Sponsors (3)
Allows up to 10 Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin and authorizes $60M for FY2027 and $60M for FY2028.
The bill directs targeted funding and federal attention to improve drinking water systems and build ten water projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin—boosting infrastructure, drought resilience, and tribal health protections—while imposing $120M in federal costs and creating risks of crowding out other water needs, administrative strain, and unmet expectations if appropriations do not follow.
Communities across the Upper Colorado River Basin (rural towns, local governments, utilities) will receive funding and authorization to build 10 water projects, improving local water infrastructure, drought resilience, and reliability for downstream users.
Tribal communities in the Basin, including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, will get prioritized attention and potential access to federal repair funding and Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program technical/financial assistance to repair aging drinking-water systems and improve public health.
Other communities and projects outside the Upper Colorado focus risk receiving less funding—directing finite program and regional water resources to specific Basin projects could crowd out other eligible needs nationwide or regionally.
Taxpayers will face an increase in federal outlays of roughly $120 million over FY2027–FY2028 to fund the authorized projects.
Tribes and communities may have heightened expectations of guaranteed federal funding that are not ensured by this authorization, risking disappointment and planning challenges if appropriations are not provided.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Official title: To amend the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 to reauthorize the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 23, 2026 by Jeff Hurd · Last progress April 23, 2026
Amends the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program to allow up to 10 eligible projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin and authorizes $60 million per year for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to support tribal drinking water infrastructure. The change adds a new project category for that basin and provides two years of specified funding for drinking water projects serving Tribes there. The law is focused on addressing water supply reliability and aging drinking water delivery systems for Tribes in the Upper Colorado River Basin, responding to identified infrastructure needs including a noted $50 million repair project for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.