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(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Chairman of both the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today blasted his Republican colleagues on the Senate floor for shirking their most fundamental responsibility and blocking must-pass, critical funding legislation to support the nation’s military and veterans. 

“Let’s all work together. Let’s not play irresponsible political games with our military and with our veterans and with everybody else that lives in this country,” said Tester. “...I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and help in any way that I possibly can to make sure these bills get through this body and to the President’s desk so we can fund our veterans—and fund the needs that they have—so we can fund our military and deal with the threats that are facing us around the world…It’s time to quit talking. It’s time to start doing.”

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester is responsible for writing the 12 bills that fund the federal government each year. Earlier this year, the Senator secured critical funding and language in the fiscal year 2022 Department of Defense Appropriations legislation to ensure America’s national security, provide essential resources to our troops, and invest in the readiness and capabilities of critical military installations like Malmstrom Air Force Base.

He also secured billions and provisions in the fiscal year 2022 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to aid the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in addressing the most critical problems facing veterans and their families—including tackling the benefits claims backlog, increasing oversight of community care, bolstering accountability for the electronic health record modernization program, expanding medical care, and more.

Video of Tester's full speech can be found HERE.