U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today secured passage of two critical bills with direct impacts to Montana communities, the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act and a bill (S.1882) to allow Sidney Water Users Irrigation District and Kinsey Irrigation Company to continue receiving Pick-Sloan power out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. As a member of the Committee, Daines was instrumental in moving them through the legislative process.
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“Clean, reliable drinking water is one of the most basic needs of life yet many of our rural communities lack suitable access.” Daines said. “My legislation ensures that rural Montanans will not be forgotten…I thank my colleagues for supporting these important pieces of legislation and look forward to getting them to the President’s desk.”
The bipartisan Clean Water for Rural Communities Act (S.685) impacts two Bureau of Reclamation rural water projects critical to Montana: the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System and the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System. The bipartisan bill authorizes the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System, which will facilitate water treatment and delivery to more than 4,500 Montanans in portions of Judith Basin, Wheatland, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Fergus, and Yellowstone Counties. The bill also authorizes the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System to continue working with the Bureau of Reclamation to complete their feasibility study.
Daines’ other bill will allow the Sidney and Kinsey Irrigation Districts to continue getting affordable power that facilitates irrigation. Together, the Districts serve more than 130 family farms and irrigates nearly 12,000 acres of farm land in eastern Montana.
The bills will now move to the Senate Floor for a vote.
Statements of Support:
“The passage of this bill through Committee is very good news to Kinsey Irrigation farmers. This is a bright spot in what has been a tough year of agriculture. This is great news and we appreciate Senator Daines and the Committee’s attention to our bill” – Doug Martin, Board President, Kinsey Irrigation Company
“We are very pleased and excited to see movement and momentum on S.1882. This water is the livelihood of Sidney’s agriculture and these power rates are extremely important to making our farming profitable. This bill allows us to continue our good work with the Bureau of Reclamation and we look forward to it becoming law.” – Raymond Bell, President of the Board, Sidney Water Users Irrigation District
Background:
Daines has been an instrumental voice for advancing Montana’s water and energy priorities serving as Montana’s lone voice on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Daines introduced S.1882 the in early June.
On February 6th, 2019 Daines reintroduced the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act with bipartisan support.
Daines also introduced the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act in the 115th and 114th U.S. Congress.
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