Tester’s landmark forest jobs bill to get Senate hearing

Senator calls December 17 hearing ‘an important step forward’

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – A U.S. Senate panel will hold a hearing on Senator Jon Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act—an important step forward in getting the landmark legislation passed through Congress and signed into law.

“Getting a Senate hearing is a key hurdle for any legislation,” Tester said.  “But there’s still a long road ahead to get this bill passed so we can put folks back to work, safeguard our outdoor areas and create new recreational opportunities.”

A Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act on December 17.

During the hearing, senators will hear testimony about what the bill does and why it should pass.  It is unknown who will testify at the hearing, but Tester expects several witnesses from Montana.

The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act creates jobs and reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfire by requiring at least 100,000 acres of timber harvest in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Kootenai National Forests over 10 years.  It also creates six recreation areas, safeguards hunting and fishing areas and releases 76,000 acres of land currently managed as wilderness.

More information about the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act is available online HERE.

Montanans have given Tester feedback on the legislation—which was written with input from loggers, conservationists, hunters, anglers and motor sports enthusiasts—since he introduced the measure in July.  Tester has also held six public listening sessions for additional feedback on the bill.

The Senate hearing on the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act will begin at 12:30 p.m. MST on Thursday, December 17, in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.