Gianforte, Daines, Lisa Diekmann Hike Alex Diekmann Peak to Honor Conservationist's Life and Legacy

Statement

U.S. Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.), U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Lisa Diekmann today honored Alex Diekmann's life and legacy by climbing Alex Diekmann Peak. The 9,765-foot peak on the western boundary of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness was named for Alex in January 2018 when President Trump signed Gianforte and Daines' bill into law.

"I think it's important to remember the folks that have done so much for us. We love our public lands here in Montana. We love the open spaces," Gianforte said. "And Alex Diekmann worked tirelessly to conserve this valley and other areas around the West. It's appropriate that we've named this peak after him."

"It literally took an act of Congress to get this done, to have the entire Montana delegation to come together, unified, for the sake of Alex Diekmann and the legacy that he has left to conservation," Daines said. "I was glad to see this done and now to summit the peak today with Lisa Diekmann. They were married 34 years. They have two amazing sons, and I know Alex would be very, very proud of the fact that we're on top of this peak."

"If Alex were here today, he would be still working on land conservation," Lisa Diekmann said. "So the fact that it's just here next to wilderness, next to state land, next to the Sun Ranch, and next to wilderness is pretty appropriate, because those were places that he worked to protect for future generations."

In Bozeman, Diekmann worked as a senior project manager for the Trust for Public Land. He worked for 16 years to protect the Madison and Greater Yellowstone Area, which includes the Taylor Fork in the Gallatin Canyon, Three Dollar Bridge, Chestnut Mountain and Frog Rock, and the restoration of O'Dell Creek in the Madison Valley.

Diekmann also worked on more than 55 projects and helped to preserve more than 100,000 acres during his time with the Trust for Public Lands. Some of his accomplishments also include conserving 23,000 acres of forested lands surrounding Whitefish, Montana. He also sought to protect of The Offline Ranch, The Sun Ranch, The Granger Ranches, The Boltz Ranch, The Gecho Ranch, and The Crumley Ranch.

Background:

On January 31, 2018, President Trump signed the Alex Diekmann Peak Designation Act into law

On January 16, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill 400-3 after the House Committee on Natural Resources passed the bill six days earlier.

On December 20, 2017, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bill.

On September 28, 2017, Gianforte introduced the Alex Diekmann Peak Designation Act, H.R. 3873, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

On June 8, 2017 the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed S. 117, reporting it to the U.S. Senate.

On January 12, 2017, Daines and U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced the Alex Diekmann Peak Designation Act, S. 117.

Source