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Congressman Steve Daines’ bill to reimburse states for funds spent to reopen National Parks during the partial government shutdown received its first hearing today, with a Montana businessman testifying on the importance of tourism and National Parks to Montana’s economy.

“The partial shutdown demonstrated almost too clearly what many Montanans have grown to understand about much of our federal land in our state. Our public land isn’t ‘public.’ It’s become ‘government land’— anything but public,” Daines stated. “The Administration’s posturing during the partial shutdown had devastating effects on Montana and on many other states reliant on access to public lands.”

“These states deserve to be made whole,” Daines continued. “That’s why I introduced H.R. 3286 and urge its passage.”

H.R. 3286, the Protecting States, Opening National Parks Act, is bipartisan legislation that seeks to ensure states are reimbursed for all state funds spent to pay for National Park operations during the recent lapse in federal appropriations.

Daines’ bill has received strong bipartisan support and is co-sponsored by 26 members of the House, including seven Democrat members. Following the introduction of Daines’ bill in the House, Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Michael Bennett (D-CO), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced companion legislation (S. 1572) in the Senate. 

Matt Sease, Treasurer of the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association and manager of the Super 8 Bozeman, testified before the Committee at Daines’ invitation. Sease’s full testimony, as prepared, is available here.

“For those of us who call Big Sky country home, we consider the mountains, rivers, and public lands a cherished part of our heritage. We take very seriously our inherent duty to balance, for both residents and our millions of annual visitors, the responsible use of the land as well as unfettered access to it,” Sease stated in his prepared testimony. 

“The recent government shutdown essentially barred the people from their lands. We hope this bill, along with other congressional action, will work to prevent this from ever happening again,” Sease continues. “Federal lands belong to the people. We are encouraged by this committee’s hard work and Rep. Daines’ proposed bill to ensure access to those lands.”

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