(1) Access to reliable, clean, and drinkable 
water is an essential human need and critical to the 
public health, well-being, educational attainment, 
and economic development of all communities in the 
United States. 
(2) Many countries, along with the United Na-
tions, have recognized the urgency of the need to ac-
cess reliable, clean, and drinkable water by passing 
laws or resolutions relating to the human right to 
water and sanitation, including— 
(A) recognizing these water and sanitation 
needs exist among Indigenous peoples; and 
(B) establishing aggressive targets for 
achieving universal access to those basic serv-
ices. 
(3) In the United States, access to reliable, 
clean, and drinkable water has long been a signifi-
cant problem in many Native communities, such that 
nearly half of all households in those communities do 
not have access to reliable water sources, clean 
drinking water, or basic sanitation, and are signifi-
cantly more likely than White households to lack in-
door plumbing. 
(4) The trust responsibility of the Federal Gov-
ernment to Indian Tribes requires the Federal Gov-
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ernment to ensure the survival and welfare of Indian 
Tribes, and the failure to provide basic water service 
cannot be reconciled with that trust responsibility. 
(5) The COVID–19 pandemic had, and con-
tinues to have, a disproportionate impact on Native 
communities due to a multitude of factors, includ-
ing— 
(A) persistent economic disadvantages; 
(B) racial inequity; and 
(C) lack of public health infrastructure, in-
cluding access to running water. 
(6) On January 27, 2021, President Biden 
issued Executive Order 14008 (86 Fed. Reg. 7619, 
February 1, 2021), which provides that it is the pol-
icy of the Biden Administration to secure environ-
mental justice and spur economic opportunity for 
disadvantaged communities that have been histori-
cally marginalized and overburdened by pollution 
and underinvestment in housing, transportation, 
water and wastewater infrastructure, and health 
care. 
(7) Through the bipartisan Infrastructure In-
vestment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58; com-
monly referred to as the ‘‘IIJA’’), Congress has pro-
vided funding for the Indian Health Service and the 
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Environmental Protection Agency to support the 
construction and repair of Tribal clean water infra-
structure, but inadequate resources are available to 
Tribes to assist them with accessing these construc-
tion and repair funding programs, and to support 
Tribes’ operation and maintenance of water infra-
structure. 
(8) Filling the gaps in funding described in 
paragraph (7) is necessary to successfully implement 
the historic investment in clean water infrastructure 
in Native communities. 
(9) Technical assistance to Tribes is necessary 
to ensure that they— 
(A) are able to access and take advantage 
of the new construction funding made available 
through the IIJA; 
(B) develop the managerial, financial, and 
regulatory framework necessary for a fully 
functional and self-sustaining utility; and 
(C) are able to engage appropriate outside 
consultants to assist as needed. 
(10) Advances in water technology, including 
treatment, sensors, and innovative pipeline mate-
rials, can assist in— 
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(A) accelerating efforts to provide uni-
versal access to reliable, clean, and drinkable 
water for all Native communities; and 
(B) enhancing resilience in the face of cli-
mate change. 
(11) The COVID–19 pandemic has been a 
stark reminder that access to reliable, clean, and 
drinkable water to support basic hygiene is a matter 
of life or death for all individuals in the United 
States. 
(12) It is in the interest of the United States, 
and it is the policy of the United States, that all ex-
isting Native communities be provided with safe and 
adequate water supply systems as soon as prac-
ticable. 
(13) Both appropriate funding at the level of 
unmet need and a ‘‘whole of government’’ approach 
among all Federal agencies are essential to provide 
a meaningful solution to the lack of access to clean 
water on Tribal lands. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
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Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(2) NATIVE
COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘Native 
community’’ means— 
(A) an Indian Tribe; and 
(B) a Native Hawaiian community. 
(3) NATIVE HAWAIIAN.—The term ‘‘Native Ha-
waiian’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
801 of the Native American Housing Assistance and 
Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4221). 
(4) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The term ‘‘tech-
nical assistance’’ means the provision of govern-
mental or private sector expertise— 
(A) to facilitate Native community access 
to repair and construction funding for clean 
water facilities made available through the In-
frastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public 
Law 117–58; 135 Stat. 429) or the rural devel-
opment mission area of the Department of Ag-
riculture; and 
(B) to support Native communities in de-
veloping the managerial, financial, and regu-
latory capacity necessary for a fully functional 
and self-sustaining utility. 
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SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RURAL DEVELOP-
MENT. 
(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANTS AND 
LOANS.—In addition to the purposes for which loans and 
grants may be provided under sections 306C and 306D 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1926c, 1926d), the Secretary of Agriculture (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may make 
or insure loans and make grants to eligible entities de-
scribed in subsection (c) for technical assistance. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to amounts otherwise available, there are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2028— 
(1) $100,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, to make or insure loans and make grants 
under sections 306C and 306D of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926c, 
1926d), and for the additional purposes described in 
subsection (a), to eligible entities described in sub-
section (c) to provide for the development, use, and 
control of water (including the extension or improve-
ment of existing water supply systems); and 
(2) $30,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, for eligible entities described in subsection 
(c) to contract for technical assistance. 
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(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible to re-
ceive a grant or an award of financial or technical assist-
ance using amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) or 
(2) of subsection (b) or amounts otherwise available under 
sections 306C and 306D of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926c, 1926d) is— 
(1) a Native community; or 
(2) in the case of a grant in accordance with 
section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act, a consortium formed pursuant to 
section 325 of Public Law 105–83 (111 Stat. 1597). 
(d) NO MATCHING CONTRIBUTION.—The provision 
of funds made available under subsection (b) shall not be 
conditioned on any matching contribution otherwise re-
quired by any other provision of law (including regula-
tions). 
(e) PRIORITY FOR FUNDING.—In making or insuring 
loans or making grants to eligible entities using amounts 
appropriated under subsection (b), the Secretary shall— 
(1) treat members of an eligible entity in the 
same manner as individuals who reside in a colonia 
for purposes of subsections (a)(2)(B) and (c)(2) of 
section 306C of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926c); and 
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(2) make or insure the loans or award the 
grants without requiring the eligible entity or the 
members of an eligible entity to demonstrate an in-
ability to finance the proposed project— 
(A) from the resources of the eligible entity 
or members; or 
(B) through commercial credit. 
(f) INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION.—The Secretary 
shall consult with the Director of the Indian Health Serv-
ice regarding agency collaboration, project prioritization, 
and staffing needs to ensure that funds made available 
under subsection (b) are used in the most effective manner 
to promote access to water and sanitation. 
SEC. 5. INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE. 
(a) DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Director of the In-
dian Health Service. 
(b) SANITATION FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PRO-
GRAM.—For the purposes of section 7(a)(1) of the Act of 
August 5, 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2004a(a)(1)), ‘‘Indian homes, 
communities, and lands’’ for which the Secretary has au-
thority to ‘‘construct, improve, extend, or otherwise pro-
vide and maintain, by contract or otherwise, essential sani-
tation facilities, including domestic and community water 
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supplies and facilities, drainage facilities, and sewage-dis-
posal and waste-disposal facilities’’ shall include commu-
nity structures that are essential to the life of the Native 
community and provide indispensable educational, eco-
nomic, and community services, such as schools, hospitals, 
nursing homes, teachers’ homes, Tribal offices, and post 
offices. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, in addition 
to amounts otherwise available, $20,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2024 through 2028, to remain available until 
expended, to construct, improve, extend, or otherwise pro-
vide and maintain, by contract or otherwise, essential sani-
tation facilities, including domestic and community water 
supplies and facilities, drainage facilities, and sewage- and 
waste-disposal facilities for community structures de-
scribed in subsection (b). 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING.—In addition 
to amounts otherwise available, there is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $30,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2024 through 2028, to remain available until ex-
pended, for Indian Tribes and Native communities to 
enter into contracts for— 
(1) technical assistance; and 
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(2) for other activities authorized under section 
302(b)(2) of the Indian Health Care Improvement 
Act (25 U.S.C. 1632(b)(2)). 
(e) OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide 
financial assistance for the operation and mainte-
nance of water facilities serving Native communities. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In 
addition to amounts otherwise available, there is au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028, to remain available until expended, for pro-
viding assistance for the operation and maintenance 
of water facilities serving Native communities. 
(3) PRIORITY
FOR
FUNDING.—In awarding 
funding under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
prioritize water facilities that the Secretary deter-
mines to be the most in need of assistance. 
(4) FUTURE FUNDING.—For not less than 5 
years after the date on which a water facilities 
project described in paragraph (1) is completed, to 
the extent to which annual appropriations are avail-
able, the Secretary shall include the completed 
project as eligible for funding assistance for oper-
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ation and maintenance of the water facility to ensure 
that— 
(A) the investments in the water facilities 
are adequately maintained and operated for the 
health and welfare of Native communities 
served; 
(B) the infrastructure investment is pro-
tected; and 
(C) the intended economic benefit is real-
ized. 
SEC. 6. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION. 
In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Inte-
rior $18,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028, to remain available until expended, for use, in ac-
cordance with section 201 of the Energy and Water Devel-
opment Appropriations Act, 2003 (43 U.S.C. 373d), for 
the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Pro-
gram of the Bureau of Reclamation for the fiscal year end-
ing September 30, 2024. 
Æ 
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