Law Enforcement & Public Safety

Jon is a tireless advocate for Montana’s law enforcement and first responders, and he’ll always fight to get them the funding and resources they need to keep our families and communities safe.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Jon has consistently secured funding to beef up border security and to support law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal level. During the pandemic, Jon secured $1.25 billion in direct relief through the American Rescue Plan Act to keep critical services like cops and firefighters on the beat.

Jon is also pushing bipartisan legislation to ensure our first responders get the pay and benefits they deserve. His First Responder Fair RETIRE Act would allow federal first responders with dangerous jobs—including federal law enforcement officers, CBP officers, and firefighters—to keep their retirement benefits if they are injured on the job and return to work in an administrative position. Jon also supports legislation to give Border Patrol agents the pay raise they deserve, to create a streamlined grant program for smaller law enforcement agencies, and to provide law enforcement officers with more tools so they can better respond to individuals in a mental health crisis.

To help protect our kids and communities from dangerous drugs, Jon introduced his bipartisan ANTI Drug Act to increase funding for anti-drug trafficking taskforces and support local efforts to combat drug trafficking across Montana.

Jon will always fiercely defend the folks who work their tails off to keep us safe.

Tester Secures $43.3 Million in PILT Funding to Provide Vital Services Across Montana
Funding will help counties provide critical services U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced he has secured $43,301,694 in Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to support critical law enforcement, firefighting, and infrastructure priorities across Montana. As a senior member...
Senate Passes Tester’s Bipartisan Bill to Boost Resources for Montana’s Local Fire Departments
Senator’s Fire Grants and Safety Act cleared the Senate this month, reauthorizes critical funding for local fire departments to bolster staffing and equipment As part of his continued efforts to support first responders and keep Montana communities safe, U.S. Senator Jon Tester...
Tester Secures Nearly $1.4 Million for Drug Task Forces, Crime Prevention in Montana
Funding will support federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies as they combat drug trafficking As part of his continued work to support law enforcement officers and keep Montana communities safe, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced he...