Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2025

The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2025 seeks to ensure access to reliable, clean, and drinkable water for Indian Tribes and the Native Hawaiian Community, recognizing this as an essential human need and a federal trust responsibility. The bill addresses the significant problem of many Tribal households lacking basic water services and sanitation, highlighting that existing funding from initiatives like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is often insufficient for technical assistance, operation, and maintenance, and frequently unavailable to Native Hawaiian organizations. It emphasizes the necessity of a "whole of government" approach and adequate funding to close these critical gaps. To achieve its goals, the bill authorizes substantial appropriations across multiple federal agencies for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The Department of Agriculture's Rural Development programs will see expanded eligibility for Native Hawaiian organizations and Tribal land residents, with an authorization of $100 million annually for water loans and grants, and $30 million annually for technical assistance, waiving matching fund requirements. The Indian Health Service is authorized to receive $500 million annually for sanitation facilities construction, $30 million annually for technical assistance, and $100 million annually for the operation and maintenance of Tribal drinking water and sanitation facilities, prioritizing the most in-need projects. Additionally, the Bureau of Reclamation's Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program is authorized to receive $18 million annually to support these efforts.