Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, one of four Native Americans in Congress who are enrolled tribal members is among a handful of House lawmakers behind a bill to make it easier for American Indian tribes to get access to federal water relief.
The Republican Representative for the 4th congressional district joined Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Huffman, and Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) in introducing the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act.
The bill would allow the Interior secretary to reduce or waive cost-share requirements for tribal governments under the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program. Less than five percent of WaterSMART-funded projects have been led by Tribes or Pueblos.
New Mexico congresswoman Stansbury said the WaterSMART program’s cost-share requirement has been a barrier for Tribes.
““Tribes and Pueblos have lived on this land since time immemorial, and the federal government has a trust responsibility to ensure Indigenous communities have access to clean, safe water for their health, economic, and cultural needs,” said the representative.
Rep. Cole is a member of the Chickasaw Nation.
Source: POLITICO