IRRIGATE Act
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President. I wish to discuss legislation I introduced yesterday that would help Native American irrigators, ranchers, farmers, and families fully utilize the irrigation systems in Indian Country. The bill, S. 438, is entitled the Irrigation Rehabilitation and Renovation for Indian Tribal Governments and Their Economies Act, or the IRRIGATE Act.
I thank my colleagues who have joined me as co-sponsors of this legislation, including Senators Tester, Hatch, Enzi, Daines and Bennet.
Careful management of water in Indian communities is essential if we are to ensure a reliable supply in the future. Many ranchers and farmers, both Indian and non-Indian, still depend on the Bureau of Indian Affairs, BIA, to deliver water for their needs.
The Department of the Interior initiated several Indian irrigation projects in the late 1800s and early 1900s intended as a central component of tribal economies. In most cases, the Federal Government did not even complete these projects. In 2006, the Government Accountability Office released a report on Indian irrigation projects, which highlighted the inefficiencies of the operation, maintenance, and management by the BIA.
While the BIA has indicated that the current backlog is estimated to be in excess of $560 million, some Indian tribes estimate that this backlog estimate may be even higher. The most recent information from the BIA clearly reflects an upward trend in the costs of these systems, growing from $549 million to in excess of $560 million in only one-quarter year alone.
Deferred maintenance means inefficient water delivery and damaged infrastructure. For the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, these issues are perpetual problems. Tribal economies depend on these water systems--and the BIA has an obligation to repair those irrigation systems.
The bill intends to bring the BIA irrigation systems into the 21st century. The bill would authorize $35 million each year from FY 2015 to 2036, to address the deferred maintenance needs of certain BIA irrigation projects. This includes any structures, facilities, equipment, or vehicles used in connection with the projects. The bill would also require a longer-term study on the operations of these projects.
This bipartisan bill is supported by many Indian tribes. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source