My wilderness bill, which is like these, would protect some of the most spectacular wild country in the lower 48 states.

I worked hard in the 111th Congress to forge agreement on a new wilderness bill for southwest Colorado's San Juan Mountains.

In a poll conducted for the state's largest newspaper chain, Montanans approved of the wilderness bill by 55 to 29 percent, with 16 percent undecided.

The wilderness bill is a central issue in the race to determine who will represent the largest congressional district outside of Alaska.

It is the first wilderness bill based on ecosystem boundaries developed from the best available scientific information.

In his own territory, Senator Baucus has supported a wilderness bill, but a much smaller one.

What the wilderness bill does is save a few fragments of the America that was created over millions of years by nature's hand.

"This wilderness bill is a homespun vision for the West" High Country News; June 4, 2009.

"Hearing finally set on wilderness bill" Queen City News (Helena, Montana).

The bill's opponents want to hold out for a broader wilderness bill affecting five states in the northern Rocky Mountains.