Jon’s time in the Senate has been marked by his strong support for America’s troops and his results protecting Montana’s role in defending America.

From his seat on the influential Appropriations Committee, Jon has fought for and won needed investments in Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, like upgrades to weapons storage areas, a new community activity center on the base, and support for cyber attack and defense exercises.

Jon has also fought to protect the missions of Malmstrom and the Montana Air National Guard, pushing two Administrations to continue and strengthen Montana’s critical role in America’s security. Saying it was “the right thing to do,” Jon helped lead the effort to pass a 3.9 percent pay raise for America’s troops in 2009.

That same year, Jon successfully passed a measure allowing the military to pay for travel costs for immediate relatives to attend one memorial service, in addition to a burial service, following an active-duty death. Jon’s effort came after he secured a plane ticket for a Montanan attending his son’s 2008 memorial service in Arizona. Jon coordinated the travel with a non-profit group because the Defense Department was unable to provide assistance.

A staunch defender of Montanans’ Constitutional rights, Jon pushed an amendment to the 2007 Immigration bill to eliminate the federal government’s proposed REAL ID program–an effort to force all Americans to obtain national ID cards. He also introduced legislation in 2009 to reform the PATRIOT Act.

Jon has successfully fought for several investments in efforts to keep illegal drugs out of Montana’s communities, such as the Montana National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.

After reports of female soliders being deployed just a few months after giving birth, Jon pushed the Defense Department to thoroughly review its maternity leave policies and make sure the rules in place are fair and effective.

And Jon has nominated dozens of Montana high school students to help them secure spots at the nation’s most prestigious military academies.

From his first Senate floor speech praising our troops’ dedication and pushing for a plan for the Iraq war, and his 2007 visit to Iraq to tour the war zone and talk with the troops, to his 2010 vote pushing for a detailed plan for American involvement in Afghanistan, Jon has been a consistent voice of support for the brave Americans putting their lives on the line for our country.

Click HERE to see more about where Jon stands on Montana’s role in defending America.