Two regional land bills pass Senate Committee, could get final vote

Both Montana Senators passed their separate public lands bills from a committee in the Senate, opening both bills up to a final vote as the federal government debates a potential shutdown.

Sen. Jon Tester passed the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, while Sen. Steve Daines passed the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act out of the same committee.

The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act would reclassify roughly 79,000 acres near the Bob Marshall and Mission Mountains as wilderness. The bill would also create a 2,000 acre recreat...