Inaccessible Public Lands

Floor Speech

Mr. DAINES. As a fifth generation Montanan and sportsman, I know the importance of protecting and preserving Montana's outdoor heritage. Hunting, fishing, and hiking on our public lands are important parts of many Montanans' way of life. It is something that my grandpa and dad passed on to me and something we are passing on to our kids.

But almost 2 million acres of public lands in Montana are inaccessible to the public. Three other States--Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico--have more than 500,000 acres of inaccessible land to the public, and that is simply unacceptable. I strongly believe we must ensure the public has access to the public lands we already have.

There is strong bipartisan agreement that the Land and Water Conservation Fund can play an important role in increasing access to these lands, and that is what the Making Public Lands Public Access Act will do. My bill seeks to increase Montanans' opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation and ensure that our public lands are truly public. I urge support for my bill.

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