Congressman Horsford Introduces WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act to Help Tribal Communities Respond to Historic Drought

WASHINGTOND.C. — As much of the Western United States confronts severe drought and strained water resources, Reps. Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Grace Napolitano (D-CA-32), Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-07), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Jim Costa (D-CA-16), and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM-03) have introduced the bipartisan WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act to help Tribes and Pueblos access critical funds to plan and build resilient water infrastructure.

The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act gives the Secretary of the Interior the authority to waive or reduce cost-share requirements for Tribal nations from the Bureau of Reclamation's successful drought and water management program. To date, fewer than five percent of the projects funded under WaterSMART since its 2010 inception have been led by Tribes or Pueblos. The legislation was written in response to testimony submitted before the House Committee on Natural Resources from several witnesses, including the National Congress of American Indians, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation.

"Clean, affordable drinking water is a human right," said Rep. Horsford. "As Western states confront historic drought caused by the climate crisis, the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act will help Tribal governments access funding for important water management projects. Alongside the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this bipartisan bill is an important step forward to lower the cost of water conservation and protect our precious water resources for years to come."

"Water is fundamental to the health, well-being, economic, and cultural needs of our Indigenous communities. For far too long, federal programs like the WaterSMART program have included cost-share requirements that have acted as barrier to Tribes accessing crucial water infrastructure dollars," said Rep. Stansbury. "This bill addresses those barriers, and along with funding in the bipartisan infrastructure law and Build Back Better Act, will help unlock millions of dollars to support Tribal water needs. Addressing these needs is crucial to responding to drought and the lasting impacts of climate change and decades of underinvestment in Tribal water needs."

"Abundant, safe and reliable supplies of water are critical to quality of life for tribal communities," said Rep. Cole, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. "By removing certain financial barriers, tribes will have more opportunities for improving water infrastructure and conservation practices. These WaterSMART initiatives will not only ensure access to clean drinking water but greatly improve the lives and health of current and future generations."

"The climate crisis is causing severe drought throughout the West, and as we look to best manage increasingly limited resources, we have an obligation to make sure we do so equitably," said Rep. Huffman. "Everyone in America deserves access to clean, reliable water – but the cost-share requirements under WaterSMART are often a barrier for Tribes. Our bill makes the necessary changes so Tribes can access this important federal funding, and I'm grateful to Rep. Stansbury for leading the charge."

"From Gallup to Dulce to Taos, Tribal communities across New Mexico continue to suffer from increased droughts and rising temperatures due to climate change," said Rep. Leger Fernández. "The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act will meet Tribal communities where they are to provide long-term solutions for their water needs. I'm proud to support this bill that will help Tribes pursue a sustainable and equitable water future. We know that Agua es Vida."

The WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program consolidates several water conservation authorities under the Bureau of Reclamation to support water conservation, water-use efficiency, drought planning, and water reuse and recycling. Leaders in the Tribal community have long pointed to the fifty percent non-federal cost-share for the WaterSMART program as cost-prohibitive for many Tribes.