The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law that Sinema led and Kelly helped shape will invest in tribal irrigation and power projects to address critical infrastructure improvements
WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly announced $3.85 million over the next five years awarded to the San Carlos Indian Reservation, Gila River Indian Reservation, and Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation. These investments were made possible through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law that Sinema led and Kelly helped shape.
“Today’s investments from our bipartisan infrastructure law will improve, modernize, and strengthen water irrigation and power infrastructure for the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation, the San Carlos Indian Tribe Reservation, and the Gila River Indian Reservation, increasing economic opportunities and creating jobs for tribal communities across Arizona,” said Sinema.
“Thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law, families and small businesses on the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation, San Carlos Indian Tribe Reservation, and Gila River Indian Reservation will benefit from more reliable water and energy infrastructure for generations to come,” said Kelly.
“For too long, the BIA ignored the declining condition of the critical water and power infrastructure on our Reservation. Today’s announcement marks a turning point that would not have been possible without the resources Senator Sinema and the Arizona delegation fought for in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Amelia Flores, Chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT). “The investment in our water system is particularly timely. We are experiencing the most severe drought in a thousand years; now is the time to improve efficiency on outdated water systems. CRIT, Arizona, and the entire Colorado River Basin can’t afford to be inefficient with our limited water resources.”
Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and senators from both parties.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation will receive a total of $1.85 million for the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project. The Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation will also receive an additional $1 million for the Colorado River Agency Electrical Services. The San Carlos Indian Reservation and Gila River Indian Reservation will receive a total of $1 million for the San Carlos Irrigation Project – Power Division.
The bipartisan infrastructure law invests $3.5 billion for tribal water and sanitation infrastructure and resiliency, $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.
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts tribal communities.