[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3766-H3767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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REAUTHORIZING THE FORT PECK RESERVATION RURAL WATER SYSTEM ACT OF 2000
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 7250) to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water
System Act of 2000.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7250
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION.
Section 9 of the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System
Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-382; 114 Stat. 1457; 123 Stat.
2856; 128 Stat. 164; 132 Stat. 2906) is amended, in each of
subsections (a)(1) and (b), by striking ``2026'' and
inserting ``2028''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms.
Stansbury) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 7250, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7250, a bill to reauthorize
the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System, sponsored by
Representative Troy Downing of Montana. The system consists of two
interconnected water systems in northeastern Montana, which serve
Tribal and non-Tribal communities.
Major features of the system have already been completed, and a
substantial portion is operational. Some work remains to complete the
project. This legislation would extend the Bureau of Reclamation's
authority to carry out work on the project through fiscal year 2028,
which will provide enough time to complete the project using existing
funds.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Downing for his leadership on
this important issue. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7250. This legislation would
extend the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System completion date to
December 2028. In 2000, Congress authorized the Fort Peck Reservation
Rural Water System to address water quality and supply concerns in
northeastern Montana.
This project consists of the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water System
and the Dry Prairie Rural Water System. Together, they will provide
safe, reliable water from the Missouri River to over 32,000 residents
across the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and communities in northeastern
Montana.
Over the years, Congress has provided extensions to account for
delays in project construction due to insufficient appropriations and
rising construction costs. H.R. 7250 would provide another simple 2-
year extension to ensure that construction of the final components of
the Assiniboine and Sioux and the Dry Prairie Rural Water Systems can
be completed.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Downing), the lead sponsor of this
bill.
Mr. DOWNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7250, my
legislation to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System
Act. Passage of this bill will ensure the completion of a vital piece
of water infrastructure for my constituents living in one of the most
rural areas of the country.
Northeast Montana faces a variety of significant water access
challenges, including regular droughts and contaminated groundwater.
Towns, farms, ranches, and Tribes in the region need reliable water
treatment facilities and infrastructure in order to overcome these
issues.
To address these challenges, the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water
System Act of 2000 authorized a major water infrastructure partnership
between the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System of the Fort
Peck Reservation and the Dry Prairie Rural Water System in northeast
Montana. It also provided funding and technical support for the project
through the Bureau of Reclamation.
In the ensuing two and a half decades, the two water systems have
successfully worked together with Federal partners to build an
extensive network
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of over 3,000 miles of water pipeline, along with multiple pumping
stations and a water treatment plant to service the region's 18,000
residents.
The project is nearly finished, with only 2 out of Dry Prairie's 23
pipeline phases in need of completion. However, its current Federal
authorization is set to expire at the end of the year.
My legislation, H.R. 7250, extends the water system's authorization
by 2 years to provide the necessary time for the completion of these
final phases of the project. Without an authorization to build, the
project's completion would be jeopardized.
Notably, this legislation does not appropriate any additional Federal
funds. It solely reauthorizes work already on the verge of completion.
H.R. 7250 will continue a critical infrastructure project that
directly benefits rural and Tribal communities in northeast Montana.
Moreover, passage of this bill will allow this congressionally directed
project to carry through to completion, ensuring that taxpayer dollars
are spent as they were initially intended.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important
initiative for Montana.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. I am prepared to
close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to
support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, this bill will provide for the completion
of a water system that is necessary for the long-term sustainability of
rural communities in Montana.
I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7250.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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