[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            LEGISLATION IN SUPPORT OF RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY

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                             HON. RICK HILL

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 1997

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
will ensure the AssinIboine and Sioux people of the Fort Peck 
Reservation and the surrounding communities in my home State of Montana 
a safe and reliable water supply. The Fort Peck Reservation, with a 
population of over 10,000, is one of the largest reservations in the 
United States. This reservation suffers from a 52-percent unemployment 
rate and many of its residents suffer from high incidents of heart 
disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. A safe source of water is 
needed to improve the health status of the residents and encourage 
economic self-sufficiency.
  This legislation delivers those needs for the residents of the 
reservation and the nearby communities. Building upon a consensus-based 
water compact, this legislation authorizes a municipal, rural, and 
industrial water system for the Fort Peck Reservation and the 
surrounding communities off the reservation. This project will benefit 
the entire region of northeast Montana and, accordingly, has the 
support of the residents of the Fort Peck Reservation and the Tribal 
Council of the Assiniborne and Sioux Tribes, and a member of the 
conservation districts surrounding the reservation.
  The people in this region are plagued with major drinking water 
problems. In one community, the sulfate levels in the water are four 
times the standard for safe drinking water. In four of the communities 
the iron levels are five times the standard. In all of the communities 
throughout the reservation the groundwater exceeds the standards for 
total dissolved solids, iron, sulfates, nitrates. In some instances, 
minerals such as selenium, manganese, and fluorine are found in high 
concentrations.
  Several local water systems have had occurrences of biological 
contamination. As a result, the Indian Health Service has issued 
several public health alerts. In most of the reservation communities, 
the residents are forced to buy bottled water at a cost of at least $75 
a month. Those who cannot afford to buy bottled water must continue to 
use the existing water sources, at great risk to their health. This is 
true although an ideal source of safe water, the Missouri River, flows 
near their homes every day. In short, Mr. Speaker, the very health of 
the residents depends on construction of this project.
  Besides the need for drinking water, a new source of water is needed 
to protect the livestock operations. A major constraint on the ranching 
industry at Fort Peck has been a lack of available watering sites for 
the cattle. This water system would provide the needed pasture taps for 
livestock watering which would boost the local economy. In addition, 
distributing livestock water to pasture taps at different locations 
throughout the range would be an effective measure for soil 
conservation and range management.
  Finally, the future water needs of the region are expanding. Current 
census data show the reservation population as increasing over 30 
percent in the next 20 years. The people of the reservation and 
surrounding communities are clearly in desperate need of a safe and 
good source of drinking water.
  The solution to this need for an adequate and safer water supply is a 
water system that will deliver a safe and adequate source of water to 
the residents of the region by using a small amount of the water in the 
Missouri River to meet these needs. The same type of system has been 
successfully used throughout the Dakotas.
  The people of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and the region only 
ask for a necessity of life: good, clean, safe drinking water. Mr. 
Speaker, I am proud to say that this bill delivers those basic 
necessities and helps foster much needed economic benefits.

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