Tester’s Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act Receives Senate Hearing

Senator Testifies on Behalf of Montana Made Legislation Vital to Protecting Montana’s Outdoor Economy

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester testified before a Senate committee today on behalf of his Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, which would permanently protect the doorstep of Yellowstone Park for future generations.

After two mining companies announced plans to expand their operations near Yellowstone National Park, local business owners approached Tester to find a solution that protects Montana’s robust outdoor economy in the region.

“The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act is a result of collaboration and hard work. By protecting the gateway we can protect thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars that flow into Montana’s economy every year,” said Tester.

Tester’s legislation has support from local businesses throughout the Greater Yellowstone Region.

“Anglers, hunters and recreational users travel across the globe to take advantage of the cold, clean pristine waters of the Yellowstone River,” said Ben Bulis, American Fly Fishing Trade Association President. “The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act introduced by Senator Jon Tester will provide protections vitally important to the economy of Montana.”

“The Yellowstone is one of the critical rivers to our business and one of the most important in the state of Montana,” said K. C. Walsh, President of Simms Fishing Products. “There are plenty of places to develop mines but this isn’t one of them. On behalf of all our employees, our retail partners and the state of Montana, I thank Senator Tester for what he’s doing with this bill.”

“Protecting federal lands near Emigrant Gulch and Crevice Mountain from mining will go a long way toward sustaining the diversity of our local economy while protecting resources critical to the health of that economy,” said Park County Commission Chair Steve Caldwell. “Passage of the legislation also helps maintain the long-term viability of local public finance revenues while respecting the integrity of property rights.”

Tester concluded his testimony by highlighting the beauty and majesty of the area as well as their economic input to the community.

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words-well these pictures behind me are worth thousands of jobs,” Tester said. “These proposed mines would directly threaten places as popular as Chico Hot Springs, as majestic as the Yellowstone River, and as beautiful as the Paradise Valley. God doesn’t make places like this anymore, and we need to do what we can to protect them and the jobs that come with them.”

Tester introduced the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act in April.