Steve Daines: “I would like to thank my colleague from Montana, Senator Tester, and all of those who have worked so hard to get this…”

“I would like to thank my colleague from Montana, Senator Tester, and all of those who have worked so hard to get this home today. This settles a 100-plus-year battle in Montana. This is the last Indian water rights settlement for the State of Montana--the Fort Belknap water rights settlement. It codifies existing water rights, prevents costly litigation, provides clean drinking water, and invests in irrigation for farmers and ranchers to provide food for our country. This bill passed out of committee by a voice vote. It is supported by the Governor of Montana, by the entire Montana congressional delegation, the Fort Belknap community, all of the locally affected counties, including the county commissioners, and our farmers and our ranchers. This is truly a win for our State and the country. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I am going to ask for a voice vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Montana.”