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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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.
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November 13, 2020| View More
Tester Brings Home Major Investments in Montana’s Rural Communities
U.S. Senator Jon Tester, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured billions in funding for critical Montana priorities as a part of a series of bills to fund the government for the next fiscal year.
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November 6, 2020| View More
Tester Demands Interior Secretary and Forest Service Produce LWCF Priority Project List After Departments Miss Deadline
U.S. Senator Jon Tester today took Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and the Forest Service to task after the land management agencies missed a statutory deadline to submit a list of priority Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) projects to Congress, as required by Senator Tester’s landmark Great American Outdoors Act …
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October 21, 2020| View More
Tester Introduces Legislation to Block William Pendley’s Illegal Leadership at BLM: ‘don’t tread on our public lands’
Following William Perry Pendley's refusal to follow direct orders from a Federal District Court Judge to vacate his position as de facto Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Senator Jon Tester today introduced legislation to put the matter to rest permanently by barring the Department of …
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October 1, 2020| View More
‘Montana producers are still waiting’ for Last Season’s Disaster Relief, Tester Tells Farm Service Agency
Northeastern Montana farmers who were hit hard by crop losses last year due to excessive moisture still have not received disaster relief funds, and U.S. Senator Jon Tester—who secured an expansion of the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to cover these farmers and increased funding for the program …
