Water Project Navigators Act
Sponsored By: Senator John Hickenlooper
Introduced
Summary
Water Project Navigators Program would fund local navigator positions to help eligible States, Tribes, and communities plan and deliver multi-benefit water projects that boost water resilience and restore ecosystems.
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- Families and disadvantaged communities gain targeted help accessing projects that can improve safe drinking water and local resilience. The Secretary can reduce or waive non-Federal cost shares for Indian Tribes, acequias, land grants, and disadvantaged communities.
- Local governments, water suppliers, and eligible entities get funding for navigator positions to provide grant writing, project management, feasibility, design, and preliminary environmental review. Grants run up to 3 years with possible 2-year extensions and regular funding opportunities.
- Ecosystems and workers benefit because the projects must deliver habitat and watershed improvements and the program gives priority to efforts that show broad stakeholder support and potential job creation or retention in affected communities.
*Authorizes $15.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2032, increasing federal spending by up to $90.0 million over that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More water project help for communities
This bill would create a Water Project Navigators Program at the Department of the Interior within 180 days. It would authorize $15,000,000 a year for FY2027 through FY2032, with funds available until spent. The Secretary would award grants to eligible States and local entities to hire navigators and run program activities. Grants would normally last up to 3 years and could be extended up to 2 more years for satisfactory performance. Federal funds would cover up to 75% of project costs, and the Secretary could reduce or waive the non‑Federal share for Tribes, acequias, land‑grant entities, disadvantaged communities, and similar partners. Navigators would help with grant writing, feasibility, design, environmental review, engineering, and project management, and must follow federal and state law. Priority would go to Indian Tribes, disadvantaged communities, rural communities, and resource‑constrained entities, and the Secretary must coordinate with other programs. The Secretary could not fund activities that meet required environmental mitigation or compliance, and would report to Congress within 5 years on program impacts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov