Jon Tester on Education

	Jon Tester on Education Democratic Jr Senator

Ban cell-cultivated meat from school breakfast & lunch

Senator Jon Tester introduced the School Lunch Integrity Act, a bipartisan bill with Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) to ban cell-cultivated meat from being provided through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP).

Currently, the USDA sets nutritional requirements for the meals that are able to be served to students through the NSLP and SBP, but has not issued any guidance on the use of cell-cultivated protein in those programs. Tester's bipartisan bill would fix the lack of standards by banning cell-cultivated meat from the programs.

"Montana ranchers grow the best meat in the world, that's a fact--and our students ought to be getting the best in their school breakfasts and lunches every day," said Tester. "This commonsense bill will make sure our schools can serve real meat from our ranchers, not a fake substitute that's grown in a lab."

Source: Senate press release on 2024 Montana Senate race , Jan 26, 2024

Privatizing public schools feeds destruction of democracy

Q: Education: Provide vouchers to send children to private schools with public money?

Matt Rosendale (R): Yes. "Critical.if we are going to see improvement in our education system."

Jon Tester (D): No. Privatization of public schools feeds destruction of democracy.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race , Oct 9, 2018

Restore year-round Pell Grants, & support Perkins Loans

Q: Student Debt & Financial Aid: Lower student loan rates, while increasing high-earner taxes (Elizabeth Warren bill)?

Matt Rosendale (R): No. "Move the federal government out of the funding that takes place for the colleges & universities."

Jon Tester (D): Yes. Voted for Warren bill. Also supports restoring year-round Pell Grants, & supporting Perkins Loans.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race , Oct 9, 2018

More tuition tax credits, low-interest loans, & Pell grants

You've heard a lot about how my opponent delivers for MSU. But it's the faculty and the students that do the heavy lifting to make Montana State University a world-class teaching and research facility - not whose name is on a building.

I've got a kid in college today in Montana, and one that just graduated a few years ago. So I know what college education costs you and your families. We have finally started to turn the university funding at the state level around, with the first significant funding increases after a decade of neglect. But we can do more.

I have a plan to expand tuition tax credits to make college tuition more affordable for Montana families. Sen. Burns has voted to end tuition tax credits for 11,000 Montanans. I believe we need to keep low-interest loans and increasing Pell grants. Sen. Burns has voted against higher student loans and opposes increases in Pell grants. Too many middle-class families are being priced out of the dream of providing their kids a higher education.

Source: 2006 Montana 3-way Senate Debate at MSU , Oct 9, 2006

Public education is the backbone of our democracy

Public education is the backbone of our democracy-an uneducated society impedes the ability of a democracy to work for the people. For a successful business, you have to be able to hire well-trained workers that meet the needs of your business. It's why our Colleges of Technologies, K-12 public education and our state university system are essential to educating tomorrow's workforce for economic growth in the Big Sky. Source: 2006 Senate campaign website, TesterForSenate.com, "Issues" , Dec 25, 2005