Tester Secures More than $15 Million for Rural Water Infrastructure in Northeastern Montana

Funding for the Fort Peck – Dry Prairie Rural Water System will come from Senator’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA)

As part of his continued effort to support economic growth in rural communities, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $15 million through his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the Fort Peck – Dry Prairie Rural Water System. The funding, which was awarded by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), will be used to support substantial completion of the project.

“Montanans sent me to the Senate to deliver for our communities,” said Tester. “This funding to build out top-notch water infrastructure will help support businesses, create jobs, and provide certainty for folks in rural areas. I’m going to keep the pressure on the Administration to get this funding out the door so we can get these projects off the ground as soon as possible.” 

Tester has worked tirelessly to ensure that rural communities have access to modern, reliable water infrastructure. Last March, Tester secured $101.5 million for Montana rural water systems – the first tranche of the approximately $271 million he secured for rural water infrastructure in IIJA. The initial round of funding was delivered to the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Regional Water System, the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System, and the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water System.

Tester worked across the aisle for months to negotiate his bipartisan package with a group of five Republicans, four Democrats, and the White House, and he was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to vote for it. Tester’s law is projected to create more than 800,000 American jobs and lower costs for businesses by making targeted investments that will strengthen our nation without raising taxes on working families.

Tester secured significant wins for Montana in the legislation, including $2.82 billion for Montana’s roads, highways and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation; $65 billion to deploy broadband to areas across the country that lack internet access and additionally make online connectivity affordable; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. Tester also worked to ensure that all iron, steel, and construction materials used for these projects must be made in America.

A full list of Montana provisions in Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law can be found HERE.