President Trump has signed into law a bill reauthorizing the Fort Peck Dry Prairie Rural Water System, extending the Bureau of Reclamation's authority to continue building water infrastructure on the Fort Peck Reservation and across northeastern Montana through December 2028.
The legislation, H.R. 7250, was sponsored by U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Rep. Troy Downing. The existing authorization was set to expire in December 2026; without the reauthorization, federal construction work on the system would have lacked statutory authority to continue.
The Fort Peck Dry Prairie Rural Water System serves Roosevelt, Sheridan, Valley, and Daniels counties, in addition to the Fort Peck Reservation. It is one of four regional water systems the Bureau of Reclamation operates in Montana.
"This is a major win for the Treasure State," Daines said in a release from his office. "Montanans should never have to worry about whether or not their water is safe to drink. Now that President Trump has signed our bill into law, we'll be able to continue critical construction on water infrastructure on the Fort Peck reservation and throughout the northeast region."
Downing, who introduced the House version of the bill, said the signing provides "greater certainty for families and communities across northeastern Montana."
"Reliable water infrastructure is essential to the future of this region," Downing said. "I'm grateful to the Montana delegation for working together to get this bill through Congress and signed into law."
Daines introduced the Senate version of the bill in January 2026. The Senate passed it in September 2026 before it went to the president's desk.
The bill text and Daines' office's prior press releases on the legislation. https://www.daines.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/KAT26012-003.pdf