Tester Secures More Than $1.2 Million for Montana Food Banks and $41 Million for Montana Schools

Funding will help Montana communities provide low-income and elderly populations with nutrition assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic

(Big Sandy, Mont.) – As communities across Montana work to ensure that vulnerable populations have the resources they need to stay healthy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Montana food banks will receive $1,233,964 so they can continue providing low-income and elderly populations with access to nutrition assistance.

“Montanans take care of each other, and now more than ever it’s critical that we do everything we can to help our neighbors during this uncertain time,” said Tester. “Our food banks are going above and beyond to ensure that vulnerable folks in our communities can put food on the table throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and this funding will help them keep up with the increasing need for nutrition assistance to low-income families and elderly folks across our state, and do so safely and effectively.”

This funding was provided by The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and was allocated through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act—a bill that passed the Senate with Tester’s support last month. TEFAP is a federal program that works to supplement the diets of low-income Americans and the elderly by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Combined, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $850 million for TEFAP.

Tester has been working tirelessly to ensure that vulnerable Montanans have the resources they need throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Earlier this week, he announced that Montana will receive more than $5.5 million to support senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, and he recently secured $2 million for the Montana Department of Health and Human Services to bolster the state’s capacity to provide behavioral health services to those with substance use disorders and mental illnesses throughout the public health crisis.

After 72 hours negotiating substantial, bipartisan improvements to COVID-19 stimulus legislation that had previously fallen far short for Montana, Tester voted to deliver critical, urgent relief to Montana workers, families, small businesses, hospitals and others hardest hit by the outbreak. This funding included $1.25 billion for the state of Montana and was delivered to the state earlier this week.

Visit tester.senate.gov/coronavirusresources for a list of resources for Montanans during the COVID-19 outbreak

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Tester Secures More Than $41 Million for Montana Schools Closed During COVID-19 Pandemic

Senator fought to include funding in CARES Act for Montana K-12 schools impacted by crisis

(Big Sandy, Mont.) – As Montana classrooms stay shuttered to students due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the state will receive $41,295,230 to help K-12 schools meet the needs of students as they continue to rely on online learning to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Tester successfully pushed to include this funding in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s original version of the bill provided zero funding for K-12 schools.

“Montana families rely on public schools to provide their kids with a quality education, but the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench into our education system,” said Tester. “Students and educators alike are finding it difficult to transition online, and limited broadband in our frontier communities makes it nearly impossible for many of our kids to access learning. This funding can help our schools find creative solutions to these issues and ensure that the next generation gets the education they deserve, even if they aren’t in a classroom.”

This funding was allocated by the Department of Education and can be used by state and local education agencies to invest in innovative ways to educate K-12 students outside of the classroom as well as to promote health and safety, particularly through technology, distance learning resources, training, and long-term planning. States must distribute 90 percent of the funding to local education agencies and may retain up to 10 percent for their coronavirus responses.

As a former teacher and school board member, Tester has been fighting tooth and nail to ensure Montana schools and students have the resources they need to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, he announced that the Montana Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund would receive more than $8.7 million in funding to bolster education in the state. He also secured $32 million in relief for more than 25 Montana colleges and universities earlier this month, and worked to ensure that those seeking public student loan forgiveness are not penalized if they miss a payment during the global health crisis.

After 72 hours negotiating substantial, bipartisan improvements to COVID-19 stimulus legislation that had previously fallen far short for Montana, Tester voted to deliver critical, urgent relief to Montana workers, families, small businesses, hospitals and others hardest hit by the outbreak. This funding included $1.25 billion for the state of Montana, which was delivered to the state earlier this week.

Visit tester.senate.gov/coronavirusresources for a list of resources for Montanans during the COVID-19 outbreak