“Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the WRDA bill by overriding the President’s veto.  WRDA authorizes funding for many projects critical to Montana’s natural resources.  The President’s veto was shortsighted and I proudly joined my colleagues in voting in favor of this important legislation.”

Montana projects authorized by WRDA include:

·        St. Mary’s Diversion and Conveyance Works Authorization - Authorizes $153 million for necessary environmental studies, an emergency response plan, technical, planning and design assistance, and rehabilitation and construction of the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works in consultation with the Fort Belknap and Blackfeet tribes.

·        Intake Diversion Dam and Fish Passage - Authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to work with the Corps of Engineers to plan and construct a fish passage at Intake Diversion Dam on the Yellowstone River.  This project will open up 238 miles of critical habitat for the pallid sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River Basin.

·        Yellowstone River Restoration - Authorizes $30 million for restoration projects along the Yellowstone River to benefit the ecosystem and recreational opportunities.

·        Clark Fork River Revitalization - Authorizes $5 million to carry out ecosystem restoration, flood damage reduction, and recreation components of the Clark Fork River Revitalization Project in Missoula, Montana.

·        Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee - Establishes the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee to assist the Secretary of Interior in conducting studies of the Missouri River and tributaries and determining actions required to mitigate losses of aquatic habitat, recover federally listed endangered species, and restore the ecosystem.