Tester, budget compromise pays dividends for Valley County

Army Corps will contract with Sheriff’s Office to provide enhanced security

(U.S. SENATE) – The bipartisan budget compromise recently supported by Senator Jon Tester is already paying dividends for Valley County residents.

The Army Corps of Engineers told Tester this month that, as a result of the budget agreement, it once again has funds to contract with the Valley County Sherriff’s office to improve protection of Fort Peck Dam.

The budget agreement replaces scheduled cuts caused by the sequester, which had prevented the renewal of the contract between the Army Corps of Engineers and the Valley County Sherriff’s office.

“The contract between Valley County and the Army Corps is a great example of how local government and federal agencies can partner together to benefit Montana communities and public safety,” said Tester, who wrote a letter to the Army Corps asking that the contract be reinstated. “Compromises that make smart cuts while also supporting common-sense programs strengthen our future and support communities on the ground.”

The bipartisan budget deal cuts the deficit by $22 billion, replaces indiscriminate spending cuts to initiatives like Head Start with more targeted cuts, and repeals $19 billion of cuts to the military set to kick-in next year. It also delays a 20 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements for doctors and hospitals that had been scheduled to hit January 1, 2014.

The Fort Peck Dam, the largest hydraulically filled dam in the U.S., provides flood control and navigation for the Missouri River, as well as recreation, electricity, and water for local residents and farmers.

Tester’s letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is available online HERE. The response from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Tester is available online HERE.