April 23 (legislative day, April 22), 2026
Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
To amend the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 to reauthorize the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Western Tribal Water Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
the Upper Colorado River Basin is home to several Indian Tribes that face a variety of challenges for water supply reliability, including over $100,000,000 in water infrastructure needs;
(2)
the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in particular has a project with an estimated cost of $50,000,000 to fix aging drinking water delivery infrastructure in southwestern Colorado; and
(3)
the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program under section 2001 of the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (42 U.S.C. 300j–3c note; Public Law 115–270) helps Indian Tribes in other drought-stricken basins across the Western United States improve their drinking water supplies and other water services.
Sec. 3. Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program
Section 2001 of the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (42 U.S.C. 300j–3c note; Public Law 115–270) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (c)(1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (D), by striking and
at the end;
(B)
in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(F)
10 eligible projects described in subsection (b) that are within the Upper Colorado River Basin.; and
(2)
in subsection (g)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking and
at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(3)
$60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028.