A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Western Tribal Water Act of 2026," seeks to amend the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. The primary goal is to reauthorize the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program. It specifically targets the addition of 10 eligible projects located within the Upper Colorado River Basin. To support these projects, the bill allocates $60,000,000 for both fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides significant funding specifically for Indian Tribes to improve their water supplies and infrastructure.
- Scored +6
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill addresses infrastructure gaps specifically facing Indian Tribes in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
- Scored +6
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill invests in critical water delivery infrastructure within rural tribal lands in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases government spending by allocating $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Water Reliability: The bill addresses water supply reliability challenges faced by Indian Tribes in the Upper Colorado River Basin (Section 2: Findings).
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Infrastructure Improvements: By adding 10 eligible projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin, the bill provides a way to address water infrastructure needs, such as the $50,000,000 project needed by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to fix aging drinking water delivery infrastructure (Section 2: Findings; Section 3: Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program).
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Enhanced Drinking Water Services: The amendment to the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program helps Indian Tribes in drought-stricken basins across the Western United States improve their drinking water supplies and other water services (Section 2: Findings; Section 3: Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides significant funding specifically for Indian Tribes to improve their water supplies and infrastructure. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The investment in water infrastructure benefits tribal communities which often include high proportions of low-income households. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill funds infrastructure improvements for tribes located in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill addresses infrastructure gaps specifically facing Indian Tribes in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Improving reliable water infrastructure supports the basic needs of underserved tribal communities.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill invests in critical water delivery infrastructure within rural tribal lands in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Improving drinking water infrastructure directly enhances the fundamental health and safety of water access for tribal communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The allocation of $120 million for water infrastructure projects is likely to create construction and engineering jobs. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases government spending by allocating $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
- 4/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado