Senator’s legislation would provide clean, reliable drinking water by completing the White Mountain Apache Rural Water System and Miner Flat Dam project
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with White Mountain Apache Chairman Kasey Velasquez and Vice-Chairman Jerome Kasey III to discuss the Senator’s legislation ensuring the Tribe’s access to clean, reliable drinking water by supporting the completion of the Tribe’s Rural Water System and Miner Flat Dam project.
Unforeseen technical delays and cost-overruns have led to the need to extend the original deadline set by Congress for constructing the project. Sinema’s legislation would grant the time and resources necessary to finish the project and deliver clean, reliable drinking water to tribal members.
“I’m glad to count Chairman Velasquez and Vice-Chairman Kasey as partners as we work to complete the White Mountain Apache Rural Water System and Miner Flat Dam Project. Together, we’ll earn the support, time, and resources needed to get our bill passed and ensure reliable drinking water access to the whole Tribe,” said Sinema.
The Sinema-sponsored legislation extends Congress’ deadline to complete the White Mountain Apache Rural Water System and Miner Flat Dam Project – the Tribe’s water rights settlement enacted by Congress in 2010.
Chairman Velasquez expressed his gratitude for Sinema’s commitment to completing the project, as well as the historic investments she secured for Tribal communities in the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law – which she wrote, negotiated, and led into law –fully funds all currently-authorized Indian Water Rights Settlements, including funding the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s Water Rights Settlement.