Steve Daines: “Montana's national forests and public lands have been a pleasure and a part of our State's heritage for generations. As…”

“Montana's national forests and public lands have been a pleasure and a part of our State's heritage for generations. As a fifth-generation Montanan and as someone who loves the outdoors, I recognize how valuable our public lands are and the importance of ensuring access for generations to come to hunting, backpacking and fishing--traditions that I, like many Montanans, have been thankful to pass along to my kids. I know firsthand the important role that the Land and Water Conservation Fund holds in protecting and increasing Montanans' access to our public lands. That is why since coming to Congress I have been actively working to secure funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund every year. In fact, through the appropriations process this summer, Senator Susan Collins and I successfully passed an amendment to increase the funding for the LWCF program by nearly $14 million. This brought the overall funding for LWCF to $306 million and ensured that LWCF did not lose out on work for permanent authorization. In Montana and throughout the country, the Land and Water Conservation Fund plays a critical role in achieving the goal of increased access. Despite the tireless efforts and the work of Senators Burr, Collins, Ayotte, Alexander, and Gardner to move reauthorization forward, yet again today, the authorization for LWCF will expire tonight. The Continuing Resolution did not include a reauthorization for LWCF.…”