Tester Receives Pinnacle Award


The Fleet Reserve Association has awarded U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the annual Pinnacle Award for his outstanding leadership and ongoing efforts to support the nation’s veterans and servicemembers as chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“It’s an honor to receive the Fleet Reserve Association’s Pinnacle Award, and fight alongside them on behalf of all men and women at sea who swore an oath to protect our country in waters around the world,” Tester said. “Our work to provide long-overdue health care and benefits to address toxic exposure illnesses is far from over, and I look forward to continuing our efforts in Congress to deliver for our past, present, and future generations of veterans.”
“The Fleet Reserve Association is thankful for Senator Jon Tester’s efforts to provide full benefits to military retirees who have a combat related disability who were forced to retire before 20 years of service due to their injuries through the Major Richard Star Act,” said the Fleet Reserve Association’s National President James Campbell. “Reducing these retirees’ Defense Department benefit because they receive a Department of Veterans Affairs benefit is an injustice. Our advocates also believe that too many Post 9-11 veterans toxic exposure claims are being denied. That is why our Association supports the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act—Senator Tester’s landmark legislation to offer Post-9/11 combat veterans, including those suffering from conditions caused by toxic exposures, access to VA health care.”
The Pinnacle Award is the Fleet Reserve Association’s annual recognition of members of Congress who have demonstrated strong leadership for veterans and servicemembers.