Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2025

This bill aims to get clean, running water and safe sanitation to people living on Tribal lands and in the Native Hawaiian Community. It adds money and help for planning, building, and keeping up water systems. It also makes it easier for Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to qualify for loans and grants, including by removing matching fund requirements and the need to prove they can’t get commercial credit, so projects can move faster and reach more homes and community buildings like schools and clinics .

The bill funds several programs from 2026 through 2030. It provides major funding to the Indian Health Service for water and sanitation projects, plus new money to operate and maintain those systems after they’re built, with priority for the places most in need and support for at least five years after a project is finished. It also boosts U.S. Department of Agriculture loans and grants for Tribal water projects, pays for technical assistance, and funds the Bureau of Reclamation’s Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program. The goal is to fill gaps in past funding and ensure both Tribes and the Native Hawaiian Community can access and manage reliable water systems .

Key points

• Who is affected: Residents on Tribal lands and the Native Hawaiian Community; Tribal governments and utilities; community sites like schools, clinics, and Tribal offices .
• What changes:
  • Indian Health Service: $500 million each year for 2026–2030 for water and sanitation projects; $100 million each year for 2026–2030 to help operate and maintain systems; $30 million each year for technical assistance; includes key community buildings as eligible projects; continued support for at least 5 years after completion; priority to the most in-need systems .
  • USDA: $100 million each year for 2026–2030 for loans and grants; $30 million each year for technical help; no match required; relaxes certain rules so Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations can qualify more easily; allows loans and grants focused on residents on Tribal land .
  • Bureau of Reclamation: $18 million each year for 2026–2030 for its Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program .
• When: Most funding runs from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 .

Why it matters: Many Tribal households still lack clean, running water. Past federal funds didn’t fully cover planning, operations, or help for the Native Hawaiian Community. This bill fills those gaps so communities can build, run, and sustain safe water systems over time .