Public Lands Archives - Senator Steve Daines

Daines Bill to Increase Access to Public Lands Passes Senate Committee

March 4, 2026

Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act One Step Closer to Becoming Law WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that his bill, the “Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act,” passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and is one step closer to becoming law. “As a lifelong sportsman, increasing access to Montana’s beautiful public lands is one of my top priorities. This bill is common sense: it unlocks land that’s overdue for release from restrictive Wilderness Study Area status to increase access for outdoor recreation, forest management, and wildfire mitigation. I am glad to see it pass committee and I’ll keep fighting to

Daines, Sheehy, Downing Introduce Bill to Increase Access to Public Lands, Improve Forest Management

December 17, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and Representative Troy Downing (MT-02) today introduced the “Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act.” The bill returns three Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) to general management.Each WSA is recommended for release by their respective agency’s land and resource management plan revisions and retains certain protections for these WSA’s while providing more flexibility for land managers to mitigate wildfire risk, restore wildlife habitat, and increase sportsmen access. “As a lifelong sportsman, increasing access to Montana’s great outdoors is one of my top priorities. The ‘Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act’ promotes our outdoor way of life by returning restrictive WSA’s to general public

Daines: Biden BLM’s Disregard for Montanans “Shameful”

November 19, 2025

“Those closest to the land should not be ignored or rejected” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with Utah Attorney General Derek Brown and Micah Christensen from the Wyoming County Commissioners Association in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. They discussed the Biden administration’s blatant violations of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the need to ensure state and local governments have a say in the planning process on issues that impact them most. Daines also discussed reliable electricity for Montana’s rural communities and the need to remove undue burdens on electricity providers. Watch

Daines-Sheehy Joint Statement on Blocking Sale of Public Lands

June 29, 2025

“Public Lands Belong in Public Hands” U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines issued the following joint statement after blocking a provision that would sell public lands from being included in the One Big Beautiful Bill. Debate on the bill is scheduled to begin later today but the provision was removed from the bill late last night: “Public lands belong in public hands. Blocking the sale of public lands is a victory for our Montana way of life. “We look forward to the final passage of the Big Beautiful Bill in order to prevent the largest tax increase in American history, secure the border,

Daines, Peters Resolution Designating June as “Great Outdoors Month” Passes U.S. Senate

June 18, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) today announced that their bipartisan resolution to designate the month of June as “Great Outdoors Month” passed the U.S. Senate last evening. “In Montana, our outdoor way of life is what sets us apart and makes us the Last Best Place. As an avid outdoorsman myself, I’m proud to work with Senator Peters on this bipartisan resolution that celebrates the amazing natural beauty we’re lucky to have here in America. I hope everyone takes some time to get outside and enjoy our parks and lands this summer!” said Daines. “From being out on the Great Lakes to hiking

Daines, Bennet, Marshall Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Outdoor Recreation, Expand Access to Public Lands

February 25, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) today introduced the “Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act.” The bill would support public access for hunting, fishing, hiking and other outdoor wildlife-dependent activities. “Hunting, fishing, and hiking are huge parts of our Montana way of life, and as a lifelong sportsman myself, I’m glad to lead an effort to expand access to our public lands,” said Daines. “Reauthorizing the Voluntary Public Access Habitat Initiative Program will give more Montanans the chance to enjoy outdoor recreation activities and support critical habitats for wildlife.” “For years, this program has rewarded Colorado’s

Three Daines Outdoors Bills Pass U.S. Senate, Head to President’s Desk

December 20, 2024

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed several of his bipartisan outdoors bills, which will now head to the President’s desk. The bills support gateway communities, address challenges facing national parks and public lands, streamline the process for issuing special recreation permits for accessing public lands, and address housing needs in rural communities. “I’m proud to see my bipartisan bills pass the U.S. Senate and head to the president’s desk to be signed into law. This package includes major wins for Montana’s beautiful public lands and I’ll always keep fighting for more ways to protect our

Daines, King, Cramer, Warner Introduce “America the Beautiful” Act

November 21, 2024

Bill Reauthorizes the Legacy Restoration Fund U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Angus King (I-Maine), along with Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), today introduced the“America the Beautiful Act.” The bill would reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) and increase funding for public land management. “Our country is home to incredible national parks and public lands- that’s what makes us America the Beautiful. I’ll always fight to protect our parks and work to make sure we’re managing our public lands as efficiently as possible. The ‘America the Beautiful Act’ is a significant step

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Daines’ “America the Beautiful Act”

November 21, 2024

“The National Park Foundation applauds the introduction of legislation to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) of the Great American Outdoors Act. This bipartisan legislation marks a significant step forward in our collective effort to continue preserving and protecting our nation’s invaluable natural and cultural heritage. Building upon the extraordinary success of the LRF, which has invested more than $4 billion in critical projects to date, this reauthorization will empower our national parks to address long-standing maintenance needs and directly improve the visitor experience. We express our sincere gratitude to Senators King and Daines for their leadership and commitment to

Daines Bill to Unlock Public Access, Improve Forest Management One Step Closer to Becoming Law

September 21, 2023

Bill improves conservation of 100,000 acres of public land U.S. SENATE – Today U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ “Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act” to return to general management three restrictive Wilderness Study Area (WSA) designations that can hinder land management and public access passed the Energy and Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support. “My ‘Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act’ will help protect our Montana way of life by promoting public access to public lands, improving the ability to restore wildlife habitat and reducing the risk of wildfire. This is a big win for Montana sportsmen and a big win for conservation, I’m glad to see my bill move

Tag: Public Lands