John Hoeven

WASHINGTON – U.S. John Hoeven this week reintroduced his bipartisan legislation to increase the authorization for the Municipal, Rural and Industrial water supply grant program, which is necessary to complete the Northwest Area Water Supply Project.

North Dakota reached the state MR&I authorization ceiling at the end of fiscal year 2024. Hoeven said his bill would amend the Dakota Water Resources Act (DWRA) to increase authorizations under the MR&I program for North Dakota and the five tribal nations in the state. It would help fulfill federal compensation that was promised to the state and tribes upon the construction of the Garrison Dam and Oahe Dam.

Hoeven said his bill would ensure that NAWS biota water treatment costs are fully accounted for, which are rightly the responsibility of the federal government. Although the DWRA authorized funding for non-reimbursable costs related to BWT facilities, no authorization ceiling was outlined. As a result, North Dakota and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) have been forced to allocate significant MR&I resources to cover federal responsibilities under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, he said.

Hoeven previously secured the bill’s approval by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during the 118th Congress, putting the legislation in a strong position to advance in the current Congress.

Hoeven’s legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Kevin Cramer, R-ND. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, R-ND, will introduce a companion to the bill in the House of Representatives.