Thursday, Jul 19 2012 3:56PM
U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall introduced new legislation that intends to help rural and tribal communities with water needs.
U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall introduced new legislation that intends to help rural and tribal communities with water needs.
The bill would have the Bureau of Reclamation direct $80 million annually toward high-priority rural water projects that have already been approved by Congress. Alternatively, the funds would be paid into the Reclamation Fund in the U.S. Treasury.
"Rural and tribal communities around the West know how to meet their future water needs, but in many cases they need help paying for infrastructure," Bingaman said.
Additionally, he noted that long-approved water projects, including the Eastern New Mexico Water Supply Project and the Jicarilla Apache Reservation Rural Water System, will no longer have to wait years to receive needed funding.
The legislation would also allow previously-approved projects to begin activity without a second round of approval via Congress.
"Having adequate water resources and infrastructure are essential to New Mexico – especially for rural communities. Our state faces many challenges related to extreme weather, and this bill provides dedicated funding to projects in New Mexico that have sat idle for too long," Udall said.
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U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman