Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly funds 83 sanitation projects across Arizona in 2022
WASHINGTON – $105 million will be invested in Arizona tribal communities for critical sanitation projects from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly. The funding comes as part of the $3.5 billion Sinema and Kelly secured for Indian Health Service (IHS) sanitation infrastructure over the next five years.
The $105 million from today’s announcement has been allocated for Tier 1 project constructions. Tier 1 projects are considered to be “shovel-ready” as the planning for the project is complete with engineer design activities for proposed sanitation facilities, contract documents, and contract plans and specifications.
“We consistently hear from tribes across our state about the need to implement, modernize, and strengthen sanitation facilities on tribal lands. This much-needed investment will fund critical construction and upgrades to Arizona tribes’ sanitation infrastructure,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law.
“I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact of improved water and wastewater systems on tribal communities, and now, thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law, even more families and businesses can benefit from investments in these shovel-ready projects,” said Kelly.
Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Kelly and senators from both parties.
In addition to the $3.5 for tribal water and sanitation infrastructure and resiliency, the bipartisan infrastructure law includes $2 billion to expand high-speed broadband in tribal communities, and $2.5 billion in funding to complete all currently-authorized Indian Water Rights Settlements – including building out the infrastructure needed for the Southern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement with the Tohono O’odham Nation, completing the Gila River Indian Community Water Rights Settlement, and funding the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s Water Rights Settlement.