Bennet, Hickenlooper Welcome $7.5 Million from Inflation Reduction Act for Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Clean Water Infrastructure

Denver - Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed $7.5 millionfrom the Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to expand clean drinking water access for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. The funding, made possible in part through the Inflation Reduction Act, will help the Tribe plan and complete 18 miles of a 22-mile waterline to connect Cortez and Towaoc and deliver clean water to the community. Two weeks ago, the senators urgedUSBR to explore new opportunities for Colorado's Tribes to access federal funding for drought and water supply management.

"When the federal government established reservations for Native American Tribes, it promised a permanent and livable homeland for those it had displaced from their ancestral lands. At a time when our country's Tribes still lack reliable access to clean and safe water in the 21st century, that promise clearly has been denied and critical tribal water infrastructure like this pipeline should be a priority for the federal government," said Bennet."This funding is an important step forward to ensure more members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe can continue to access clean water, and I'm grateful to the Biden/Harris administration for working to fulfill our nation's promises."

"Our tribal communities have long lacked adequate resources to reliably access clean drinking water," said Hickenlooper. "Thanks to our Inflation Reduction Act, we're changing that. This $7.5 million will connect Cortez and Towaoc to deliver clean drinking water and create good-paying jobs for the Ute Mountain Ute."

"The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe considers water and its watersheds as a sacred and vital element to life. Stewardship of the environment allows life to flourish and is an obligation of our tribe and people. This grant is a crucial step in finishing the project that we've been working on for over 14 years to make sure everyone in our community has access to drinking water," said Manuel Heart, Chairman, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.