Following unanimous passage in the U.S. Senate, all three of Sinema’s bills securing Arizona tribal priorities are now law
WASHINGTON – Three bills championed by Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema delivering critical water priorities to Arizona tribal communities were signed into law.
The bills – the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022, the White Mountain Apache Water Rights Quantification Act, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022 – were originally excluded from the end of year government spending package, but Sinema ensured unanimous passage through direct bipartisan negotiations with her Senate colleagues.
“Now that our bills are law we’re providing critical support to strengthen tribal communities’ water futures, ensuring they have access to clean drinking water and efficient water infrastructure for generations to come. Incredibly proud that we earned the bipartisan support needed to bring our legislation across the finish line,” said Sinema.
Sinema has frequently met with tribal community leaders to discuss her legislation advancing their priorities. In October of 2022, Sinema met with White Mountain Apache Chairman Kasey Velasquez and Vice-Chairman Jerome Kasey III to discuss her White Mountain Apache Water Rights Quantification Act. In September of 2022, Sinema met with Hualapai Chairman Damon Clarke to discuss her Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022.