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. … 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.

Other water infrastructure funding news:

• SFGate: Massive California reservoir to cost billions more than expected
• KJZZ (Phoenix, Ariz.): Phoenix will get nearly $180M in federal funds to help build advanced water purification facility​
• Water Finance & Management: House draft bill proposes reductions to Drinking, Clean Water SRFs
• The Bond Buyer: Water revolving funds take hit in House appropriations draft bill
• Audubon: Blog: Colorado’s water plan shapes the future as more funds flow into stream restoration