Troy Downing (R-MT)
Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act authorizes the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System in Montana. The goal is to provide a safe and adequate water supply for municipal, rural, and industrial use in specific counties in Montana and McKenzie County, North Dakota. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to carry out the project, including entering into cooperative agreements with the Authority. Federal funds are intended to cover the planning, design, and construction of the water system. The bill also addresses the availability of power for the system's operations. Finally, it provides for specific funding amounts and adjustments for construction costs.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill specifically authorizes water infrastructure designed to serve residents in rural Montana and North Dakota counties.
- Scored +7
Does this invest in rural communities?
The act provides essential water infrastructure funding for several rural counties in Montana and North Dakota.
- Scored +5
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill explicitly ensures that livestock watering shall not be limited to incidental noncommercial use.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $602 million in federal funding for water system construction.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Water Supply Security: The bill aims to ensure a safe and adequate water supply for municipal, rural, and industrial needs for citizens in Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, and Richland Counties in Montana, as well as McKenzie County, North Dakota (Section 2).
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Livestock Support: The authorization includes a condition that livestock watering shall not be limited to incidental noncommercial livestock watering (Section 4(a)).
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Infrastructure Development: Federal funds can be used for various critical facilities including water pumping, water treatment, water storage, transmission pipelines, pumping stations, and even interconnection facilities to public water systems (Section 4(c)(2)(A)).
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Power Availability: The Administrator is directed to make available the quantity of power required to meet the operational needs of the Water System, covering everything from water intake to the point of delivery to distribution entities (Section 5(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Responsibility for Power: The Authority is responsible for the payment of power charges and non-Federal delivery costs (Section 5(a)(4)).
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Transmission Costs: The Water System is responsible for all non-Federal transmission and distribution system delivery and service arrangements, as well as funding any necessary upgrades to the Integrated System or non-Federal systems (Section 5(a)(5)).
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Maintenance Limitations: Federal funds cannot be used for the actual operation, maintenance, or replacement of the Water System (Section 4(c)(2)(A)).
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 people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill specifically authorizes water infrastructure designed to serve residents in rural Montana and North Dakota counties. Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill explicitly ensures that livestock watering shall not be limited to incidental noncommercial use. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The development of municipal water systems can improve access to essential services for rural residents regardless of income.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The act provides essential water infrastructure funding for several rural counties in Montana and North Dakota.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Providing a reliable water supply can support local economic stability and essential needs for rural residents.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $602 million in federal funding for water system construction.
- 5/12/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 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.