Bill · S. 2272· Senate(119-S-2272)
Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 7/14/2025
- Last activity
- 7/14/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Michael Bennet
- Cosponsors
- - 6 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2025 aims to provide reliable, clean, and drinkable water on Tribal lands. It seeks to address significant gaps in water infrastructure and sanitation for Indian Tribes and the Native Hawaiian Community. The bill authorizes significant funding through the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development and the Indian Health Service. It also provides for technical assistance to help these communities develop self-sustaining water utilities. Additionally, it includes funding for the Bureau of Reclamation's Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+10
The bill provides substantial funding and technical assistance specifically to improve water infrastructure for Indian Tribes.
Does this invest in rural communities?+8
The bill provides significant resources for rural water and waste infrastructure development in Tribal lands.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+8
The bill improves healthcare access by funding water and sanitation infrastructure essential to public health for Tribal communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Access to Essential Water Services: The bill targets the fact that nearly half of all households on Tribal lands lack reliable water or sanitation, aiming to provide safe and adequate water supply systems (Section 2).
-
Support for Community Infrastructure: The Indian Health Service is authorized to include non-commercial community structures—such as schools, hospitals, clinics, and Tribal offices—in its sanitation facilities construction program (Section 5).
-
Improved Utility Management: Technical assistance is provided to help Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations develop the managerial, financial, and regulatory frameworks needed to operate fully functional and self-sustaining water utilities (Section 2 and Section 3).
-
Long-term Infrastructure Protection: Funding through the Indian Health Service includes provisions to provide sustained support for at least 5 years after a project is completed to ensure infrastructure is adequately maintained (Section 5).
-
Financial Flexibility for Water Projects: The bill removes the requirement for matching contributions and the need to demonstrate an inability to finance projects through other means, making it easier for eligible entities to access funds (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+10Good For Rural Residents+7Good For Low Income Households+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+8Improves Environmental Protections+6
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+8
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+7
- 7/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/14/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 6 Cosponsors 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
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts