able to schedule a meeting.