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Kalispell-based veteran group cites Jon’s long record of delivering for Montana veteran community

KALISPELL – The Veterans Coalition of Northwest Montana, a Kalispell-based group, today endorsed United States Senator and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester in his reelection bid for U.S. Senate, citing his long record of legislative wins for Montana veterans. 

“While some politicians focus on photo-ops, Jon focuses on delivering results for Montana’s veterans,” said Veterans Coalition of Northwest Montana President and Army Veteran Mike Shepard. “From his VA MISSION Act that ensures Montana’s veterans have access to high quality, accessible health care, to his bipartisan PACT Act which is now delivering health care and benefits to more than a million toxic-exposed veterans and survivors, Jon has a long track record of taking feedback directly from Montana’s veterans and passing life-changing legislation. Jon has our back in Washington, and we’re proud to have his back this November.”

The Veterans Coalition of Northwest Montana is made up of veterans from all branches of the military, with service spanning from the Vietnam War to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Founded in 2019 with the mission to eradicate veteran suicide, Jon Tester is the first candidate endorsement the group has made since its creation. 

Jon has authored and successfully passed more than 100 pieces of veterans legislation since he was first elected to the Senate. Veterans Coalition of Northwest Montana are endorsing Jon because of his long legislative track record of wins for Montana veterans, including:

• The PACT Act – a law that finally delivers toxic-exposed veterans of all generations, from Agent Orange in Vietnam to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, the VA health care and benefits they earned. This law is now delivering more than a million toxic-exposed veterans and survivors health care and benefits, including thousands in Montana.
• The Commander John Scott Hannon Act – a law named after a Montanan who lost his life to suicide, that improves rural veterans’ mental health care and resources.
• The Deb Sampson Act – a law that improves women veterans’ health care.
• The VA MISSION Act – a law that established the Veterans Community Care Program to ensure veterans could get private sector care if they live too far from a VA clinic or if wait times at VA facilities are too long.
• Securing funding for a brand-new veterans’ health care clinic in Kalispell that is currently underway.
• Passing legislation that raised the mileage reimbursement rate for disabled veterans—more than tripling the rate and increasing for the first time in more than 30 years.

Earlier this year over 150 veterans from across Montana endorsed Jon.