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119-hr-7408119th CongressWALLET

Water Project Navigators Act

Sponsored By: Representative Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

Introduced

Summary

creates a Water Project Navigators Program to fund local navigators who speed planning and implementation of multi-benefit water projects for Tribal, disadvantaged, and rural communities. The program focuses on projects that boost water supply resilience and deliver ecosystem and watershed benefits.

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  • Tribal governments, acequias, land grants, and disadvantaged communities are prioritized for navigator help and the Secretary may reduce or waive their non-Federal cost share to avoid financial hardship.
  • States, water districts, nonprofit conservation groups, and other eligible entities can receive grants to hire navigators who provide grant writing, project management, feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering assistance.
  • Grants generally last up to 3 years with a possible 2-year extension, the Federal cost share can cover up to 75 percent of supported activities, and funds cannot be used to meet existing environmental mitigation or compliance obligations.

*Would authorize $15.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2032, increasing federal spending if those funds are appropriated.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More help for Tribal and rural water projects

If enacted, the bill would create a Water Project Navigators Program at the Department of the Interior within 180 days. The program would give grants or cooperative agreements to eligible States, Tribes, acequias, local governments, water suppliers, and certain nonprofits to hire navigators. Navigators would help with grant writing, project management, feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering. The Federal share would be up to 75% of activity costs; the non‑Federal share (25%) may be cash or in‑kind and could be reduced or waived for Tribes, acequias, land grant‑merced groups, or disadvantaged communities that show financial hardship. Initial awards would run up to 3 years and can be extended up to 2 more years; the bill would authorize $15,000,000 per year for FY2027 through FY2032, to remain available until expended. The Secretary would set award criteria (with public comment), coordinate with other programs, and may not fund activities that only satisfy existing legal environmental mitigation or compliance obligations.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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