Western Tribal Water Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8461
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-07T02:06:11Z
AI-Generated Summary
Western Tribal Water Act of 2026 (H.R. 8461)
Purpose
This bill reauthorizes and expands the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program, originally created under the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA). It aims to address drinking water infrastructure challenges for tribes in the Upper Colorado River Basin, a drought-prone area with over $100 million in identified needs, including a $50 million project for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in southwestern Colorado.
Key Provisions
- Expands eligible projects: Adds up to 10 specific projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin to the list of funded initiatives under AWIA Section 2001(c)(1).
- Provides new funding: Authorizes $60 million for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 under AWIA Section 2001(g) to support these tribal drinking water improvements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends AWIA Section 2001(c)(1) by adding a new subparagraph (F) to prioritize 10 projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin, alongside existing eligible projects.
- Updates AWIA Section 2001(g) to include dedicated funding for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, extending the program's financial support beyond prior authorizations.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or relevant infrastructure agencies will administer additional funding and projects, increasing workload but fulfilling federal commitments to tribal water needs.
- Citizens: Improves access to reliable drinking water for tribal members in the Upper Colorado River Basin, reducing health risks from aging infrastructure.
- No direct international relations impact, as it focuses on domestic tribal programs.
Main Stakeholders
- Indian Tribes: Primarily those in the Upper Colorado River Basin, such as the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, benefiting from targeted infrastructure funding.
- Federal government: Congress (via Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce Committees) and administering agencies like the EPA.
- State governments: Indirectly affected, e.g., Colorado, due to shared water basin management.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal trust responsibilities to tribes by funding water infrastructure, aligning with existing water rights compacts in the Colorado River Basin.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; supports Article I powers over federal spending and treaty obligations.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Rep. Hurd of Colorado and Rep. Pettersen) highlights targeted regional support for tribal needs without broader policy shifts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-23: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Western Tribal Water Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-23 — PDF (3 pages)