MWF applauds passage of Great American Outdoors Act
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News from Montana Wildlife Federation
Washington, D.C. — On Monday, the United States Senate passed S.3422, the Great American Outdoors Act in a Senate floor vote of 73-25. If passed through the House of Representatives and signed by the President, this bipartisan legislation would fully fund one of America’s most important conservation tools: The Land and Water Conservation Fund. It would also address a multi-billion dollar deferred maintenance backlog within our National Parks and forests.
LWCF has directly benefitted public lands and Montana communities, securing new public access, maintaining wildlife habitat and investing in projects that are essential to the quality of life for Montanans. For hunters and anglers, the program is a valuable tool for acquiring new public lands and fishing access sites.
“A big thank you to Senator Tester and Senator Daines for getting GAOA over the Senate finish line. We are incredibly grateful for Sen. Tester’s decade-long dedication to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and Sen. Daines’ leadership in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has been vital to the bill’s passage. We’re on the cusp of a historic, bipartisan victory for outdoor recreation in Montana that will ensure critical investment in our public lands for generations to come – during a time when we need access to our public lands and waters most,” said Alec Underwood, federal policy advocate for Montana Wildlife Federation. “MWF salutes the generations of Montana hunters and anglers who’ve advocated for full, permanent funding the past 60 years. Today’s Senate bipartisan vote to advance the Great American Outdoors Act gets us closer to seeing the full benefits of one of our country’s most important conservation tools.”
Outdoor recreation in Montana has emerged as one of the top economic industries in the state, supporting over 71,000 jobs and resulting in over $7 billion in consumer spending annually. This robust economic driver is directly dependent on having adequate access and high quality recreation opportunities on public lands.
