Please be safe and follow CDC guidance during the coronavirus outbreak. As our country works through this difficult time, please join me in reaching out to those in need or who are feeling isolated - we are all in this together.

Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management released a final resource management plan for 650,000 acres of public lands in central Montana -- a plan that allows 95% of that land to be developed for oil and gas.

Public lands should be managed for multiple uses, not just oil and gas -- especially where there isn’t much in the way of oil and gas resources anyway. Under the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act, these can be non-competitive leases, going for a mere $1.50 per acre, which also shorts American taxpayers. Natural values and nearby communities depend on diverse, science-based management of these lands, not selling them off for industrial, or non-use.

Will you sign my petition to call on Congress to update the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act to eliminate non-competitive leasing and return to reasoned management of our public lands?

I’ve spent my entire career in natural resources and fought to protect Montana’s public lands and waters during my personal work and as a State Legislator, and I’ll continue to do it in Congress.

Protecting our public lands is critical to Montanans, our communities, and our economy. How else can we continue to be the Last Best Place? We need to elect members of Congress who get that and will push to update outdated laws that don’t serve our resources or taxpayers well. This is one of them.

If you agree, please, sign my petition.

Thank you,

Kathleen Williams