Tester statement on U.S. House’s failure to pass Public Lands Bill

House kills Tester’s ‘Wolf Kill Bill,’ other Montana measures

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement following the U.S. House’s failure to pass the Public Lands Bill.  The bipartisan measure did not receive the 290 votes needed to pass.

“I’m disappointed by the House’s failure to pass the Public Lands Bill.  Republicans and Democrats worked together to create a smart measure that’s good for Montana and for our outdoor heritage.  The Public Lands Bill included measures to protect ranchers from wolves and to help Montanans manage fishing habitat.  Unfortunately, politics got in the way.”

Tester included several provisions in the Public Lands Bill, including the bipartisan Wolf Livestock Loss Mitigation Act (also known as the Wolf Kill Bill) and the Cooperative Watershed Management Act.  The measure would have also transferred the historic Elkhorn Cemetery from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest to Jefferson County.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed the Public Lands Bill in January with a vote of 73 to 21.