Baucus, Tester: $2.7 million to improve water quality for Montana’s reservations

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Thanks to money from the Jobs-Stimulus Bill, water infrastructure on several reservations is about to get a boost, Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced today.

The Jobs-Stimulus Bill, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide five reservations money to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Crow Tribe on the Crow Reservation in south east Montana will receive $1,033,610 to improve their sewer and water lagoon infrastructure.

The Chippewa Cree Tribe on the Rocky Boy's Reservation in north central Montana will receive $542,710 to repair the wastewater lagoon. 

The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes on the Fort Peck Reservation in north east Montana will receive $589,680 to improve their wastewater infrastructure by stabilizing the walls of the water lagoon.

The Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes on the Fort Belknap Reservation in north central Montana will receive $572,700 to make upgrades to the water treatment plant.

The Blackfeet Tribe on the Blackfeet Reservation in north west Montana will receive $29,900 to improve drinking water infrastructure by fixing a water main. 

"This money will make such a difference for the folks in Indian Country," Baucus said. "These are critical upgrades to water infrastructure that will help the entire community's health, safety and economic development."

"Access to clean water is essential for healthy communities, and this money will go a long ways toward making that a reality for Montana's Indian Country," said Tester, a member of the influentional Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. "These types of projects are exactly why I supported the Jobs-Stimulus Bill because they create good-paying jobs right now rebuilding infrastructure that will improve Montanans quality of life and our state’s economic growth for generations to come."

The Jobs-Stimulus Bill is bringing more than $1 billion in new funding to Montana in addition to more than $500 million in middle class tax relief.