[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 104 (Thursday, June 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4171-S4172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   FORT BELKNAP INDIAN COMMUNITY WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT ACT OF 2023

  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I appreciate the recognition.
  I rise today to talk about an issue that is a disaster. Earlier this 
week, we saw a water diversion project, that takes water from the St. 
Mary drainage and puts it in the Milk River, literally blow up. That 
siphon that blew up had been around for over 100 years. It is critical 
for Northern Montana. The project is near a town called Babb, MT.
  The siphon failure caused thousands of gallons of water to flood the 
surrounding area, leading to extensive damage to local businesses in 
that area, and will damage irrigation opportunities for 120,000 acres. 
What do I mean when I say ``damage irrigation''? They won't have any 
water to irrigate. It also provides water to four municipalities, two 
rural water systems, and two Tribes. It is a vital source of water for 
North Central Montana's water users and to so many farmers who feed the 
world.
  Now, the timing of this could not be worse because there are 
literally hundreds of farmers and ranchers who are currently depending 
on the Milk River Project to irrigate their crops. Because of the 
severity of the situation, I immediately called on the Biden 
administration to work to ensure that the local community and 
irrigators have the resources they need to fix this problem and include 
the Milk River Project in the administration's domestic supplemental 
package.
  That is what the administration can do, but Congress also has an 
opportunity and actually an obligation to do our job. Congress can 
unlock critical funding for the Milk River Project once again by 
passing the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement.
  The Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act is a 
critically important piece of legislation that addresses a wide range 
of issues. I am not going to get into all the details, but I will say 
this: When finalizing this settlement, the Fort Belknap Indian 
Community recognized how important the St. Mary Canal is to all the 
water users in North Central Montana. Because of the leadership and the 
vision from Tribal leaders like President Stiffarm, the Fort Belknap 
Indian Community Water Rights Settlement

[[Page S4172]]

was included and the St. Mary Canal project was included. Now, if this 
Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement passes, we can 
rehabilitate the St. Mary Canal, what exploded earlier this week.
  The bipartisan bill passed the Senate earlier this Congress--this 
Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement--as an amendment 
to the NDAA, but Speaker Johnson and House Republicans stripped it from 
the final version.
  For nearly a year, the House has failed to act to provide the North 
Central Montana water users the certainty they need. These folks are 
farmers that need to feed the country and entire world, but they are 
also businesses that will go broke without water.

  Now is the time to move forward. The siphon failures that occurred 
earlier this week are a reminder that we must invest in infrastructure 
to protect water supply and food supply. So, today, the Senate 
hopefully will once again pass this critical water rights compact. This 
time, it is a stand-alone bill, not part of the NDAA.
  I want to be clear: The House needs to pass this bill. The House 
needs to put aside the politics and pass this bill. Farmers' operations 
that have been generational in this region--their livelihoods are on 
the line. Water for municipalities is on the line. This is no time--no 
time--to play politics.
  The siphon bursts that we saw earlier this week have left Montana 
families reeling. Congress can do its job. The Senate will do its job. 
It is time for the House to act responsibly too. Let's get this done so 
we can repair the Milk River Project and give the water users in North 
Central Montana the certainty and predictability they need to survive.
  Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Committee on Indian Affairs be discharged from further 
consideration of S. 1987 and the Senate proceed to its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1987) to provide for the settlement of the water 
     rights claims of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Tester-
Daines substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to and the bill, as 
amended, be considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2074) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of 
Amendments.'')
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill, 
as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time and 
there being no further debate, the question is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (S. 1987), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. TESTER. I ask that the motion to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.

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