(Butte, Mont.) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today joined veterans, local officials, and community members at the United Veterans Council’s annual Veterans Day ceremony in Butte to celebrate and honor Montana’s veterans.

“Today is about more than just paying our respects—it’s about doing right by our fighting men and women both during and after their time in uniform,” said Tester. “This means making sure veterans have access to quality health care, good paying jobs, and affordable housing options here at home. And as Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs’ Committee, I’m fighting every day to hold the VA accountable in providing veterans of all generations the benefits and care they’ve earned.”

He continued, “This country would not be here today without our fighting men and women—without the enduring sacrifices they’ve made, and the enduring sacrifices their families have made. Together, let’s continue to fight to get the job done, and done right, for them.”

As Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Tester is leading the fight in Washington to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accountable in providing all generations of veterans the benefits and care they’ve earned. He is continuing his push to improve veterans’ mental health care access through swift and steady implementation of his law, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, and to pay the continuing cost of war through his Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops (COST) of War Act—historic legislation allowing veterans affected by toxic exposure, including 3.5 million Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, to obtain immediate and lifelong access to VA health care.

Following a decade-long effort from Tester, the Southwest Montana Veterans Home opened its doors to veterans in Butte-Silver Bow last March. As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee since 2007, Tester fought for years to secure the funding for the home, and worked with local stakeholders and the federal government to secure the necessary the resources to get the project off the ground and completed. He’s also been a longtime supporter of the Butte Veterans Treatment Court.