Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
This bill amends the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to change definitions, repeal the prior MR&I System provision, revise how the Crow Settlement Fund is managed, and create two specific accounts: an MR&I Projects Account and a Crow CIP Implementation Account. It clarifies eligible uses of MR&I funds (planning, design, construction, environmental compliance, and, after completion, on-Reservation land purchases with water rights), states that title and operation of constructed projects remain with the Tribe, and declares the Federal Government has no obligation to pay for operation, maintenance, or replacement.
Progressive worries federal O&M abandonment; conservative welcomes reduced liability.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a focused administrative/operational amendment that is well-targeted to alter the statutory architecture of the Crow Tribe settlement (accounts, uses, ownership, indexing) and contains precise cross-references and conforming edits.
This bill amends the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to change definitions, repeal the prior MR&I System provision, revise how the Crow Settlement Fund is managed, and create two specific accounts: an MR&I Projects Account and a Crow CIP Implementation Account.
It clarifies eligible uses of MR&I funds (planning, design, construction, environmental compliance, and, after completion, on-Reservation land purchases with water rights), states that title and operation of constructed projects remain with the Tribe, and declares the Federal Government has no obligation to pay for operation, maintenance, or replacement.
The bill adds indexing for cost fluctuations using the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Index, adjusts certain time periods (e.g., 15 to 20 years), and makes technical and clerical updates to the statutory text.
Focused, technical amendments to an existing settlement increase plausibility of enactment, though stakeholder disputes or appropriations timing could impede final enactment.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a focused administrative/operational amendment that is well-targeted to alter the statutory architecture of the Crow Tribe settlement (accounts, uses, ownership, indexing) and contains precise cross-references and conforming edits.
Progressive worries federal O&M abandonment; conservative welcomes reduced liability.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressive worries federal O&M abandonment; conservative welcomes reduced liability.
Likely generally positive about strengthened tribal control and funding clarity for reservation water infrastructure, while concerned about protections and long-term access.
The removal of a federal O&M obligation may worry progressives who favor continued federal responsibility for essential services.
Support would hinge on assurances of adequate, timely appropriations and environmental and civil-rights safeguards.
Views the bill as a practical update to implement a long-standing settlement: clarifies funds, account management, and tribal ownership while adding cost-indexing.
Appreciates technical fixes and the joint-account transfers but wants clarity on appropriation timelines and estimated fiscal impacts.
Likely supportive if funding mechanisms are clear and federal liabilities remain limited.
Likely supportive overall because the bill increases tribal control, removes a federal O&M burden, and limits continued federal obligations while preserving settlement implementation.
Some conservatives may still watch added indexed appropriations and potential federal spending increases.
Generally favorable if the bill limits long-term federal liability.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Focused, technical amendments to an existing settlement increase plausibility of enactment, though stakeholder disputes or appropriations timing could impede final enactment.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressive worries federal O&M abandonment; conservative welcomes reduced liability.
Focused, technical amendments to an existing settlement increase plausibility of enactment, though stakeholder disputes or appropriations t…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a focused administrative/operational amendment that is well-targeted to alter the statutory architecture of the Crow Tribe settlement (accounts, uses, ownership, i…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.