The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-04-06

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responsibility for particular piece
of Legislation. For dozens of people
have had major hand in a bill be-
fore it becomes a law.
AS an example is Public Law 203
of this Congress. I introduced it
early last year, and it passed.
It was aimed at equity for IA Mon
tana school districts, which owed
the federal government almost $780,
900.
In 1885, Congress appropriated
money to assist school districts, EN-
bracing substantial areas of non-tax-
able Indian lands, to build and i'm
prove public schools for the educa-
ton of Indian children. That law pro-
vided that the federal government
should get its money back over
period of 80 years by withholding
payments each year from federal tut
ton money for the education of IN
dian children.
Fourteen Montana districts bor-
rowed nearly S65S,OOO under the old
program.
Since then, this federal policy has
been changed. Now we have pro-
gram of federal assistance for school
construction in federally impacted
areas. The local school districts re-
ceiving funds under this program are
not expected to repay it. In justice
to the districts which qualified for
aid under previous legislation, the
outdated recoupment should no longer
be required.
My bill was amended in committee
to make sure that it applied generally
in the United States. Substantial evil
dence was heard and analysed by
members and the committee staff.
Others wrote report on the bill. The
bill was managed on the floor of the |
House by the committee chairman. !
After it passed the House, the bill |
went to the Senate, where the same
things happened. By the time the bill !
became law, perhaps SO people had
worked hard on it.
Today, resolutions aimed at getting
work started on Yellowtail Dam are
moving along the same course. Sena-
ors Murray and Mansfield and l in
companion resolutions to
,ay the Crow Indians S. million for
ight-of-way for the dam. Their
Measure has passed the Senate after
Tearing committee. At the time of
writing, it was pending in the In
erior Committee, on which l sit, in
he House.
Sometimes in the process of shut
ling back and forth between the two
ouses, bill is changed substantially
rom the form in which it passed one
ody. In such case, many more peo- '
lie are called upon to take a major {
art in shaping the legislation. i
An example is my bill to speed up
ompletion of federal reclamation
rejects at less cost to the govern 1
ent. 1t would authorize the Interior
apartment to contract with water L
sers' repayment organizations for
instruction of drainage works and
minor improvement items t
,und necessary after the major con- L
ruction programs have been COM n
eted. s
Now the Department may construct n
rejects by contracts let after COM
etitive bidding or by government g
'rces. AS these projects near compile t.
on, there usually is pressure to get =
EN- into operation and to begin farm Il
evelopment. Later, after construc- O.
on crews and equipment have moved
/, there is need for project drain m
re work and for improvement to IL
me facilities. These finishing de- tt
lis can be taken care of only by fl
e same procedure followed in the a,
instruction period. At the same II
ne, however, the water users or OF
mutations have men and equipment q:
ailable to do the completion work re
ring the slack season and at saw
3 to the government. bl
My authorization bill passed the m
'use. 1t was amended, then passed, b
the Senate. At the time of writing, TO
was awaiting action in conference co
mmittee. A conference committee wi