Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act

HR7287, titled the "Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act," was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 30, 2026, by Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large] and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. The bill's purpose is to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study assessing the feasibility of constructing a project to expand the capacity and reach of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. This marks an early stage in the legislative process, as the bill has only been introduced and referred to committee. The bill explicitly calls for a "feasibility study" and a subsequent "feasibility report" that will include a recommendation on whether the proposed project should be authorized for construction and the appropriate non-Federal share of construction costs (at least 25%). It does not authorize any specific dollar amount for the study itself, nor does it authorize or appropriate any funds for the actual construction of the water system expansion. The funding mechanism outlined is for a study, with potential future construction funding contingent on the study's findings and subsequent legislative action. Therefore, no direct money trail for construction is established by this bill. Structural beneficiaries, should this bill eventually lead to an authorized and appropriated construction project, would include companies involved in large-scale water infrastructure development, engineering, and construction. These could include firms specializing in pipeline construction, water treatment facilities, and related civil engineering services. However, as the bill is currently only for a study, no direct contracts or financial benefits are immediately available to any specific companies. The bill specifies the "non-Federal project entity" as the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, Inc., which would coordinate with the Secretary of the Interior on the study. Legislative momentum is moderate, with a companion bill (S3725) having hearings in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. This indicates bipartisan and bicameral interest in the project. The next legislative steps for HR7287 would involve committee consideration, potential hearings, markups, and a vote within the House Committee on Natural Resources before it could advance to the full House for a vote. Given its early stage and the requirement for a study before any construction authorization, a significant timeline remains before any physical project could commence.