Gov. Steve Bullock submitted testimony to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, welcoming members to Montana and detailing the state’s efforts to protect the Greater Sage-grouse.
“Montanans work best when we work together to solve problems,” Bullock said in his letter to the Committee. “As Westerners, we’ve always had to rely on each other, regardless of our political views. That’s especially the case now with the serious gridlock and partisanship that continues to plague Washington D.C.”
In February, Bullock established the Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Conservation Advisory council to gather information, furnish advice, and provide recommendations on policies and actions for a state-wide strategy to protect sage grouse and keep its management in state hands. According to Bullock’s office, this committee represents a broad cross-section of Montanans, including citizens representing such interests as energy, mining, transmission, conservation, sportsmen, legislature, agriculture and ranching, and local and tribal governments.
“The sage-grouse is currently state managed and not under the authority of the federal government,” Bullock said in his letter. “It is my goal to keep management of the bird under state leadership, despite the litigation brought against the federal government seeking to end state control.”
Bullock’s letter to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee can be found here.