Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025
Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill modifies a long-standing water project that was established in 2009 to provide water supply to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. The main changes include: extending the deadline for completing water infrastructure facilities from 2024 to 2029, allowing the project to expand and deliver water to additional areas (including Lupton, Arizona, and Navajo communities in Utah), and creating two new trust funds—one to help the Navajo Nation maintain and operate the water system, and another for the Jicarilla (another Native American tribe).
The bill also directs the Department of Interior to transfer additional land to the Navajo Nation. **Who It Affects** The primary beneficiaries are the Navajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache Tribe, who gain expanded water access and resources. The bill also affects communities in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah that depend on water from this project, as well as the federal government, which manages the implementation and funding. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025This bill extends deadlines and otherwise revises the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project. This project was first authorized by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which settled the Navajo Nation's water rights in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico.Specifically, the bill extends through December 31, 2029, the deadline for constructing project facilities.The bill allows for additional project service areas, including by allowing the Navajo Nation to expand the project service area in order to deliver water supply from the project to Lupton, Arizona. The bill also sets forth criteria to authorize non-project water to flow outside of the project service area to Navajo communities in Utah.The bill directs the Department of the Interior to take certain land into trust for the benefit of the Navajo Nation.The bill also establishes (1) the Navajo Nation Operations, Maintenance, and Replacement Trust Fund; and (2) the Jicarilla Apache Nation Operations, Maintenance, and Replacement Trust Fund.
Latest Action
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.