[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2072]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                              IRRIGATE ACT

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President. I wish to discuss legislation I 
introduced yesterday that would help Native American irrigators, 
ranchers, farmers, and families fully utilize the irrigation systems in 
Indian Country. The bill, S. 438, is entitled the Irrigation 
Rehabilitation and Renovation for Indian Tribal Governments and Their 
Economies Act, or the IRRIGATE Act.
  I thank my colleagues who have joined me as co-sponsors of this 
legislation, including Senators Tester, Hatch, Enzi, Daines and Bennet.
  Careful management of water in Indian communities is essential if we 
are to ensure a reliable supply in the future. Many ranchers and 
farmers, both Indian and non-Indian, still depend on the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, BIA, to deliver water for their needs.
  The Department of the Interior initiated several Indian irrigation 
projects in the late 1800s and early 1900s intended as a central 
component of tribal economies. In most cases, the Federal Government 
did not even complete these projects. In 2006, the Government 
Accountability Office released a report on Indian irrigation projects, 
which highlighted the inefficiencies of the operation, maintenance, and 
management by the BIA.
  While the BIA has indicated that the current backlog is estimated to 
be in excess of $560 million, some Indian tribes estimate that this 
backlog estimate may be even higher. The most recent information from 
the BIA clearly reflects an upward trend in the costs of these systems, 
growing from $549 million to in excess of $560 million in only one-
quarter year alone.
  Deferred maintenance means inefficient water delivery and damaged 
infrastructure. For the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, these 
issues are perpetual problems. Tribal economies depend on these water 
systems--and the BIA has an obligation to repair those irrigation 
systems.
  The bill intends to bring the BIA irrigation systems into the 21st 
century. The bill would authorize $35 million each year from FY 2015 to 
2036, to address the deferred maintenance needs of certain BIA 
irrigation projects. This includes any structures, facilities, 
equipment, or vehicles used in connection with the projects. The bill 
would also require a longer-term study on the operations of these 
projects.
  This bipartisan bill is supported by many Indian tribes. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.

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