Sponsors (2)
The bill provides dedicated funding and preserves tribal ownership to improve on‑Reservation water and wastewater infrastructure, but it shifts long‑term operation and financial risks to the Tribe and introduces administrative and fiscal uncertainties.
Tribal-lands residents and nearby rural communities can use MR&I Projects Account funds to plan, design, construct, operate, and repair on-Reservation water and wastewater infrastructure, improving local water services.
The Crow Tribe retains title, control, and operation of projects built with account funds, preserving tribal ownership and local management of water assets.
Creates a Crow CIP Implementation Account whose interest earnings are available to carry out CIP activities, providing a dedicated funding source and potential additional revenue to support projects.
The Tribe (and local users) will bear all future operation, maintenance, and replacement costs because the Federal Government has no O&M or replacement obligation, shifting long‑term financial burden to tribal communities and local governments.
Transferring existing jointly held CIP/MR&I funds into new, tribe-specific accounts may reduce federal flexibility and complicate administration during the transfer, risking delays or coordination problems with state and local partners.
Extending the Yellowtail Dam repayment period from 15 to 20 years delays full repayment, potentially prolonging financial obligations or interest accrual that could affect taxpayers or fund flows to other projects.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes targeted changes to the Crow Tribe water settlement by reorganizing how settlement funds are held, invested, and spent. It creates two specific accounts (a non‑trust Crow CIP Implementation Account and an MR&I Projects Account), clarifies what project costs are eligible, extends one repayment term, requires cost indexing for certain deposits, and affirms that the Tribe retains title, control, and operation of projects built with settlement funds while removing a federal operation and maintenance or replacement obligation. Overall, the bill changes definitions, repeals one prior federal MR&I System provision, moves money between jointly held accounts into the new accounts, allows specified uses (planning, design, construction, operation, environmental compliance, and in some cases land purchase), and adjusts timing and funding rules to reflect cost changes since 2008.
Introduced January 24, 2025 by Troy Downing · Last progress January 24, 2025