Tester Puts Bill on Trump's Desk to Rebuild Montana's Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Senator Works with Republicans and Democrats to Upgrade Water Systems and Establish Inspection Stations

(U.S. Senate)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester today helped pass legislation to rebuild Montana’s aging water and wastewater infrastructure.

Tester worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass the Water Resources Development Act to upgrade water systems, establish watercraft inspection stations, and boost access to clean water in rural communities.

“Water is life,” Tester said. “These resources will create good-paying construction jobs, boost Montanans access to clean drinking water, and upgrade our aging sewer systems. This bipartisan bill is the result of folks putting politics aside and doing what is best for rural America.”

Tester specifically worked across the aisle to secure the following provisions in the Water Resources Development Act:

• Reauthorize and increase funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund from $1 billion to $1.95 billion. Montanans use this fund to rebuild municipal water and wastewater systems.
• Authorize $25 million annually for technical assistance for rural water and wastewater system managers.
• Establish a permanent water infrastructure loan initiative to ensure states and tribes have reliable credit and low rates to fund upgrades to local water systems.
• Authorize $110 million for watercraft inspection stations, including $30 million for the Columbia River Basin and $30 million for the Upper Missouri River Basin to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
• Authorize the Blackfeet Tribe to access up to 50 percent of the funding for the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement as Congress appropriates the funding.

The Water Resources Development Act passed the Senate 99-1.