Tester calls on all to do part to fight COVID-19

Sen. Jon Tester D-Mont., called on Montanans during a telephonic press conference Thursday to do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19, while calling on Congress to do its part to help the nation.

"Our country is in the midst of a not just public health, but economic crisis. Now, more than ever it is critical that our communities come together and do everything that we can do to curb the spread of COVID-19," Tester said. "We have to keep social distancing in mind while we are wearing masks, and quite frankly, staying home out of the public as much as possible in order to do our part to keep our friends and families safe."

He said he spent the last four months talking with people from every corner of the state to find out what exactly needs to be occurring in this next round of coronavirus relief funding.

Based on these conversations, he said, Montanans have made it clear that if Congress doesn't provide critical tools and additional security for Main Street businesses and their employees to front line health care professionals and their families things are going to get worse not better for people all across rural America.

"What this means is, we need to invest in testing and provide critical resources for front line workers, he said. "We need to get substantial, targeted economic relief to folks who have been hit the hardest, Main Street businesses and the folks who have lost their jobs and we need to help local governments and tribal governments provide essential services to keep their communities safe."

"(Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R, Ky.) did nothing for four months. Instead of doing his job last week he put out a last-second proposal that at least 20 members of his own caucus would support," Tester added.

Now is not the time for politics as usual in the United States Senate, he said.

He said the country is hurting, Montana is hurting and negotiations should have been finished several weeks ago.

"Our forefathers would be rolling over in their graves if they knew this was how Congress is working in the 21st century during a global pandemic, he said. "I'm going to keep pushing aggressively to get the deal done, and one that ensures Montana's workers and their front line health care professionals, and the businesses and the families get the support they need to be able to survive while we slow the spread of this virus and folks get back to work."

During these challenging times, he said, people must assure that people are bolstering services that allow people to continue their everyday activities as safely as possible, especially those provided by the United States Postal Service.

He said that recent reductions and service have left many without timely deliveries that people have come to rely on, from critical medications to birthday cards to supplies to mail-in ballots.

Montanans need reliable mail service, he said, adding that with an election on the horizon potentially more Montanans will vote by mail than ever before.

"We've got to ensure folks have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote and to do so as safely, as efficiently as possible," Tester said. "It's not political, it's about the necessary functioning of our Democracy, and that's why I've introduced bipartisan legislation that will push $25 billion to emergency investments into the Postal Service, and I'm urging Senate leadership to include in the next coronavirus relief package."

 This critical investment will ensure the United States Postal Service will stay above water during unprecedented times as well as providing the necessary protective gear to the agencies, 2,100 employees who work in Montana alone every day, he said.

He said the Postal Service keeps rural communities connected and people need to be making it work better, not worse.

He also blasted a decision by the U.S. Census Bureau Monday to cut a month off of the data collection for the 2020 Census.

In order to get the state the critical resources it needs, people need to ensure that everyone gets counted in this year's Census, he said.

"This decision to cut it off a month early means that our state will miss out on critical funding for our local and tribal governments, schools, health and, quite frankly, could cost us a congressional seat and that is unacceptable," he said. "The decision by the White House is reckless, it's unfounded and I'm demanding the administration and the Senate Republicans stop playing politics and make sure our Census in 2020 is done right, because being accurately counted is the best way to ensure that our state gets critical resources that it needs to get keep our people health, safety and connected."

Wednesday night, he said, the Senate did some good work and unanimously passed his landmark Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bill.

Tester said Hannon was a proud Montanan who served honorably in the country's military as a Navy Seal for 23 years.

This bill will honor his memory by supporting the programs that improved his quality of life.

Hannon took his own life a few years ago, Tester said, but his name will live on an "incredible piece of legislation."

"We are losing 20 veterans a day to suicide," he said, "this has been going on for the last 10 or 15 years. It is, in my opinion the biggest challenge that the Veterans' Affairs has a problem dealing with mental health and the suicide that accompanies it. This legislation will save lives. ... It is not a silver bullet, but it will give the VA the tools it needs to be able to address our challenges that our veterans have particularly when it comes to mental health."