Bills · S. 3725 · Text
Reported to Senate
Confirmed from the official record
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3725 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 649
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3725
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to
determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply
municipal, rural, and industrial water to expand the capacity and reach
of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, Inc. (doing business as
``Lewis & Clark Regional Water System''), in the States of Iowa,
Minnesota, and South Dakota.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 29, 2026
Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Rounds, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Grassley, Ms.
Ernst, and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
September 17, 2026
Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to
determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply
municipal, rural, and industrial water to expand the capacity and reach
of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, Inc. (doing business as
``Lewis & Clark Regional Water System''), in the States of Iowa,
Minnesota, and South Dakota.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Lewis & Clark Regional
Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Non-federal project entity.--The term ``non-
Federal project entity'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Lewis and Clark Rural Water
System, Inc. (doing business as ``Lewis & Clark
Regional Water System''); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) any nonprofit successor entity to the
corporation described in subparagraph (A).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Proposed rural water supply project.--The term
``proposed rural water supply project'' means the proposed
project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water to
expand the capacity and reach of the Lewis & Clark Regional
Water System in the States of Iowa, Minnesota, and South
Dakota.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of the Interior.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. LEWIS & CLARK REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM EXPANSION
FEASIBILITY STUDY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Study.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination
with the non-Federal project entity, shall carry out a study to
determine the feasibility of the proposed rural water supply
project.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Feasibility report.--After completion of the
feasibility study for the proposed rural water supply project
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) develop a feasibility report that
includes a recommendation of the Secretary on--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) whether the proposed rural
water supply project should be authorized for
construction; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) the appropriate non-Federal
share of construction costs, which shall be--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) at least 25 percent of
the total construction costs;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) determined based on
an analysis of the financial
capability-to-pay the allocated
construction and operations,
maintenance, and replacement costs of
the recommended plan;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) submit the report under subparagraph
(A) to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of
the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) make the report under subparagraph (A)
publicly available, along with associated feasibility
study documents.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Consultation and cooperation.--In addition to
the non-Federal project entity, the Secretary shall consult and
cooperate with appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, regional,
and local authorities during the conduct of the feasibility
study and development of the feasibility report under this
subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Cost-Sharing Agreement for Feasibility Study Costs.--
The Secretary shall enter into a cost-sharing agreement (or an
appropriate financial assistance agreement, as determined by the
Secretary) with the non-Federal project entity to conduct a study under
subsection (a) that complies with the reclamation feasibility
standards.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Federal Share of Feasibility Study Costs.--The Federal
share of the total costs of carrying out the feasibility study under
subsection (a) shall not exceed 50 percent.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$10,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided by
this section expires on the date that is 10 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lewis and Clark Regional Water
System Expansion Feasibility Study Act''.
SEC. 2. LEWIS AND CLARK REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM EXPANSION FEASIBILITY
STUDY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Lewis and clark regional water supply project.--The
term ``Lewis and Clark Regional Water Supply Project'' means
the proposed project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial
water to expand the capacity and reach of the Lewis and Clark
Regional Water System in the States of Iowa, Minnesota, and
South Dakota.
(2) Non-federal project entity.--The term ``non-Federal
project entity'' means--
(A) the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System,
Inc.; and
(B) any nonprofit successor entity to the
corporation described in subparagraph (A).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of
Reclamation.
(b) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
non-Federal project entity, shall carry out a study to
determine the feasibility of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water
Supply Project in accordance with--
(A) the reclamation laws; and
(B) the reclamation feasibility standards.
(2) Feasibility report.--After completion of the
feasibility study for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water Supply
Project under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
(A) develop a feasibility report that includes
recommendations of the Secretary regarding--
(i) whether the Lewis and Clark Regional
Water Supply Project is technically and
financially feasible in accordance with the
reclamation laws and reclamation feasibility
standards;
(ii) whether the Lewis and Clark Regional
Water Supply Project should be authorized for
construction; and
(iii) the appropriate non-Federal share of
construction costs, which shall be not less
than 25 percent of the total construction
costs;
(B) submit the report under subparagraph (A) to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(C) make the report under subparagraph (A) publicly
available, along with associated feasibility study
documents.
(3) Consultation and cooperation.--In addition to the non-
Federal project entity, the Secretary shall consult and
cooperate with appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, regional,
and local authorities during the conduct of the feasibility
study and development of the feasibility report under this
subsection.
(c) Cost-sharing Agreement for Feasibility Study Costs.--The
Secretary shall enter into a cost-sharing agreement (or an appropriate
financial assistance agreement, as determined by the Secretary) with
the non-Federal project entity to conduct a study under this section
that complies with the reclamation feasibility standards.
(d) Federal Share of Feasibility Study Costs; Funding.--
(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the total costs of
carrying out the feasibility study under this section--
(A) shall not exceed 50 percent; and
(B) shall be paid by the Secretary using
appropriated funds identified under paragraph (2).
(2) Identification of funds.--Not later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall identify
sources of available funds to pay the Federal share under
paragraph (1)(B).
(e) Limitation on Expenditures.--Not more than $10,000,000 of
Federal funds may be expended to carry out the feasibility study under
this section.
(f) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided by this
section expires on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment
of this Act.
Calendar No. 649
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3725
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to
determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply
municipal, rural, and industrial water to expand the capacity and reach
of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, Inc. (doing business as
``Lewis & Clark Regional Water System''), in the States of Iowa,
Minnesota, and South Dakota.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 17, 2026
Reported with an amendment