January 22, 2025
Ms. Stansbury (for herself, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Norton, Mr. Costa, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Ms. Leger Fernandez, and Mr. Neguse) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to increase Tribal access to water conservation and efficiency grants, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act
.
Sec. 2. Water management improvement
Section 9504(a)(3)(E)(i) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10364(a)(3)(E)(i)) is amended—
(1)
in subclause (I), by striking subclause (II)
and inserting subclauses (II) and (III)
; and
(2)
after subclause (II), by inserting the following:
(III) Waiver; reduction
With respect to a grant or other agreement entered into under paragraph (1) between the Secretary and an Indian Tribe, the Secretary may reduce or waive the non-Federal share (and increase the Federal share accordingly) of the cost of any infrastructure improvement or activity that is the subject of that grant or other agreement if the Secretary determines that contribution of the non-Federal share would result in a financial hardship for the Indian Tribe.