Arizonans may have already heard about…
- … the historic $110 billion investment to upgrade America’s roads and bridges…
- … the $65 billion to deploy high-speed broadband, expand broadband internet access, and help families afford broadband service…
- … the strongest investment ever in American public transit — including the biggest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak…
… but what else is included for Arizona in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act led by U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema?
Tribal Governments and Native American Communities
Tribal communities in Arizona will directly benefit from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with significant investments in critical transportation and water infrastructure, broadband deployment, and security programs — creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity while respecting tribal sovereignty.
Supporting Native American Communities
- Critical Tribal Water Infrastructure: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act invests $3.5 billion in the Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction program for water infrastructure and resiliency.
- Indian Water Rights Settlements: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides all necessary funding to complete all currently-authorized Indian Water Rights Settlements — including building out the infrastructure needed for the Southern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement with the Tohono O’odham Nation, completing the Gila River Indian Community Water Rights Settlement, and funding the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s Water Rights Settlement.
- Tribal Broadband: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act sets aside $2 billion for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which was established by the December COVID-19 relief law. The program will be made available to eligible Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian entities for broadband deployment as well as for digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth and distance learning.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs Road Maintenance Program: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorizes $50 million for the Road Maintenance Program for fiscal year 2022, with increases of $2 million per year through fiscal year 2026.
- Tribal Cybersecurity Grants: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act establishes a new federal cybersecurity grant program that includes Tribal Governments.
- Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act amends this federal program (NSFLTP) by allowing smaller projects to qualify, and allows 100% Federal share for Tribal projects.
- Tribal High Priority Projects Program: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act reinstates and provides funding for the Tribal High Priority Projects program at $30 million for each of the next five years.
- Raising the Voices of Native American Communities: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act establishes a new Assistant Secretary for Tribal Government Affairs under the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- Tribal Climate Resilience: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides $216 million for tribal climate resilience, adaptation, and community relocation planning, design, and implementation of projects that address the varying climate challenges facing tribal communities across the country.
The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (full text available HERE) proposes the strongest investment in America’s critical infrastructure in more than a century without raising taxes on everyday Americans.
The legislation is the result of bipartisan negotiations led by U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Rob Portman (Ohio), with Senators from both parties and President Biden.
The proposal — currently being considered by the full Senate — is supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, and The American Hotel and Lodging Association — as well as more than 360 Mayors in all 50 states.