Montana’s Push for Water Security
Another priority bill, the Northern Montana Water Security Act, introduced in January by Sen. Daines, would direct $300 million toward completing the Milk River Project and Dodson South Canal. The legislation aims to secure long-term water access for tribal nations while bolstering agricultural and community use.
Funding the Future
To finance these settlements, lawmakers floated an extension of Customs User Fees collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Those fees are set to expire in 2031, but the Congressional Budget Office estimates that extending them through fiscal 2034 would generate $16.5 billion in savings—funds that could cover settlement costs without new taxpayer burdens.
What’s at Stake
For tribes across the Southwest and Northern Plains, these settlements represent more than infrastructure—they are a path to sovereignty, stability, and survival in the face of dwindling water resources. For lawmakers, the clock is ticking: every delay brings the threat of sprawling court battles, ballooning costs, and communities left waiting for a drop of relief.
