The infrastructure bill will help bring services such as water and broadband to Native Americans in remote areas.
The infrastructure bill will address problems, such as this substandard wooden bridge on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act recently passed by Congress will deliver $550 billion in new federal investments across the country in the span of five years for bridges, roads, broadband connections, water, and new energy systems, a step the Navajo and other nations are applauding.
"Indian Country will get over $11 billion in new infrastructure projects to begin construction on broadband internet lines, roadways, bridges, and water pipelines," said Speaker Seth Damon (Bááhaalí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Red Rock, Rock Springs, Tséyatoh). "The bipartisan infrastructure bill sends a clear message to Sovereign Nations around the country that we are a top priority. $214 million will be used to bring running water to 40 percent of Navajo families because the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement is fully funded. The Navajo Nation Council commends our Congressional representatives and President Biden for pushing this historic bill forward."
The new law will be the largest investment in Tribal Nation infrastructure projects to include:
• $3.5 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS) sanitation facilities construction
• $3 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation tribal transportation program
• $2.5 billion to address Indian water rights settlements previously approved
• $2 billion for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for the tribal broadband connectivity program to expand broadband access
"For decades we have been advocating for the water rights of our Utah Navajo families and this infrastructure bill provides full funding to begin connecting our water lines," said Delegate Charlaine Tso (Mexican Water, Tółikan, Teec Nos Pos, Aneth, Red Mesa). "Many of our Navajo homes will now have access to water, our main life source. It matters a lot to us that grandma and grandpa drink safe water, and our families in Utah can turn on the faucet for clean water."
The Senate passed the bill in August with bipartisan support by a vote of 69-30. The House of Representatives passed the bill, with 215 Democrats and 13 Republicans voting in favor on Nov. 5.
"Several months ago, a group of five Republicans and five Democrats came together to see if we could find a way to find common ground on a true infrastructure bill," Utah Senator Mitt Romney said. "Today's vote is the culmination of those many months of work. I'm proud to have helped negotiate this bill which includes funding to provide water to the nearly half of the Navajo Nation in Utah who don't have running water and expand broadband into rural Utah. This legislation represents a historic investment that delivers for Utah-without raising taxes and adding to the national debt."
Council Delegate Herman Daniels, Jr. (Ts'ah Bii' Kin, Navajo Mountain, Shonto, Oljato) representing portions of Navajo chapters in Utah added that the Navajo Nation needs a comprehensive plan to address all areas of need for the Navajo people; "This infrastructure bill is the largest investment in the Navajo Nation so far and these funds need to go back to our communities 100 years from now, we envision our great grandchildren inheriting a more prosperous Navajo Nation and our language and way of life is strong."
The infrastructure bill is a historic investment that is fully paid for and will not increase taxes-a concern for many Congressional Republicans.
