Tester’s Wolf Kill Bill signed into law

Legislation to protect Montana’s fishing habitat, Elkhorn Cemetery also becomes law

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after President Barack Obama signed into law the bipartisan Public Lands Bill, which includes Tester’s popular wolf compensation provision known as the “Wolf Kill Bill”:

“The Public Lands Bill will benefit all Montanans now and for generations to come.  Most Republicans and Democrats understand that voting for this bipartisan bill was the right thing to do for America’s outdoor heritage, and for our kids and grandkids.  As Vice Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, I  believe strongly in preserving our outdoor way of life—whether it’s hunting, fishing, hiking or camping, or agriculture.”

Tester reached across party lines to write the Wolf Kill Bill with Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo.  The measure repays ranchers who lose animals to wolves.  More information about the Wolf Kill Bill is online HERE.

Tester also teamed up with Senator Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, to include in the Public Lands Bill the Cooperative Watershed Management Act.  The provision protects Montana’s prized fishing heritage by encouraging irrigators, ranchers, scientists and anglers to work together to manage water habitat.  More information about the Cooperative Watershed Management Act is online HERE.

Tester and Senator Max Baucus also inserted language in the bill to transfer Montana’s historic Elkhorn Cemetery near Boulder from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest to Jefferson County.  Legislation is needed because technically, burials are not allowed on Forest Service land.

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the Public Lands Bill after it passed the House, 285 to 140 last week.