REAUTHORIZING THE FORT PECK RESERVATION RURAL WATER SYSTEM ACT OF 2000

On 2026-06-02, Representative Troy Downing (R-MT-2) delivered a floor speech titled "REAUTHORIZING THE FORT PECK RESERVATION RURAL WATER SYSTEM ACT OF 2000" in the House.

REAUTHORIZING THE FORT PECK RESERVATION RURAL WATER SYSTEM ACT OF 2000

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026) [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 ] {time} 1610 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 [[Page H3767]] 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. {time} 1620 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. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR7250, HR7250