Press Releases

Last week, Western Caucus Vice Chair Ryan Zinke (MT-01) hosted Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), seven additional Western Caucus Members and over 20 Congressional staff and stakeholders for a field tour focused on access to public lands, the urgent need to mitigate wildfire risk and challenges with the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

“One of the main missions of the Congressional Western Caucus is putting boots on the ground across the West to show Members the unique issues in our districts firsthand,” said Chairman Newhouse. “I would like to thank Vice Chair Zinke for hosting Members of the Western Caucus for a field tour so we could learn about how the multiple use mandate for public lands creates prosperity in northwest Montana through its abundant recreational opportunities. Visits like this better inform our work on behalf of rural America in Washington, D.C.”
 
“Any time I can bring my colleagues to Montana with boots on the ground to understand the importance that public access to public lands has on our economy, I consider that a win,” said Vice Chair Zinke. “Public lands need to be managed for multiple use, for the benefit and enjoyment of the public and that includes for timber harvest, outdoor recreation economy, and more. My hope is the members and staff who spent time here, go back to D.C. with a little bit of a Montana point of view when they are writing legislation.”  

On Friday, July 12, members and staff attended a discussion about outdoor recreation on Federal lands, the need for proper forest management to mitigate wildfires, and the impacts of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Chevron deference on public lands policy with Montana Director of Natural Resources & Conservation Amanda Kaster-Averill and former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Kate MacGregor. 

Then, attendees split into groups to hear from Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer about tourism and wildfire mitigation in the park or to hear from local outfitters about the importance of recreation to the local economy. Attendees also heard from members of the U.S. Forest Service. 



Attending the trip along with Chairman Newhouse and Vice Chair Zinke were  Western Caucus Vice Chairs Garret Graves (LA-06) and Bruce Westerman (AR-04), and Western Caucus members Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Larry Bucshon (IN-08), John Duarte (CA-13), and Darrell Issa (CA-48). 

A special thanks to the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, Glacier Anglers and Outfitters, and Swan Mountain Outfitting for their tireless work in planning the field tour and their gracious hospitality.