(U.S. Senate) — The Senate today unanimously passed bipartisan legislation spearheaded by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester and the Montana Congressional delegation to name the Butte VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in honor of Montana World War II hero Charlie Dowd, Montana’s last surviving Pearl Harbor survivor who passed in March 2023. The bill now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

“Charlie Dowd’s extraordinary courage at Pearl Harbor and exemplary service is what makes our country the greatest in the world,” said Tester. “He was one of Montana’s very best, and naming the new Butte VA Clinic in his honor ensures his legacy and that of the entire Greatest Generation is never forgotten by future generations of Montanans. It’s a fitting honor for a facility that serves thousands of Butte-Silver Bow veterans, and I urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly pass this bill.”

Tester and the Montana delegation sent a letter to Senate and House leadership last month, urging support of their legislation to rename the Butte VA clinic in Dowd’s name.

A champion for improving Butte-area veterans’ access to quality care and services, Tester secured funds for the new state-of-the-art Butte VA CBOC that opened its doors in April 2022. He was the only member of the Montana delegation to vote for both of the federal spending bills that made this new clinic possible.

Tester also led the decades-long push alongside local community leaders and veterans to secure the funds and necessary resources to get the Southwest Montana Veterans Home project off the ground and open.