U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) recently called for passage of bipartisan legislation he helped introduce that would prioritize completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
“Our national parks, our forests, our trails all help contribute to Montana’s economy. That’s why it is so important to pass my bipartisan bill to help complete the Continental Divide Trail,” said Sen. Daines on Dec. 1 during a full committee hearing held by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider pending legislation.
Sen. Daines on Sept. 28 cosponsored the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act, S. 4995, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) as their chamber’s version of the same-named H.R. 5118, introduced in August 2021 by U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse (D-CO) and three other Democrats.
The U.S. House of Representatives on July 29 voted 218-199 to approve H.R. 5118 and sent it for consideration to the U.S. Senate, which referred the bill to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The committee during its Dec. 1 hearing received testimony on 17 bills, including S. 4995.
Designated by Congress as part of the National Trail System in 1978, the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) stretches 3,100 miles and passes through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Idaho as it follows the Continental Divide, according to information provided by Sen. Daines’ office.
Currently, more than 160 miles of the trail require diversions onto roadways and highways, and 600 miles of the trail require relocation, the information says, noting that the proposed bill would close these gaps and relocate the segments to improve maintenance of the trail while ensuring a safer and more enjoyable journey for visitors.
If enacted, the measure specifically would direct the U.S. Agriculture Secretary and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to establish a CDT completion team tasked with conducting location reviews, identifying land for acquisition, and working with willing sellers to acquire land, according to a bill summary provided by the senator’s staff.
During the committee hearing last week, Sen. Daines testified that “the tourism and recreation economy that is generated from the trail is a boon to many small towns in Montana,” and he said shuttle services, hotels, restaurants, sporting goods stores, and other businesses would benefit from the Continental Divide Trail.
“In fact, if we look at the state of Montana, outdoor recreation represents one of the state’s largest sectors, contributing nearly $3 billion dollars to the economy, over 27,000 jobs and accounts for 4.4 percent of the state’s GDP,” said Sen. Daines.
“The Continental Divide Trail Completion Act… is bipartisan, bicameral, will help spur recreation, economic development and grow jobs in Montana and local gateway communities,” he added.