Tester Statement on Border Security Funding Deal

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester, who helped lead a small bipartisan group of lawmakers tasked with crafting border security legislation to avert a government shutdown, released the following statement after the group announced an agreement in principle:

“Our bipartisan committee did its job and crafted a compromise that will help secure our borders and keep the government open,” Tester said. “Montanans deserve that kind of certainty from their lawmakers, and I look forward to working with my colleagues over the coming days to shepherd this bill through the legislative process.”

Tester, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, was named to the bipartisan conference committee three weeks ago after the Senate reached a deal to end the 35-day partial government shutdown.

The bipartisan group includes Democratic Senators Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Dick Durbin of Illinois, as well as Republican Senators Richard Shelby of Alabama, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Roy Blunt of Missouri-as well as a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House of Representatives.

Last month, Tester gave an impassioned speech on the Senate Floor demanding a vote to re-open the government. With over 7,000 affected workers, numerous Tribal Nations, and two of the busiest National Parks in the country, Montana was one of the states hit hardest by the longest government shutdown in American history.