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HR 635119th CongressIn Committee
WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act
Introduced: Jan 22, 2025
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to make it easier for Indian Tribes to access WaterSMART grants. Specifically, it adds a new provision allowing the federal government (the Secretary) to reduce or waiver the non-Federal share of grant costs for infrastructure improvements or related activities funded under WaterSMART, if requiring that share would cause financial hardship for the Tribe. When invoked, the Federal share would be increased accordingly. The overall goal is to improve tribal participation in water conservation and efficiency projects funded through WaterSMART.
Key Points
- 1The bill adds a new authority (a third option) to the existing cost-share rules for WaterSMART grants to Indian Tribes.
- 2It allows the Secretary to reduce or waive the non-Federal share (and increase the Federal share) for grants or agreements with Indian Tribes.
- 3The waiver/reduction can be used when the non-Federal contribution would cause financial hardship for the Tribe.
- 4This applies to grants or agreements entered into under the WaterSMART program described in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.
- 5The change is intended to increase Tribal access to water conservation and efficiency funding and associated infrastructure projects.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: Indian Tribes that participate in WaterSMART grant programs; tribal water management and infrastructure planning.Secondary group/area affected: Federal program administration (Secretary, applicable federal agencies) and implementation partners (states, local governments, or other stakeholders involved in tribal projects).Additional impacts: Potential increase in federal funding share for eligible projects (reducing or removing the financial burden on Tribes), possible budgetary implications for the WaterSMART program, and strengthened tribal resilience through improved water conservation and efficiency infrastructure.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 1, 2025