FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2025

MCV Education Fund: Public lands win a round, but threats remain

Montanans across the political spectrum defended public lands, and organization urges vigilance against continued corporate giveaways promised by “Big Beautiful Bill”

(HELENA, Mont.) — Today, the Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund released the following statement from Interim Executive Director Renee Kelley, following the final passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill”:

“Montanans should be proud — and alert. Together, we helped shut down one of the most blatant attempts in recent memory to sell off our public lands. Thanks to an overwhelming, bipartisan outcry, especially from communities across Montana, the Senate was forced to remove Utah Senator Mike Lee’s outrageous land sell-off proposal from the final bill.

That public pressure worked. But make no mistake: the threat didn’t go away.

Behind closed doors, lawmakers are still advancing the interests of corporations at the expense of the public. This bill opens more than 200 million acres of public land to expanded fossil fuel development — with weakened oversight, little accountability, and no real benefit to the rural communities that will ultimately bear the consequences.

This bill is a massive giveaway to industry, disguised as reform. And it puts short-term profits ahead of access to public lands that power a $3.4 billion outdoor recreation economy in Montana each year.

We’re proud of the Montanans — from every political background — who spoke out and helped kill one of the worst aspects of this bill. That kind of unity is powerful. And it’s exactly what we’ll need to stop the next backroom deal.

Public lands belong to all of us — not just lobbyists, millionaire politicians, and corporate CEOs. Montanans are watching. We’re organized. And we’re not backing down.”