Western Tribal Water Act of 2026

Michael F. Bennet

Democrat · CO · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• John W. Hickenlooper (D-CO)Original· 2026-04-23

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

2026-04-23

Source: Congress.gov

The legislation would address water rights and water management issues for Native American tribes in western states, likely establishing new agreements or clarifying existing water allocations that tribes depend on for drinking water, agriculture, and other uses. The bill affects tribal governments, their members, and potentially state and federal water management agencies that work with tribes on shared water resources.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4381 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4381 To amend the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 to reauthorize the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 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 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 to reauthorize the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 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.''. <all>

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