Sponsors (2)
The bill secures substantial tribal water rights, land-into-trust transfers, and major federal funding for water and sanitation infrastructure—boosting tribal self-sufficiency and public health—while increasing federal spending and oversight and imposing funding caps, deadlines, and legal/operational constraints that create uncertainty and limit some tribal flexibility.
Members of the Fort Belknap Indian Community gain legally confirmed tribal water rights including a perpetual 20,000 acre-feet/year allocation from Lake Elwell (measured at Tiber Dam outlet), securing long-term water supply for irrigation, community uses, and leasing.
Large federal investments and project authorizations (rehabilitation/modernization of irrigation and canals, plus planning/construction funds) provide major water and sanitation infrastructure upgrades and local construction jobs for tribal and nearby rural communities.
The Fort Belknap Tribe receives thousands of acres taken into trust (including ~3,519 acres and additional tracts such as Dodson), increasing tribal land base, governance control, and jurisdiction over those lands.
Taxpayers face substantial new federal spending and contingent liabilities (several hundred million dollars across multiple authorizations and appropriations, including a noted ~$660M scale and a separate $250M for Blackfeet), increasing federal outlays.
Significant federal approval, oversight, and disclaimers (Secretary approval of Tribal codes/leasing, U.S. disclaiming certain liabilities) limit immediate tribal autonomy and can constrain Tribe decision-making or reduce federal recourse for third parties.
Funding caps, sunset deadlines, and the provision that the U.S. is not liable if Congress does not appropriate funds create real risk of incomplete projects, voided transfers, and long-term uncertainty for the Tribe and local users.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Settles Fort Belknap water-rights via a ratified compact, conveys specified lands into trust, creates a multi-account settlement trust fund, and authorizes tribal water infrastructure funding including $250M for Blackfeet.
Introduced January 31, 2025 by Ryan Zinke · Last progress January 31, 2025
Settles water-rights claims for the Fort Belknap Indian Community by ratifying and directing implementation of the Fort Belknap–Montana Compact, conveys specific Federal and privately held land into trust for the tribe, establishes a dedicated trust fund with three accounts to pay for irrigation, water-rights administration, and domestic water and sewer projects, and authorizes federal funding for tribal water infrastructure. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to carry out land transfers and manage trust receipts and investments, and separately authorizes $250 million for water and wastewater facilities for the Blackfeet Tribe.