Student questions Daines' commitment to public lands

I am writing this letter because of my concern about some of Sen. Steve Daines’ recent votes and other actions. I attend West Valley Middle School and am active in the Boy Scouts of America. 

When you were first voted into office on Nov. 4, 2014, you told the Montana citizens that you would protect our federal lands. The federal lands in Montana comprise about 30 percent of all the land in Montana.

You have recently voted for several bills and amendments which contradict what you said that you stood for. The first is the Antiquities Act, which helps protect sacred Indian ruins, which you voted against. Next is a bill that you co-sponsored, an amendment which may have removed millions of acres of American federal land placing it into private hands without any public input. The people of Montana value their public lands and your actions do not represent the values of our state.

Next, you voted against reauthorization of the land and water conservation fund, which supports things like Mount Rainier and the Pacific Crest Trail. These are treasured national public resources. The last thing that I would like to voice my opinion on is your amendment that acts to prevent the creation of national monuments by giving local governments more power — more power than the president in a way that should never be the case.  

Places such as a national prairie monument in Eastern Montana would be highly valued by all of the citizens of our great country. Please recall that the locals in and around Glacier National Park were strongly against the creation of a national park when it was first proposed. If your amendment were in place then, such hallowed places would not be in existence as we know them today.

I hope that you consider the importance of protecting our public lands in the future. —John McDonnell, Kalispell