Billings Gazette: Letter to the editor: Tester is the real deal

Montana has one of the largest populations of veterans per capita in the country, and we’re lucky to have our very-own Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., serving as chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where he’s advocating for us every day.

From working with Montana veterans to pass the PACT Act for toxic-exposed veterans, to the Hannon Act that improves rural veterans’ mental health care, and helping open several new VA clinics across the state — Tester always takes his cues from Montana vets and puts us first.

I was proud to work with Tester on many of these issues, especially the PACT Act. Toxic-exposure reform has been a priority for the VFW for decades. Jon listened to us and pushed Washington bureaucrats to finally deliver last summer. He also recently worked to pass the Veterans’ COLA Act to give disabled veterans and survivors a cost of living increase on their VA compensation.

The truth is, plenty of people will try to make Jon Tester into something he’s not, but Montana veterans know the truth. Tester is the real deal working for us, and he actually delivers the results we need. Whether it’s getting dozens of bipartisan reforms signed into law to expand our access to the care and benefits we earned, or having our back when it comes to the state veterans home in Butte.

As a veteran, I know Sen. Tester will continue to put politics aside and work in good faith on my behalf and for all Montana veterans.

Randy Stiles

Billings