{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-resolves-century-old-dispute-proposes-new-settlement-framework-to-permanently-protect-water-rights-for-all-montanans", "Daines Resolves Century Old Dispute, Proposes New Settlement Framework to Permanently Protect Water Rights for All Montanans", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Steve Daines", "D000618", "www.daines.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.05.19\n\t\t\t Daines Resolves Century Old Dispute, Proposes New Settlement Framework to Permanently Protect Water Rights for All Montanans \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Requires CSKT Tribe to Permanently Relinquish 97% of all Water Rights Claims Across Montana, Save Taxpayers Over $400 Million\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. SENATE After years of negotiations, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has reached an agreement with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) on a new framework for a permanent water settlement. Daines will introduce the Montana Water Rights Protection Act which permanently eliminates 97% of all CSKT's water rights claims across Montana, saves taxpayers over $400 million and protects the water rights of all Montanans.\r\nAfter years of negotiations and hard work, I'm pleased to announce we have reached a new agreement that permanently settles a century old water dispute in Montana and protects the water rights of all Montanans, Daines said. The Montana Water Rights Protection Act' will permanently eliminate almost all of CSKT's water claim rights across Montana with prejudice, save taxpayers over $400 million, and give all water users across Montana protection and certainty.\r\nThe elimination of 97% of all CSKT's water rights claims across Montana is with prejudice, meaning they are permanently relinquished.\r\nLast month, the Trump Administration expressed support for a settlement that would avoid litigation.\r\nThe Montana Water Rights Protection Act protects Montanans' due process by giving them access to state courts over water disputes between tribal and non-tribal members. It also affirms Montanans' Constitutional protection that the water of the State of Montana belongs to all the people for their common benefit (Article IX, Section 3). It will prevent years of costly litigation for Montana water users, and provide much needed certainty for all parties involved.\r\nSince coming to Congress, Daines has been actively engaged with members of the CSKT, Montana State Legislators, irrigators, and other stakeholders in reaching an agreement.  Key Facts of the Montana Water Rights Protection Act:\r\n \r\nProtects water rights of all Montanans across the state\r\nPermanently relinquishes 97% of all CSKT's water claim rights with prejudice across Montana\r\n\r\nRequires further 2.7% of remaining claims to be co-owned by the state of Montana and the remaining .3% will be limited to protecting fishing habitat by maintaining in stream flows and protecting outdoor economy\r\n\r\nSaves taxpayers over $400 million vs. alternative proposals\r\nProhibits the sale of water out of the State of Montana\r\nProvides critical resources to upgrade and improve water infrastructure\r\nConserves critical fish habitat across NW Montana\r\n \r\nKey Differences from Alternative Proposals:\r\n \r\nReduces settlement costs by over $400 million vs. alternative proposals\r\nAgreement by CSKT to permanently relinquish 97% of all water rights claims with prejudice across Montana\r\n\r\nRequires further 2.7% of remaining claims to be co-owned by the state of Montana and the remaining .3% will be limited to protecting fishing habitat by maintaining in stream flows and protecting outdoor economy\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nProtect Montanans' due process by giving them access to state courts over water disputes between tribal and non-tribal members\r\nAgreement by CKST of language that affirms Montanans' Constitutional protection that the water of the State of Montana belongs to all the people for their common benefit\r\n \r\nMore Details:\r\n \r\nProvides CSKT with $1.9 billion to settle damages and rehabilitate the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project (FIIP)\r\nProvides $10 million in road infrastructure funds to Lake and Sanders Counties\r\nRequires the Unitary Management Board to cross-file water records with Montana DNRC and requires all meetings and proceedings open to the public\r\n \r\nBackground:\r\n \r\nEarlier this month, the Trump Administration expressed support for a settlement that would avoid litigation.\r\nIn October, Daines sent a letter to the Department of the Interior requesting a formal review and guidance of alternative proposals.\r\nIn 2018, Daines met with legislators and irrigators who were proposing the People's Compact, and worked to address their concerns with the state passed compact.\r\n \r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-resolves-century-old-dispute-proposes-new-settlement-framework-to-permanently-protect-water-rights-for-all-montanans"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9808051399886608, "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"}