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HR 8461

Western Tribal Water Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Jeff Hurd and 1 co-sponsor

Reauthorizes and supports federal funding and administration of the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program to improve drinking water infrastructure and compliance on tribal land

Introduced in House
0
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Bill Summary · HR 8461

Summary of HR 8461 (119th Congress)

Title: To amend the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 to reauthorize the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program, and for other purposes

1) Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to reauthorize and potentially modify the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program (IRDWP) originally established under the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018.
  • The core objective is to support safe drinking water on Indian reservations by continuing federal program authority, funding mechanisms, and oversight related to drinking water infrastructure, operations, and assistance.

2) Key provisions and changes (as currently provided in the bill text)

  • Reauthorization: Reauthorizes the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program, ensuring continued federal support and program operations beyond previous authorization periods.
  • Program scope: Maintains or clarifies the criteria for eligible projects and communities served under the IRDWP, focusing on drinking water infrastructure, treatment facilities, and related systems on Indian reservations.
  • Funding and administration: Likely addresses funding levels, appropriations authorization, and administrative responsibilities (e.g., which federal agency administers the program, reporting requirements, and oversight). Specific dollar amounts, match requirements, or earmarks are not provided in the summary details available.
  • Compliance and standards: May reinforce adherence to federal drinking water standards and implementation timelines, as applicable to funded projects.
  • Interagency coordination: Could include language to coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Indian Health Service (IHS), and other relevant agencies to streamline project delivery, compliance, and reporting.

Note: The publicly available action history indicates introduction and referral to committees (Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Commerce), but the exact substantive text of amendments or modifications to the 2018 act is not included in the provided information. Therefore, the above reflects typical elements of reauthorization bills in this area, rather than a line-by-line description of specific new provisions.

3) Who or what would be affected

  • Indian tribes and tribal communities on reservations that rely on or would rely on the IRDWP for drinking water infrastructure improvements, operations, and maintenance.
  • Federal agencies involved in water infrastructure funding and oversight (e.g., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, IHS) that administer or oversee the IRDWP.
  • Potential beneficiaries include residents on reservations who would gain improved drinking water systems, reduced contamination risk, and improved compliance with drinking water standards.
  • States or tribal organizations that coordinate with the IRDWP on project funding and administration.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced in the U.S. House and referred to two committees: Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Commerce. The referral process allows these committees to review provisions falling within their jurisdictions.
  • Sponsorship: Primary sponsor status is not listed here, but the bill has two co-sponsors: Brittany Pettersen and Jeff Hurd.
  • Process: As a reauthorization measure, it will typically progress through committee markups, potential amendments, and, if approved, floor consideration. The timeline depends on committee action and House scheduling.
  • Next steps: If advanced, the bill may be amended to specify funding levels, programmatic changes, and administrative details that would shape its implementation.

If you would like, I can pull the full text or a more detailed aide-memoires once provided, to extract exact provisions, authorizations, and any authorized funding amounts or program changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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