Sponsors (2)
The bill directs existing infrastructure funds to repair and improve Carey Act dams—boosting water reliability and reducing safety risks for rural communities—while risking reduced funding for other projects and possible delays or indirect taxpayer costs.
Rural communities and local water users will receive federal funding to rehabilitate or replace aging Carey Act dams, improving local water-supply reliability and long-term infrastructure resilience.
Downstream residents and local communities will face lower flood and public-safety risks because improved dam rehabilitation and safety upgrades reduce the chance of dam failures or hazardous releases.
Local governments can use existing infrastructure funding authority rather than creating a new grant program, which can streamline administration and speed delivery of projects when funds are available.
Allocating 40901(2)(B) funds to Carey Act dams could reduce funding available for other prioritized dam projects or infrastructure needs and may indirectly shift costs to taxpayers if delayed projects require future appropriations.
Local governments or water districts may face delays in receiving funds if the Secretary must first confirm that other qualifying dams have received necessary funding, slowing project timelines and benefits for some communities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows IIJA dam-rehabilitation funds to be used for rehabilitation, reconstruction, or replacement of Carey Act dams, subject to two determinations by the Secretary.
Adds dams built under the Carey Act (an 1894 law that helped develop irrigation projects) to the kinds of dams that can receive certain Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) dam-rehabilitation funds. The Secretary may use those IIJA funds to rehabilitate, reconstruct, or replace Carey Act dams, but only after the Secretary first determines that other higher-priority dams described in the provision have received needed funding and that IIJA funds remain available.
Introduced April 2, 2025 by James Risch · Last progress April 2, 2025