Despite tremendous efforts by Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester, the US Congress failed last night to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This epic and utter failure by Congress to reauthorize the LWCF is an example of why the US Congress is held with such low esteem by Americans. While Montana Senators Tester and Daines worked with determination and conviction in support of the LWCF, the dysfunction in Congress was impossible to overcome. The Montana LWCF Coalition statement clearly captures the disappointment of Congress’ failure: “The entire Montana Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition is extremely disappointed in Congress’ failure to secure permanent reauthorization and full, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund before the end of the Lame Duck session of Congress. LWCF expired on September 30, 2018, and the nation loses $2.5 million in funding each day the program is allowed to lay dormant. LWCF must be the first order of business in 2019, and Montanans expect our delegation to provide the strong leadership needed to deliver full, dedicated funding and permanent reauthorization to a program so vital to Montana’s economy and outdoor heritage.”
