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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September 25, 2020| View More
Tester Statement on Court Order Removing William Perry Pendley from the Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement on tonight's U.S. District Court ruling on the removal of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) acting head William Perry Pendley after determining he had served unlawfully for 424 days:
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September 25, 2020| View More
Tester at Great Falls Celebration: ‘Today we celebrate a monumental victory in the battle to keep public lands in public hands’
On the eve of Public Lands Day, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today addressed a socially distanced and masked up crowd of public land advocates and community members who gathered to celebrate his central role in the passage of his Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)-which included full and permanent funding for …
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September 16, 2020| View More
Tester’s Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act Receives Boost in Senate Hearing
U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s made-in-Montana legislation, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, received a big boost when the U.S. Forest Service signaled it would work to achieve the goals of this collaborative proposal during a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
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September 11, 2020| View More
Tester Secures Hearing Next Week for Landmark Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act
After pushing his historic public lands package that fully and permanently funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund through Congress and into law, U.S. Jon Tester is continuing his aggressive efforts to advance Montana’s public lands priorities by securing a hearing for his landmark Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) next …
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August 15, 2020| View More
After White House Moves to Withdraw Pendley Nomination, Tester Vows Opposition to Any Continued Role at Bureau of Land Management for Anti-Public Lands Activist
U.S. Senator Jon Tester today vowed opposition to any continued role for William Perry Pendley at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), after reports indicated the White House intends to withdraw the anti-public land activist’s nomination to formally head the agency. Pendley will remain with the agency in his current …
