WASHINGTON D.C. (NMB) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) held a press call on Monday to discuss the bipartisan infrastructure bill that he helped negotiate.
The bill was signed into law on Monday by President Joe Biden.
It includes up to $100 million for the rehabilitation of the Milk River System, and Tester said it was “critically important” that the funding was kept in the bill.
“We were always aware that somebody could try to strip it out, but they didn’t. So we had our eye on it the whole time, making sure it was in there. The Milk River Project is critically important for the northern tier of Montana, both for municipal water and for irrigation. And this should be able to give those guys along the Milk a leg up to be able to really rehabilitate a facility that’s been worn out for probably 40 years.”
According to Tester’s office, the bill also includes over $2.8 billion for Montana highways, $144 million for Montana airports, $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation, including around $198 million for the Rocky Boys/North Central Project, and billions of dollars to increase access to broadband throughout the country.
Tester said he does not believe any use of the funds will have to authorized by the State Legislature.
“The Highway money is going to go through the (Department of Transportation), the water money is going to go through the State Revolving Funds…We’re using existing programs, so I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
Tester said he anticipates the money will be available for use by the time the weather warms up in the spring.
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT) voted against the package, arguing it will make increased inflation worse and add to the national debt.
As for the ‘Build Back Better’ reconciliation package that many Democrats in Congress have been trying to push through, Tester says there is a long way to go, adding that he would like to see the areas of childcare, housing and climate change addressed in an effective manner.
“This bill is a long ways away from being ready for prime time. Now, is it possible that things could get buttoned-up on this thing pretty fast? It is, but things are going to have to move a heck of a lot faster than they have in the last nine months.”
Daines and Rosendale have vehemently opposed the reconciliation package, which has yet to receive any support from Republicans.
