Daines Secures Critical Montana Infrastructure Projects In Water Resources Reform and Development Act

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative Steve Daines today announced that support for several key Montana infrastructure and water projects was successfully included in the conference report for the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which passed the House today with strong bipartisan support.

Daines, who serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Water Resource Subcommittee, has worked over the past year to ensure Montana's priorities were represented in the final WRRDA.

"In Montana, we know that if you don't have water, you don't have much. Our water resources and infrastructure are critical to our state's economy and our way of life, and it's important that these resources are maintained and strengthened for future generations," Daines stated. "That's why I'm glad to join the House in passing this bipartisan legislation, which cuts senseless red tape, helps create jobs, and strengthens our water resources infrastructure-- especially in Montana. In addition to securing important provisions for Montana water projects, this bipartisan bill also establishes a new, transparent process to review and prioritize water resources development activities and brings much-needed accountability to Washington."

Daines helped to secure a number of important provisions for Montana, including:
* Authorizing of flood and drought mitigation on impact of extreme weather events in the Northern Rockies
* Authorization of soil and snowpack soil moisture and snowpack monitoring in the upper Missouri River Basin
* Conducting watercraft inspection for invasive species like Zebra Mussels on Flathead Lake;
* And authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to facilitate completion of a fish passage in the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project as part of the Missouri River Recovery Program.

WRRDA has widespread support from Montana and national organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, Montana Grain Growers Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, National Rural Water Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

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