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
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,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Lewis & 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 Rural Water System, Inc. (doing business as Lewis & Clark Regional Water System
); 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 & 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 & 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.
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.