Public Lands
Jon knows that in Montana outdoor recreation is more than a hobby—it's a way of life. Because Montana boasts some of the most beautiful views of National Parks, rivers, streams, and wildlife the country has to offer, Montanans know how important it is to protect public lands.
Outdoor recreation is one of Montana's biggest and fastest growing industries. In fact, hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping generate more than $7 billion and sustain 71,000 jobs across the state each year.
Jon is fighting to keep public lands in public hands. In January 2019, the Jon’s bill to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was signed into law. Funded through offshore oil and gas development revenue, LWCF has invested more than $540 million to support Montana’s outdoor economy since 1965—all without costing the taxpayers a dime. Jon continues pushing to ensure that LWCF is fully, permanently funded for generations to come.
In a collaborative effort between Montana ranchers, loggers, mountain bikers, snowmobilers, and business owners, Jon also crafted and introduced the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. This made-in-Montana bill protects thousands of acres of public land, ensures future generations can access outdoor recreational opportunities, and strengthens Montana's outdoor economy. The bill received a hearing last Congress and continues to pick up momentum.
Jon is working hard to protect Montana’s iconic landscapes for future generations. His bipartisan Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act was signed into law, protecting the doorstep of the nation’s first National Park and 30,000 acres of public land from industrial mining. He successfully led the bipartisan Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act and the North Fork Protection Act, which ensure these treasured places can be enjoyed for future generations.
Related News
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March 15, 2021| View More
Tester Votes to Confirm Congresswoman Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary
U.S. Senator Jon Tester today voted to confirm Congresswoman Deb Haaland to be the next Secretary of the Interior:
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March 11, 2021| View More
Tester, Daines, Rosendale Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Rehabilitate Critical Hi-Line Water Infrastructure
U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines, along with Congressman Matt Rosendale, are today introducing a bipartisan bill to make rehabilitating the St. Mary's Diversion Dam more affordable, and ensure the Milk River Project can continue providing water to farmers, ranchers, and Tribes in Northcentral Montana that depend on it.
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March 11, 2021| View More
Tester Secures Funding for 54 Montana Forest Service Projects through the Great American Outdoors Act
Following his efforts to champion the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) last year which included full and permanent funding for the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and $9.5 billion to address maintenance backlogs in America's public lands, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently secured $285 million in GAOA funds that the …
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February 11, 2021| View More
After Tester Push, Interior Reverses Burdensome Land and Water Conservation Fund Order
Following an aggressive push by Montana's senior Senator, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Department of the Interior had rescinded its recent Secretarial Order which undermined the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) by placing additional burdensome federal regulations on private landowners and their property.
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November 13, 2020| View More
Tester Demands Interior Secretary Reverse Order Forcing Regulations on Private Landowners, Kneecapping LWCF
After Interior Secretary David Bernhardt issued a secretarial order undermining the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) by placing additional burdensome federal regulations on private landowners and their property, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today demanded that Bernhardt reverse course and rescind the directive.
