H.R. 7287

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7287 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7287

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 Regional Water System in the States of Iowa, 
Minnesota, and South Dakota.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 30, 2026

Mr. Johnson of South Dakota (for himself and Mr. Feenstra) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

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 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,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Lewis and Clark Regional Water 
System Expansion Feasibility Study Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) 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).
(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 and Clark Regional 
Water System in the States of Iowa, Minnesota, and South 
Dakota.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of the Interior.

SEC. 3. LEWIS AND CLARK REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM EXPANSION FEASIBILITY 
STUDY.

(a) 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 proposed rural water supply 
project.
(2) Feasibility report.--After completion of the 
feasibility study for the proposed rural water supply project 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
(A) develop a feasibility report that includes a 
recommendation of the Secretary on--
(i) whether the proposed rural water supply 
project should be authorized for construction; 
and
(ii) the appropriate non-Federal share of 
construction costs, which shall be--
(I) at least 25 percent of the 
total construction costs; and
(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;
(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.
(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.
(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.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000.
(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.
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