Troy Downing (R-MT)
Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 670.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025," seeks to amend the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010. It makes several changes to how water rights settlement funds and projects are handled. Specifically, it repeals the MR&I System and replaces it with an MR&I Projects Account. The bill updates definitions, changes how the Crow Settlement Fund is managed, and updates various sections of the original 2010 Act. It also adjusts the timeframe related to the Yellowtail Dam in Montana.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides the Crow Tribe with increased control and flexible funding for essential water infrastructure projects.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill facilitates improvements to water infrastructure which is vital for rural community stability.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill invests in water production and treatment infrastructure which benefits the resident population's basic needs.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Control over Infrastructure: The Tribe will retain title to, control over, and operation of any project built using funds from the MR&I Projects Account (Section 2(c)(3)(i)).
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Improved Water Infrastructure: Funds from the MR&I Projects Account are designated for the Tribe to plan, design, construct, and repair water production, treatment, or delivery infrastructure, including domestic and municipal use or wastewater (Section 2(c)(3)(F)(i)(I)).
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Environmental Compliance Support: The bill allows funds to be used to ensure the Tribe can comply with applicable environmental laws regarding water infrastructure (Section 2(c)(3)(F)(i)(II)).
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Land Acquisition Opportunities: Once on-Reservation water infrastructure projects are complete, the Tribe can use remaining funds from the MR&I Projects Account to purchase on-Reservation land that has water rights (Section 2(c)(3)(F)(ii)).
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Flexible Fund Management: The Crow Settlement Fund is amended to be managed, invested, and distributed by the Secretary, with funds remaining available until they are expended, withdrawn, or reverted to the Treasury (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Responsibility for Maintenance: The Federal Government will not be obligated to pay for the operation, maintenance, or replacement of any MR&I Project (Section 2(c)(3)(j)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides the Crow Tribe with increased control and flexible funding for essential water infrastructure projects. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill facilitates improvements to water infrastructure which is vital for rural community stability. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill invests in water production and treatment infrastructure which benefits the resident population's basic needs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill allows the Tribe to use remaining funds to purchase on-Reservation land with water rights, which can facilitate land acquisition.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill enhances the Tribe's ability to fund water production, treatment, and delivery infrastructure.
- 8/27/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-769.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 670.
- 7/15/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 1/24/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ryan ZinkeRepublican · Montana