Steve Daines (R-MT)
Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
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
This bill, known as the "Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act," seeks to authorize a water system in Montana and North Dakota. The goal is to provide a safe and adequate water supply for municipal, rural, and industrial use. It specifically targets Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, and Richland Counties in Montana, as well as McKenzie County in North Dakota. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to carry out the project and enter into a cooperative agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority. The act includes provisions for federal cost-sharing, the use of power from the Pick-Sloan Program, and specific funding authorizations.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill is specifically designed to provide water security to rural counties in Montana and North Dakota.
- Scored +7
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill authorizes essential water infrastructure critical for rural community development.
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
Water security is vital for livestock and agricultural operations in these counties.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Water Security: The bill aims to ensure a safe and adequate municipal, rural, and industrial water supply for citizens in several Montana counties and McKenzie County, North Dakota (Section 2).
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Livestock Support: Unlike some previous standards, this authorization ensures that livestock watering is not limited to incidental noncommercial use (Section 4(a)).
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Federal Financial Assistance: The Secretary is directed to provide federal assistance for the planning, design, and construction of the Water System through a cooperative agreement (Section 4(b)).
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Power Availability: The Administrator is tasked with making available the quantity of power required to meet the operational requirements of the Water System (Section 5(a)).
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Mitigation of Past Impacts: The bill notes that McCone and Garfield Counties were designated as impact counties during the construction of the Fort Peck Dam and are intended to receive impact mitigation benefits (Section 5(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Responsibility for Power: While power is made available, the Authority is responsible for the payment of power charges and non-Federal delivery costs (Section 5(4)).
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Transmission Upgrade Costs: The Water System is responsible for funding any necessary upgrades to the Integrated System or non-Federal transmission and distribution systems to deliver power (Section 5(5)(B)).
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Limited Use of Federal Funds: Federal funds cannot be used for the operation, maintenance, or replacement of the Water System (Section 4(c)(2)(C)).
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 is specifically designed to provide water security to rural counties in Montana and North Dakota. Would farmers be better off under this? — Water security is vital for livestock and agricultural operations in these counties. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill supports industrial water use which benefits local business interests. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improved water access provides a vital resource for low-income rural residents. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides stable water resources for many households in the service area.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill authorizes essential water infrastructure critical for rural community development.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill authorizes federal funding and oversight for a large-scale regional water project.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The water infrastructure project supports industrial and rural economic stability.
- 9/16/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
- 5/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana