Veterans

Max Baucus: Doing what’s right for Montana’s Veterans

As chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, Montana’s senior U.S. Senator, Max Baucus was a key author of the Jobs Bill- working to ensure the economic recovery legislation was right for Montana. The Jobs Bill will bring more than $600 million dollars to Montana and create or sustain more than 11,000 jobs.

Montana has the highest percentage of veterans per capita in the nation, and Max worked to ensure the Jobs Bill contained measures to help these brave men and women get the help they need to weather this economic downturn. The veterans provisions in the Jobs Bill are about taking care of our veterans- the men and women who put their lives on the line in service to the United States of America.

The Jobs Bill Provisions for Montana’s veterans include a one-time $250 Economic Recovery Payment in 2009 for all 16,956 of Montana’s veterans receiving disability compensation or pension benefits.

The bill also contains significant tax breaks for employers who hire veterans who have left the military in the past five years and are struggling to find jobs because of the economic downturn.

In total, the jobs bill includes over $1 billion for improvements to VA hospitals across the country. 

There are several resources available for organizations interested in receiving some of this vital funding. The websites recovery.gov and recovery.mt.gov are excellent places to start.  Baucus staff can also offer support including help contacting the appropriate agency or department and providing support during the funding process.