WASHINGTON – Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have reintroduced a bill to expand access to clean water in tribal communities.
The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act aims to increase funding that would critically expand water infrastructure projects through the Indian Health Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Only about 48% of households in Native American communities have adequate access to clean water sources, according to a 2023 report by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
“Clean drinking water is a basic necessity,” said Hickenlooper in a written statement. “Let’s cut red tape and invest in modern resources to finally deliver safe, accessible water to every Tribe.”
The legislation was originally introduced to the Senate in 2021 and had bipartisan support. However, the bill and its subsequent versions never progressed beyond the committee stage.
That year, Congress approved funding for tribal clean water infrastructure as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $3.5 billion for the Indian Health Service to improve tribal sanitation facilities and $1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to support rural water supply projects. However, many tribes are unequipped with resources to access those construction and repair funding programs.
When the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act was reintroduced in 2023, it had been revised to reflect funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the need to provide tribes technical assistance to implement that funding. Still, no further action was taken.
The 2025 version would authorize the USDA to provide grants and loans for water infrastructure in tribal communities, increasing funding for its Rural Development programs by $100 million annually for five years, with $30 million specifically dedicated to technical assistance. It would also boost funding to the Indian Health Service for facility construction, technical assistance and operations, as well as authorize $90 million annually to the Bureau of Reclamation’s existing technical assistance program.
In addition to Colorado’s two senators, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., and Gwen Moore, D-Wis., have reintroduced the bill.
Manuel Heart, chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, testified in support of the bill at a 2024 Indian Affairs Committee hearing.
“It is far past time to ensure that Native people have the same level of basic water service most Americans take for granted,” he said in a written statement. “This bill’s recognition of the need for technical support and operation and maintenance assistance for Tribal water supply facilities is not only essential to realizing the benefit of investment in water infrastructure, but also a critical step toward increasing Tribal independence and governance capabilities.”
Richa Sharma is an intern for The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez and a student at American University in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at rsharma@durangoherald.com.
