Montana leaders declare support for conservation fund as expiration nears

Montana state and federal political leaders are getting worried about the possible expiration of the Land and Water Conservation Fund . . .

Montana’s top political officials are all declaring support for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund as it nears a possible expiration in September.

Both Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester released announcements this week about the program’s reauthorization language in the Senate’s Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. That bill is set for committee markup next week.

Also this week, Gov. Steve Bullock wrote the entire congressional delegation with a plea to save the 50-year-old program.

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