Zinke Secures Dozens of Montana Priorities in FY24 Interior Funding Bill

“I told Montanans that I would use the power of the purse to get rid of bad policy and fund investments in public lands and that’s exactly what this bill does,” Zinke said. “It claws back regulations that are making gas, heating and electricity more expensive, gives local stakeholders a voice in federal land management, and finally delists the grizzly bear.”

“As a former Secretary of the Interior and lifelong Montanan, I know this bill allows the department the ability to do the job they are supposed to do – but it does not allow Biden to peddle his green agenda with taxpayer dollars meant for responsible, logical conservation and energy development. This is a huge win for Montana, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this bill and get it signed into law as soon as possible.”

Montana priorities in the bill include:

• Delisting the Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bear.
• Blocks Glacier National Park from using funds to implement a vehicle rationing system and prioritizes the adoption of a functional shuttle system for visitors.
• Maintaining full funding for Tribal programs.
• Ending sue, settle and seal, preventing radical environmental groups from getting secret payouts from the Department funding their nonstop cycle of frivolous litigation.  
• Defunding WOTUS.
• Full funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT).
• Defunding DOI’s Interagency Bison Working Group.
• Blocking the introduction of Bison on the CMR Wildlife refuge.
• Blocking the Biden Administration’s ban on lead ammunition and tackle on wildlife refuges.
• Defunding EPA rules that would result in the early shutdown of Colstrip and raise energy costs for Montanans.
• Increasing funding for wildland firefighters.
• Cut spending without putting the burden on tribes.
• Prohibiting funds for listing gray wolves on the ESA.

H.R. 4821 is now waiting for consideration by the Senate. After advancement from the Senate, it will move to reconciliation and then to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

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