About 60 people rallied in Missoula's McCormick Park Monday afternoon to urge Congressional support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
That fund gets money from offshore oil and gas development if Congress so authorizes, and the money is used to purchase land for public use. Conservation Fund money was used to help buy McCormick Park. In the 50 years it’s been around, the Fund has purchased dozens of large and small properties in Montana for public use, and with local matching funds.
The LWCF is set to expire at the end of September. Democrat Jon Tester spoke at today’s rally in Missoula.
"Washington D.C. does not lead," Tester said. "Washington D.C. has a real tendency to follow. And the people they follow are the people on the ground. That's you. And if you're able to get out and advocate, it makes such a big difference as far as policy decisions in Washington D.C."
Republican Senator Steve Daines also supports re-authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a representative of his staff also spoke at today’s rally in Missoula.