Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]
Introduced
Summary
Centralize and modernize funding for the Crow Tribe's municipal, residential, and industrial water projects. This bill would amend the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to redefine MR&I projects, remake settlement funding accounts, and shift management and investment authority for those funds to the Secretary of the Interior.
Show full summary
- Gives the Crow Tribe clearer ownership and control over on-Reservation water infrastructure. Title to MR&I infrastructure stays with the Tribe and the federal government would have no obligation to pay for operation, maintenance, or replacement.
- Creates a new MR&I Projects Account and a Crow CIP Implementation Account to hold settlement funds and pay project costs. The Secretary would manage, invest, and distribute those accounts, funds remain available until expended or reverted to the general fund, and a joint-signature mechanism would govern withdrawals.
- Repeals the old MR&I "System" and replaces it with a Projects framework that expands on-Reservation reach. The bill indexes MR&I funding to the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Index for post-May 1, 2008 cost changes and extends the Yellowtail Dam timing from 15 to 20 years while requiring environmental compliance for planning and construction.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New Crow water funding accounts
If enacted, the bill would shift management and investment authority for the Crow Settlement Fund to the Secretary. It would create two new accounts: a Crow CIP Implementation Account and an MR&I Projects Account. These accounts would hold specified appropriations, transfers, and investment earnings and be available to build, repair, or operate tribal water and wastewater projects. Indexing rules would adjust certain MR&I deposits for construction cost changes. The bill would also make clear the Federal Government would not be required to pay for project operation, maintenance, or replacement.
Change MR&I definition and repeal
If enacted, the bill would redefine "MR&I Project" to match specific listed activities in the settlement text. It would also repeal the old MR&I "System" statutory subsection and remove its table of contents entry. These changes clarify which projects qualify, but could either expand or limit eligibility depending on how the referenced clauses apply in practice.
Longer deadline for Yellowtail Dam
If enacted, the bill would change a statutory deadline for Yellowtail Dam from 15 years to 20 years. This extends the time allowed for the covered action by five years. The change affects timing but does not itself add funding or new authorities.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]
MT • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]
MT • R
Sponsored 1/24/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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