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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June 29, 2020| View More
Montana to Receive More than $35 Million in PILT Funding, Tester Announces
U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced Montana counties will receive more than $35 million in Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds in 2020 to provide critical law enforcement and infrastructure priorities.
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June 26, 2020| View More
Tester to Trump: Pendley Must Answer for Decades of Anti-Public Land Activism
Following news that President Trump intends to formally submit the nomination of William Perry Pendley to run the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Senator Jon Tester urged the president to expedite Pendley's nomination so he can answer for his decades of anti-public lands activism before the Senate.
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June 23, 2020| View More
Disabled Vets Will Receive Lifetime Access to National Parks After Tester Bill Unanimously Passes Senate
After sustained efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Senate unanimously passed S.327, the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act, legislation to make all veterans with service-connected disabilities eligible for a free, lifetime entry to United States national parks and other federal lands.
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June 17, 2020| View More
BREAKING: Tester’s Great American Outdoors Act with Permanent Full Funding for LWCF Passes Senate
Completing his years-long efforts to grant full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), U.S. Senator Jon Tester today led the Senate in passing the Great American Outdoors Act—legislation that will fund LWCF at $900 million annually and allocate $9.5 billion to address maintenance backlogs on public …
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June 16, 2020| View More
Tester Statement on Badger-Two Medicine Court Decision
U.S. Senator Jon Tester today the following statement after a D.C. Court decision to overturn a lower court ruling that had reinstated the Solenex lease on the sacred Badger-Two Medicine area:
