Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/3736
Last Updated: March 30, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]

ID: R000605

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.

March 17, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another "study" bill, because what the American people really need is more taxpayer-funded navel-gazing by bureaucrats. The Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act (S 3736) - a mouthful of meaningless words designed to put you to sleep while your wallet gets picked.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's primary objective is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on constructing a water supply project for the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System. Because, clearly, the most pressing issue facing our nation is the water supply in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill establishes a cooperative agreement between the Secretary of the Interior and the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System (a nonprofit corporation - because those always work out well). The study will determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply water to municipal, rural, and industrial areas. Oh, and it'll only cost $10 million in taxpayer dollars. Chump change.

The Federal share of costs is capped at 50%, because we wouldn't want the government to actually commit to funding this boondoggle fully. And, just in case you were worried about accountability, the authority for this study expires in 10 years - plenty of time for everyone involved to have moved on to their next lucrative lobbying gig.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects:

* The Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System (a nonprofit with a vested interest in getting its hands on federal funding) * Local governments and water districts in the affected states (who'll get to enjoy the thrill of paying for this study, whether they like it or not) * Taxpayers (because who doesn't love throwing money at vague "studies" with no clear objectives?)

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "legislative theater." It's a feel-good measure designed to make politicians look busy while accomplishing nothing. The study will likely take years, cost more than estimated, and produce a report that'll gather dust on some bureaucrat's shelf.

Meanwhile, the real issues facing our nation - like actual water management and infrastructure problems - will continue to be ignored in favor of this kind of pointless posturing. But hey, at least we can all feel good about "studying" the problem, right?

Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a bad case of " Porkulus-itis" - a disease characterized by an excessive love of taxpayer-funded boondoggles and a complete disregard for actual problem-solving.

Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism, a strong stomach for bureaucratic waste, and a willingness to call out politicians on their nonsense. Unfortunately, these are all in short supply in Washington D.C.

Related Topics

National Security & Intelligence Congressional Rules & Procedures Government Operations & Accountability Transportation & Infrastructure State & Local Government Affairs Civil Rights & Liberties Small Business & Entrepreneurship Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Federal Budget & Appropriations
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$460,475
132 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$2,500
Committees
$0
Individuals
$457,975

No PAC contributions found

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$2,000
2
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
1 transaction
$500

No committee contributions found

1
HEGYI, ALBERT
4 transactions
$19,800
2
ROWAN, CAROLYN
4 transactions
$19,800
3
ROWAN, MARC J
4 transactions
$19,800
4
JEPSEN, EDWARD G
4 transactions
$16,500
5
VIELEHR, BYRON
5 transactions
$15,000
6
RUBERTON, ROBERT
4 transactions
$13,400
7
GRANIERI, ROBERT
4 transactions
$13,200
8
FISHER, KENNETH
2 transactions
$10,100
9
FISHER, SHERRILYN
2 transactions
$10,100
10
NICHELE, NOVALENA
2 transactions
$10,000
11
JACOBSEN, MARK
2 transactions
$9,900
12
JEPSEN, PETER
2 transactions
$9,900
13
PFAUTCH, ROY
2 transactions
$9,900
14
RABOIS, KEITH
2 transactions
$9,900
15
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
2 transactions
$9,900
16
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN A.
2 transactions
$9,900
17
WILLOX, NORMAN
2 transactions
$9,900
18
HICKS, MICHAEL
2 transactions
$9,500
19
ENTWISTLE, ANDREW MR.
2 transactions
$6,700
20
NEIMAN, JIM D
5 transactions
$6,700
21
DUHAMEL, KATHARINE
1 transaction
$6,600
22
LOVIER, HEATHER
2 transactions
$6,600
23
RUNDE, DANIEL
2 transactions
$6,600
24
SCHIEFFER, KEVIN
2 transactions
$6,600
25
WALTERS, ROBERT
2 transactions
$6,600
26
SAMBUR, DAVID
2 transactions
$5,200
27
DARWISH, SAM
2 transactions
$5,000
28
GAUFIN, JEFFERSON
2 transactions
$5,000
29
GAUFIN, LYNN
2 transactions
$5,000
30
JACOBSON, GARRY W
2 transactions
$5,000
31
WOOD, ELAINE M
2 transactions
$5,000
32
DUHAMEL, WILLIAM
5 transactions
$4,800
33
LEAS, BRET
2 transactions
$4,800
34
GLENNON, ROBERT
2 transactions
$4,000
35
MALLOY, MICHAEL
2 transactions
$4,000
36
SOBEL, AARON
2 transactions
$3,600
37
ARNOLD, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300
38
CASCARILLA, CHARLES
1 transaction
$3,300
39
CASCARILLA, MARISSA
1 transaction
$3,300
40
FITZPATRICK, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$3,300
41
FOGEL, DAVID
1 transaction
$3,300
42
GOLDMAN, MARC
1 transaction
$3,300
43
JEPSEN, DIANE F
1 transaction
$3,300
44
MARQUIS, DUSTIN
1 transaction
$3,300
45
WALKER, KENT
1 transaction
$3,300
46
WALTERS, ROBERT D
1 transaction
$3,300
47
NAPPI, DOUGLAS
3 transactions
$3,200
48
GLACKIN, BRIAN
4 transactions
$3,000
49
HOLLAND, LUCAS
4 transactions
$3,000
50
KLEINMAN, SCOTT
1 transaction
$2,550
51
LONSDALE, JOE
1 transaction
$2,500
52
SCHWARTZ, TODD
1 transaction
$2,500
53
SPECK, ADAM
1 transaction
$2,500
54
STEPHENS, TYLER
3 transactions
$2,500
55
CAMBON, PAUL F
2 transactions
$2,000
56
DRESCHER, STEPHANIE
1 transaction
$2,000
57
DUKES, DAN
2 transactions
$2,000
58
EDSON, CHRISTOPHER L
1 transaction
$2,000
59
MADDOX, BRANDON L
1 transaction
$2,000
60
MORONEY, JOSEPH
1 transaction
$2,000
61
PAGE, GREGORY
1 transaction
$2,000
62
SUYDAM, JOHN
1 transaction
$2,000
63
WOLFSON, LEN
2 transactions
$2,000
64
ZITO, JOHN
2 transactions
$2,000
65
MARQUIS, DARRELL
1 transaction
$1,800
66
ZELTER, JAMES
1 transaction
$1,550
67
KURIAN, THOMAS
1 transaction
$1,500
68
KWON, DANIEL
1 transaction
$1,500
69
LARSON, TROY
2 transactions
$1,500
70
BRENNAN, MICHAEL
2 transactions
$1,400
71
HE, LINGLONG
1 transaction
$1,400
72
POWELL, TANNER
1 transaction
$1,300
73
ANDERSON, JOHN
1 transaction
$1,000
74
CODA, CAROLYN
2 transactions
$1,000
75
CORLEY, SCOTT
1 transaction
$1,000
76
DEVIERNO, JOHN A
2 transactions
$1,000
77
GORDON`, STEVE`
2 transactions
$1,000
78
IMPERATORE, BRANT
1 transaction
$1,000
79
ISAAC, PAUL J.
1 transaction
$1,000
80
JANDREAU, TIA
1 transaction
$1,000
81
KURTENBACH, REECE
1 transaction
$1,000
82
KWON, THEODORE
1 transaction
$1,000
83
LEDFORD, MICHAEL
2 transactions
$1,000
84
LIVINGSTON, ROBERT
2 transactions
$1,000
85
MALPASS, DAVID
1 transaction
$1,000
86
MILNE, JOHN D
2 transactions
$1,000
87
MORRISEY, DENISE
1 transaction
$1,000
88
MUELLER, WILLIAM
1 transaction
$1,000
89
NEAL, JEFFREY
1 transaction
$1,000
90
PALMER, ANDREW
1 transaction
$1,000
91
PIPER, WILLIAM
2 transactions
$1,000
92
PURI, SANJAY
1 transaction
$1,000
93
RAFFANIELLO, PAT
2 transactions
$1,000
94
TIESZEN, RICHARD
2 transactions
$1,000
95
VEALENCIS, JOSEPH
2 transactions
$1,000
96
JOHNS, SUSAN
1 transaction
$925
97
HEINZE, BRADLEY
1 transaction
$800
98
LONG, MARY BETH
1 transaction
$750
99
AHERN, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$500
100
AITKEN, MARK
1 transaction
$500
101
ASKEY, THELMA
1 transaction
$500
102
COLLINS, MATT
1 transaction
$500
103
ECKEL, SCOTT C
1 transaction
$500
104
GROFT, JAMES
1 transaction
$500
105
HUNT, SARAH
1 transaction
$500
106
JAVITS, ERIC M HON.
1 transaction
$500
107
JING, MIKE
1 transaction
$500
108
KAHLER, ERIC
1 transaction
$500
109
KAMINS, SCOTT
1 transaction
$500
110
KELLOGG, SHANNON
1 transaction
$500
111
LAHOOD, SAMUEL
1 transaction
$500
112
LASS, CON
1 transaction
$500
113
LAW, DENNIS
1 transaction
$500
114
LUCAS, JANE
1 transaction
$500
115
MASON, JEB
1 transaction
$500
116
MILLS, TREVOR
1 transaction
$500
117
MUNSON, LESTER
1 transaction
$500
118
NORD MALLARD, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$500
119
OKUN, BERNARD R
1 transaction
$500
120
POLLMAN ROGERS, DARLA
1 transaction
$500
121
PUNT, RYAN
1 transaction
$500
122
PUSZYNSKI, JAN
1 transaction
$500
123
PUSZYNSKI, MATTHEW
1 transaction
$500
124
SEMMLER, KARA
1 transaction
$500
125
SHUMWAY, CLAYTON
1 transaction
$500
126
SINGH, JASJIT
1 transaction
$500
127
STOWELL, NICK
1 transaction
$500
128
SWEENEY, ROB
1 transaction
$500
129
WRIGHT, ALEX
1 transaction
$500

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]

ID: T000250

Top Contributors

10

1
TOM HOLMES FOR CONGRESS AL-1
CCM MOBILE, AL
$431
Apr 8, 2024
2
TOM HOLMES FOR CONGRESS AL-1
CCM MOBILE, AL
$124
Jun 5, 2024
3
TOM HOLMES FOR CONGRESS AL-1
CCM MOBILE, AL
$96
May 28, 2024
4
TOM HOLMES FOR CONGRESS AL-1
CCM MOBILE, AL
$85
Apr 30, 2024
5
TOM HOLMES FOR CONGRESS AL-1
CCM MOBILE, AL
$20
Jun 5, 2024
6
BELL, RICHARD R
HDR ENGINEERING PRESIDENT/CEO
Individual OMAHA, NE
$10,000
Sep 13, 2024
7
BELL, RICHARD R
Individual OMAHA, NE
$6,800
Sep 27, 2024
8
POWELL, JESSE
PAYWARD, INC. CEO
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Nov 5, 2024
9
DUHAMEL, KATHARINE B
CANDY BOMBER LLC FILMMAKER
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
10
DUHAMEL, WILLIAM F JR.
ROUTE ONE INVESTMENT COMPANY LP INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 22 nodes and 26 connections

Total contributions: $133,251

Top Donors - Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs17 Individuals