U.S. Senator Jon Tester

Senator Jon Tester

Jon Tester, elected in 2006, is the junior U.S. Senator from Montana

Whether in the U.S. Capitol or on his farm near Big Sandy, Montana, Sen. Jon Tester isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves to get work done.

Tester and his wife, Sharla, farm the same land his grandparents homesteaded nearly 100 years ago. He was elected to the U.S. Senate on Nov. 7, 2006,after a long history of public service in the Big Sky State. He served as chair of the Big Sandy School Board and on his local Soil Conservation Service Committee before running for the Montana Senate in 1997.

Tester served two four-year terms in the Montana Legislature, quickly gaining the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle and rising to leadership roles soon after being elected. In 2005, he was chosen to serve as the President of the Montana Senate. He credits his leadership success to the values he learned growing up on the farm--hard work, straight talk, honesty and integrity.

Under Tester's leadership, the Montana Legislature improved funding for public education and cut taxes for thousands of small businesses. Tester also led the fight to implement a statewide Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program. He sponsored legislation requiring all public utilities to gradually use more renewable energy, and he carried a bill giving tax credits to companies that generate wind power in Montana. Tester also fought to make employee health insurance affordable for small businesses.

Tester was born in Havre, Montana, on August 21, 1956. He graduated from the College of Great Falls in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in music. In addition to farming and running a custom butcher shop behind the barn, Tester also worked as a music teacher for Big Sandy Public Schools.

The Testers now grow organic wheat, barley, lentils, peas, millet, buckwheat and alfalfa. They plan to come home to Montana as often as possible to hear from Montanans, take care of chores and visit their children and grandchildren.

Washington D.C.
Senate Dirksen Building, Room B40E
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2644
Fax: (202) 224-8594
http://tester.senate.gov/

Billings
Granite Tower
222 N 32nd St, Suite 101
Billings, MT 59101
Phone: (406) 252-0550
Fax: (406) 252-7768

Bozeman
211 Haggerty Lane
Bozeman, MT 59715
Phone: (406) 586-4450
Fax: (406) 586-7647

Butte
Silver Bow Center
125 W Granite, Suite 200
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 723-3277
Fax: (406) 782-4717

Great Falls
321 First Ave N
Great Falls, MT 59401
Phone: (406) 452-9585
Fax: (406) 452-9586

Helena
Capital One Center
208 N Montana Ave, Suite 202
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 449-5401
Fax: (406) 449-5462

Kalispell
1845 Highway 93 South, Suite 210
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: (406) 257-3360
Fax: (406) 257-3974

Missoula
116 W Front Street
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: (406) 728-3003
Fax: (406) 728-2193

• District:
• Party: Democrat
• Term: 6 year term, elected in 2006
• Score Card Rating: