Important bills are awaiting action to provide protection for important lands and waters in Montana. Two of the most crucial are the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act and the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act.
The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act would permanently block mining in the headwaters of the Yellowstone River, just outside Yellowstone National Park. The bill has strong support from residents and businesses in the Paradise Valley and across Montana and has the support of Senator Tester, Senator Daines, and Representative Gianforte.
The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act would add new wilderness lands in the headwaters above Seeley Lake while also supporting much-needed forest management activities and the development of more recreational trails. The bill is the product of more than a decade of local collaboration and enjoys strong local support, and it has been championed by Senator Tester.
Even with a number of contentious national priorities on the agenda, our elected officials should be able to move forward bills with such broad support. MWF will be working hard to make sure that the voice of Montana’s hunters, anglers, and other conservationists are heard in the final days of this Congress. And if anything does not pass before the end of December, we stand ready to raise these issues again in 2019.
