{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases/downing-daines-sheehy-zinke-introduce-legislation-support-montana-tribal", "Downing, Daines, Sheehy, Zinke Introduce Legislation to Support Montana Tribal Communities", "2025-01-24", "2025", "2025-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Troy Downing", "D000634", "downing.house.gov", "downing", "https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2013Congressman Troy Downing, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Senator Tim Sheehy, and Congressman Ryan Zinke today introduced a slate of bills to strengthen and support Montana\u2019s tribal communities, ensure access to clean water and updated infrastructure and keep the critical Bull Mountains Mine open.\n\n\u201cI am proud to be a part of a delegation that works together to support Montana's tribal communities,\" said Congressman Downing. \"Rest assured, I will fight to advance these bills in the House so that our tribal communities have access to long overdue water, infrastructure, and revenue for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom clean water and reliable infrastructure to critical tax revenue, I\u2019m glad to work with Senator Sheehy, Congressman Zinke and Congressman Downing to support Montana\u2019s tribal communities across our great state,\u201d said Senator Daines. \u201cIt\u2019s past time these commonsense bills become law, and I\u2019ll fight to get them across the finish line.\u201d\n\n\u201cWorking to meet the needs of communities on our reservations and across the Hi-Line by investing in critical infrastructure, ensuring access to clean water, and providing reliable revenue is common sense,\u201d said Senator Sheehy. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with the Montana delegation on making life more safe, prosperous and affordable for our Tribal partners and all Montanans.\u201d\n\n\u201cTribal sovereignty needs to mean something; these bills will force the federal government to live up to their treaty obligations and make real investments in the future of the Nations,\u201d said Congressman Zinke. \u201cI will always fight for Tribal sovereignty and prosperity. The tribes need there sources to ensure a better future, with clean water, economic opportunity, and the ability to invest in their own priorities. I am optimistic that with everyone rowing the same directions, we can make these bills law and make those goals reality.\u201d\n\nNorthern Montana Water Security Act:\n\nThe \u201cNorthern Montana Water Security Act\u201d would complete the final Indian Rights Water Settlement in Montana after years of negotiations. It would provide $1.3 billion to improve infrastructure and economic development for tribal water users, authorize $300 million in funding to complete the restoration of the Milk River Project and Dodson South Canal and prevent costly litigation by affirming the Fort Belknap Indian Community\u2019s senior water rights. It would also authorize $250 million towards the construction of an upstream wastewater treatment on the Blackfeet Reservation to replace aging infrastructure and deliver clean, safe water to the community.\n\nClick HERE for bill text and HERE for a one pager on the bill.\n\nCrow Revenue Act:\n\nDaines introduced the \u201cCrow Revenue Act\u201d in May2024. The bill fixes long-standing inholdings on the Crow Reservation, provides revenue to the Crow Tribe, and helps ensure the Bull Mountains Mine continues to operate and provide jobs and revenue to the community. Specifically, it would transfer approximately 4,660 acres of private subsurface inholdings (Hope Family Tracts) on the Crow Reservation to the Crow Tribe of Montana in exchange for 4,530 acres of federal subsurface and 940 acres of federal surface interests in Musselshell County (Bull Mountains Tracts). The bill would also require that the Crow Tribe and the Hope Family enter into a Revenue Sharing Agreement for any interests developed in the Bull Mountains Tracts.\n\nClick HERE for bill text and HERE for a one pager on the bill.\n\nCrow Tribe Water Settlement Amendment Act:\n\nThe \u201cCrow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act\u201d of 2009 settled the Crow Tribe\u2019s water rights and authorized $460 million to construct a water system for the tribe. The \u201cCrow Tribe Water Rights Settlements Amendments Act\u201d would update the previous settlement to be fund-based rather than project-based, and also extends the authorization for the Tribe to develop hydropower on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam until 2030, providing clean energy and an economic boost to the community.\n\nClick HERE for bill text and HERE for a one pager on the bill.\n\nStatements of Support:\n\n\u201cThe measures introduced today by Montana\u2019s congressional delegation will benefit our entire state. These commonsense proposals address Montana\u2019s longstanding needs, including those of our tribal communities. Together, we will continue to come alongside communities to expand opportunity and show the nation that in Montana, America lives here.\u201d\u2014 Montana Governor Greg Gianforte\n\n\u201cThe Fort Belknap Indian Community is grateful for the ongoing support of the Montana Congressional Delegation for our Water Settlement Bill. Senator Daines, Senator Sheehy, Congressman Zinke and Congressman Downing all know that passing our bill is critically important for protecting our water rights, securing our homelands, and providing the water infrastructure needed to support the rural economy on our Reservation and across the Montana Hi-Line. Our bill will also settle water rights litigation and avoid decades of uncertainty over water supplies. After years of careful negotiations and with the full support of the State of Montana, local governments, ranchers, irrigators, stockmen, and conservation groups it is time to pass our bill. We owe this to our ancestors that fought for our water and lands and to provide a safe and secure homeland on our Reservation for generations to come.\u201d\u2014 President Jeffery Stiffarm, Fort Belknap Indian Community\n\n\u201cThe Blackfeet Tribe of Montana commends and offers its gratitude to Senator Daines and his staff for their work on the Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025. This bill provides a much-needed water treatment facility for our people and brings a fair conclusion to water rights claims in our state. We urge all members of Congress to swiftly pass this legislation to bring justice and relief to the more than 10,000 people living on the Blackfeet Reservation.\u201d\u2014 Blackfeet Tribal Chairman Rodney \u201cMinnow\u201d Gervais\n\n\u201cToday's legislative achievements mark a vital turning point for the Crow Tribe. The Crow Revenue Act addresses the severe economic challenges inflicted upon our Tribe by prior policies that drastically reduced our revenue base. With this Act, we can bolster our financial stability, supplementing the income lost as the nation moved away from coal-dependent industries. Currently,56% of our people rely on contaminated water sources. This Act will allow us to deliver safe, healthy water, a basic human necessity, to every household. Our commitment is to protect and nurture the generations of Crow people to come. These legislative victories are not just policies; they are promises to our community \u2013 promises that we will continue to thrive, prosper, and preserve our heritage for future generations.\u201d \u2013 Chairman White Clay, Crow Tribe\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases/downing-daines-sheehy-zinke-introduce-legislation-support-montana-tribal"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9222209919244051, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}