Daines Fights to Protect Recreational Access to Federal Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After recently spending time meeting with Montana’s outdoors recreation groups and businesses, Congressman Steve Daines announced today that he has helped introduce legislation that preserves Montana’s outdoors heritage by protecting Montanans’ recreational access to federal lands.

 After recently spending time meeting with Montana’s outdoors recreation groups and businesses, Congressman Steve Daines announced today that he has helped introduce legislation that preserves Montana’s outdoors heritage by protecting Montanans’ recreational access to federal lands.

The Recreational Fishing & Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act of 2013 would require federal land managers at the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to facilitate use and access for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting activities on federal lands, creating an “open until closed” policy on most federal lands to ensure that federal land is managed for public access without restriction.

In a recent Natural Resources hearing on impediments to outdoor recreation on public lands, Daines discussed the importance of the outdoor recreation industry and the multiple use of federal lands to Montana’s economy.

“In my home state, our outdoor recreation industry is very important to our economy,” Daines stated. “As a fifth-generation Montanan, as a passionate sportsman myself, these are industries that are critical to our way of life in our state. And it’s paramount that our federal government doesn’t stand in the way, obstructing our economy.”

Video of Daines’ remarks may be found here.

The Montana-based Citizens for Balanced Use applauded Daines’ efforts to preserve recreational access to public lands.

“CBU appreciates the interest that Representative Steve Daines is showing in support of multiple use recreation and management of our federally managed public lands,” stated Kerry White, executive board member of Citizens for Balanced Use. “Western federal land is very important in providing jobs and supporting local economies through active management and responsible use, which benefits both the people and the land.”

The Recreational Fishing & Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act of 2013 would apply to USFS land, BLM land, Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, and National Monuments.

The bill has received support from Safari Club International, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and the American Sportfishing Association. 

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