Sponsors (8)
The bill makes it easier for Indian Tribes to access and complete federally funded projects by allowing cost‑share waivers for financial hardship, at the trade‑off of potentially higher federal spending and more discretionary, potentially inconsistent agency decision‑making.
Indigenous tribal communities may pay reduced or no non‑Federal cost share for covered grants when contribution would cause financial hardship, increasing their access to federal funding.
Tribal projects funded through the program are more likely to proceed, supporting community services and infrastructure on tribal lands.
Taxpayers could shoulder a larger share of certain grants if waivers are widely used, increasing Federal outlays.
A discretionary waiver process gives agency officials flexibility that could produce inconsistent application across cases or cause delays while determinations are made, complicating planning for Tribes and state partners.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows the Interior Secretary to reduce or waive non‑Federal cost shares for water grants to Indian Tribes when the required contribution would cause financial hardship, increasing the Federal share as needed.
Allows the Secretary of the Interior to reduce or waive the required non‑Federal cost share for certain water grants or agreements when the recipient is an Indian Tribe and the Secretary finds the cost share would cause financial hardship. The Federal share may be increased accordingly to cover the reduced or waived non‑Federal contribution. This change modifies an existing cross‑reference in federal law to create a discretionary, tribe‑specific cost‑share waiver for grants under the WaterSMART program authorities administered by the Department of the Interior.
Introduced January 22, 2025 by Melanie Ann Stansbury · Last progress January 22, 2025