Indianz.Com > News > Cronkite News: Senate committee takes up water infrastructure in Indian Country
Tribal water infrastructure needs more than a one-time fix, senators told
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The infusion of federal money for infrastructure projects is a welcome first step toward fixing deep problems with water systems on tribal lands, but it’s only a first step, an Arizona official testified Wednesday.
Brian Bennon, director of the tribal water department at the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, said tribes need to make sure they have funding for operation and maintenance of the systems to keep them going, comparing it to taking care of a car.
“There’s many things. I call it preventative maintenance to try to get as much as much life out of the system as possible, and maybe even getting it beyond the original design life,” Bennon said in testimony to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “That takes money.”


Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Notice
Drinking Water Infrastructure and Tribal Communities (September 20, 2023)
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News. It is published via a Creative Commons license. Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
Ernie Stevens: Protecting tribal sovereignty in a new political era
Rhonda LeValdo and Gaylene Crouser: Not In Our Honor
AUDIO: Legislative Hearing on H.R.410, H.R.412, H.R.504 & H.R. 741
Native America Calling: Native in the Spotlight with Tatanka Means
VIDEO: ‘Thank you for your leadership’: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
VIDEO: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Organizational Business Meeting
Alaska Beacon: Trump administration faces lawsuit over tribal gaming facility
Native America Calling: Medicaid’s next chapter in Indian Country
H.R.43, the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act
H.R.42, the Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act
H.R.226, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs holds first hearing
Native America Calling: Rising home insurance rates put more Native Americans at risk
Citizen of Navajo Nation tapped for Indian Affairs post
Native America Calling: Native Bookshelf with Ann-Helén Laestadius
More Headlines
Rhonda LeValdo and Gaylene Crouser: Not In Our Honor
AUDIO: Legislative Hearing on H.R.410, H.R.412, H.R.504 & H.R. 741
Native America Calling: Native in the Spotlight with Tatanka Means
VIDEO: ‘Thank you for your leadership’: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
VIDEO: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Organizational Business Meeting
Alaska Beacon: Trump administration faces lawsuit over tribal gaming facility
Native America Calling: Medicaid’s next chapter in Indian Country
H.R.43, the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act
H.R.42, the Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act
H.R.226, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs holds first hearing
Native America Calling: Rising home insurance rates put more Native Americans at risk
Citizen of Navajo Nation tapped for Indian Affairs post
Native America Calling: Native Bookshelf with Ann-Helén Laestadius
More Headlines