Bennet, Heinrich, Hickenlooper, Neguse Introduce Bill to Expand and Improve Access to Clean Water In Tribal Communities

Expanding Tribal Access to Clean Water: Legislation Introduced to Support Water Infrastructure

Washington, D.C. —

Today, U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) alongside U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) reintroduced legislation to dramatically expand Tribal access to clean water by investing in water infrastructure. This bill would increase funding through the Indian Health Service, United States Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Reclamation to support water infrastructure projects in Tribal communities and help provide clean water to the large number of Native American households who currently lack access.

Emphasizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations. These goals include:

1. Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
2. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
3. Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Ensuring Access to Clean Water for All

“Access to clean water is a fundamental human right — yet far too many Tribal communities in the 21st century are still forced to travel long distances for clean water,” said Bennet. “This legislation builds on our efforts to improve clean water access for Tribes in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is another step toward ensuring that Americans in every community have access to safe, clean water.”

“Too many Tribal families still don’t have access to clean water and reliable wastewater infrastructure. Our bill builds on clean water investments we secured for Tribes in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, makes sure Tribes can get their fair share in the rural grant process, and helps meet sanitation needs,” said Hickenlooper.

“Nearly a third of Native American households do not have access to clean and reliable water supplies. That is shameful and unacceptable,” said Heinrich. “We delivered historic federal investments to make real progress in connecting more Tribal communities to water and wastewater infrastructure. But we must do more. This legislation will address the significant backlog of infrastructure projects that is standing in the way of delivering clean drinking water to Tribal communities.”

“The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act makes certain that clean drinking water is accessible by everyone, and will help address the lack of reliable, clean water in our Tribal communities. This bill emphasizes a whole-of-government approach and collaboration with Tribal governments to increase access to clean drinking water and ensure federal agencies have the resources necessary to complete water infrastructure projects,” said Neguse.

Support from Tribal Leaders and Advocates

“We thank Senator Bennet for his continued leadership in ensuring that Native people have the same level of basic water service most Americans take for granted,” said Manuel Heart, Chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. “This bill’s recognition of the need for the support of an independent and functional Tribal utility to professionally manage water supply facilities is not only essential to realizing the benefit of investment in water infrastructure, but also a critical step toward increasing Tribal independence and governance capabilities.”

“For far too long, many American Indians and Alaska Natives have gone without a basic ingredient of life – access to a clean and safe drinking water supply,” said John Echohawk, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Native American Rights Fund and member of the Pawnee Nation. “These are not isolated or regional deficiencies, but rather a nationwide disparity in the fundamental basic services available to Native Americans. This bill will help to address gaps in current support for Tribal drinking water access and help to fulfill the Federal government’s trust responsibility to Native American Tribes.”

“While groundbreaking and long overdue, the funding now available for construction and repair of Tribal water systems is not a complete solution,” said Heather Tanana, co-leader of the initiative on Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities. “This legislation will remove barriers to implementation of federal programs and maximize our opportunity to provide Tribes with the access to clean and safe drinking water that is a component of the federally promised permanent, livable homeland.”

The Need for Action

Currently, the lack of access to clean drinking water is a significant barrier for many Native American communities. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Native American households are 19 times more likely than white households to lack indoor plumbing. A report commissioned by the Colorado River Water and Tribes Initiative documents the different forms of lack of access to safe and reliable drinking water among tribes in the Colorado River Basin, together with some of the deficiencies in the federal programs designed to address this problem and recommendations for improvement. Lack of access to drinking water negatively impacts health, education, economic development, and other aspects of daily life.

Past Efforts and Support

Bennet first introduced this bill in 2021, and successfully fought to include funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve Tribal access to clean water in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The bill is revised this year to reflect the significant funding contained within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as well as the need to provide more technical assistance to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.

In addition to Bennet, Heinrich, and Hickenlooper, this legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angus King (I-Maine), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

The text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The article discusses the lack of access to clean water in Tribal communities, which directly relates to SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The article also highlights the disparities between Native American households and white households in terms of access to clean water, which connects to SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities within and among countries.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• SDG 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are SDG 6.1, which aims to achieve universal access to safe drinking water, and SDG 6.2, which aims to achieve access to adequate sanitation and hygiene. Additionally, SDG 10.2 is relevant as it focuses on promoting social inclusion and reducing inequalities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water.
• No specific indicators are mentioned in the article for SDG 10.2, but progress towards reducing inequalities can be measured through various indicators such as income inequality, access to basic services, and political representation.

The article does not explicitly mention the indicators, but they can be inferred based on the identified targets. Indicator 6.1.1 measures the proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services, which aligns with SDG 6.1. Indicator 6.2.1 measures the proportion of the population using safely managed sanitation services, including access to handwashing facilities, which aligns with SDG 6.2. Progress towards reducing inequalities can be measured through various indicators related to income inequality, access to basic services, and political representation.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: bennet.senate.gov

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