Pending Legislation

H.R. 7250, To reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000
H.R. 7889,  Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025 (AWRC) Act
H.R. 5694, Alaska’s Right To Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act

Statement for the Record
Department of the Interior

Before the United States House of Representatives
Committee on Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries

Legislative Hearing on
H.R. 5694, ARTIST Act;
H.R. 7250, To reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000;
H.R. 7889, Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025

March 26, 2026

Thank you for the opportunity to provide this statement for the record on the following legislation: H.R. 5694, Alaska’s Right To Ivory Sales and Tradition Act; H.R. 7250, a bill to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000; and H.R. 7889, Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025.

H.R. 5694, Alaska’s Right To Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act

The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA) defines the federal responsibility for conservation of marine mammals, with management authority vested in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for the sea otter, walrus, polar bear, dugong, and manatee. The MMPA also establishes a moratorium on taking and importing marine mammals, including parts and products. Currently, the MMPA provides certain exemptions for Alaska Natives for take of marine mammals that would otherwise be prohibited, including for subsistence purposes or creating and selling authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing. The Service understands the importance of subsistence usage, and the traditional and economic importance of the use of natural materials in certain traditional Alaska Native handicrafts.

H.R. 5694 would prevent states from prohibiting the importation, sale, offer for sale, transfer, trade, barter, possession, or possession with the intent to sell, transfer, trade, or barter, of marine mammal ivory, marine mammal bone, or baleen incorporated by an Alaska Native into an authentic Alaska Native article of handicrafts and clothing. The bill would also add a definition for marine mammal ivory and update the definitions for authentic Alaska Native articles of handicrafts and clothing and traditional Alaska Native handicrafts.

The Service would like to recommend technical changes to help improve clarity and effective implementation of the bill, particularly regarding key definitions.

H.R. 7250, To reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000

The Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-382) authorized the development of the interconnected Montana Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water System and the Dry Prairie Rural Water System in northeastern Montana. Together, these systems form the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System project, which is intended to treat and deliver water from the Missouri River to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes at Fort Peck Reservation, local communities, and rural customers, and will provide potable water to an estimated population of 27,500 upon completion. Once project assets or segments are constructed, the operation, maintenance, and replacement costs for the non-Tribal portion of the system will be funded by the Dry Prairie Rural Water System without federal assistance. Operation, maintenance, and replacement costs for the Tribal portion of the system will be funded through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Authorization of appropriations has been extended several times and are currently authorized through fiscal year 2026. Although the project is expected to be complete before the end of fiscal year 2026, proponents are seeking an extension of the project’s authorization to allow for the full processing of construction-related payments.

H.R. 7250 would reauthorize the project for an additional two years through 2028. The Bureau of Reclamation is committed to continuing its work with project proponents to define the costs and scope of the project to accurately account for its funding through its completion.

H.R. 7889, Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025

The Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (WRRA), as amended (42 USC 10301 et seq.), authorizes a water resources research program and the establishment of research institutes in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands, and American Samoa. There are currently 54 institutes which are eligible for an allotment grant, and each provides an annual report on its activities under its received grants. The WRRA program encourages regional cooperation among institutes on research into areas of water management, development, and conservation that have a regional or national character. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been designated as the administrator of the provisions of the Act.

H.R. 7889 would reauthorize the WRRA through 2029. The bill would also direct the Secretary to use 20 percent of the appropriations authorized by the WRRA through 2029 for the reimbursement of direct expenses of research on interstate issues.  

The Department notes that the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 did not request funding for the WRRA.  The USGS would like to work with the Subcommittee to continue aligning water research activities with nationwide needs and priorities.