Tester Sworn In for Third U.S. Senate Term

Senator Will Fight to Lower Health Care Costs, Rebuild Infrastructure, and Address Student Debt

(U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today commenced his third term representing Montana in the U.S. Senate by vowing to lower health care costs, rebuild infrastructure, and address the growing student debt crisis.

Tester was officially sworn in on the Senate floor earlier in the day. Then Vice-President Mike Pence administered a ceremonial oath, while Tester stood alongside his wife Sharla and their children and grandchildren.

“We’ve been able to accomplish so much for Montana, but there is still a lot of work to do,” Tester said. “In my third term, I will fight for Montanans every day, hold Washington accountable and tackle the biggest issues facing our state. By working together, we will keep Montana as the Last Best Place.”

Montanans first elected Tester, a third-generation farmer and former public school teacher, to the Senate in 2006.

Tester will again be the Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in addition to serving on the Senate Appropriations, Banking, Indian Affairs, and Commerce Committees.

Tester delivered the following address to the people of Montana:

Representing Montana in the U.S. Senate has been an incredible honor.

Since the day I was first sworn in to serve Big Sky Country, I have worked with Montanans to make a real difference in Washington, DC.

Right out of the gate, I worked with veterans to increase their travel reimbursement rate, and tear down many of the barriers that were keeping veterans from accessing the care they earned.

I reached across the aisle to protect some of Montana’s most treasured landscapes for future generations like the Rocky Mountain Front, North Fork of the Flathead River, and East Rosebud Creek.

I’ve sat down with thousands of Montana business owners and used their feedback to cut red tape and invest in job creators across our great state.

And I ensured that Montana family farmers and ranchers had a seat at the table while crafting the legislation that is vital to our state’s number one industry-agriculture.

Together, we have accomplished so much over the past 12 years, but we still have so much more to get done.

After being sworn in for a third term in the U.S. Senate today, I am ready to once again hit the ground running and work with you to move Montana forward.

Over the next six years we have the opportunity to accomplish so much, and I will again be traveling across the state to meet with Montanans and gather your priorities for the new Congress.

I am going to sit down with rural hospitals, doctors, and patients to lower the cost of health care for all Montanans.

I am going to meet with tribal leaders and law enforcement, and hold Washington more accountable to address the growing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic.

I will work with both parties to pass a major infrastructure bill that not only rebuilds our roads and bridges, but expands access to high-speed internet to every corner of our state.

I will sit down with Montana bankers, builders, and state officials to identify ways we can increase access to more affordable housing.

I will work with student leaders at all of Montana’s college campuses to lower the cost of education and rid the next generation of leaders from their crushing student debt.

And I will keep fighting to pass the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, the Little Shell Recognitions Act, and all of the other bills that Montanans have been pushing to get across that finish line.

By working together, we will continue to make Montana the Last Best Place.

Have a happy new year, and please keep in touch.