{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-heinrich-leger-fernandez-introduce-legislation-to-fulfill-taos-pueblo-water-rights-settlement/", "Luj\u00e1n, Heinrich, Leger Fern\u00e1ndez Introduce Legislation to Fulfill Taos Pueblo Water Rights Settlement", "2025-11-25", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), introduced the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act, legislation that provides more funding, flexibility, and oversight to fulfill the Taos Pueblo Water Rights Settlement.\n\nSpecifically, the legislation updates the original 2010 Taos Pueblo Water Rights Settlement and establishes two new trust funds to help Taos Pueblo build and maintain groundwater and surface water infrastructure. Additionally, the legislation sets clear timelines for state and local partners to finish shared \u201cMutual-Benefit Projects,\u201d and authorizes $367 million in new federal funding and contemplates an additional $54 million in state funding. Further, the legislation ensures that if other entities fail to deliver on projects, the Pueblo or the Bureau of Reclamation can step in to ensure completion and the parties can use interim mitigation.\n\n\u201cWater is a vital part of the federal trust responsibility,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cAmending current law is vital to ensure Taos Pueblo has access to clean, safe, and reliable water. I\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Heinrich and Representative Leger Fern\u00e1ndez to introduce legislation to fulfill the Taos Pueblo Water Rights Settlementan and deliver much-needed water infrastructure. This legislation is vital to help us fulfill our trust responsibility and promote water security for Taos Pueblo.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States has a moral obligation to uphold its trust responsibility to Tribes and Pueblos. I\u2019m proud to help introduce the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act to ensure the Pueblo can continue vital work to ensure reliable, safe drinking water \u2014 the foundation of a healthier, stronger community,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cDelivering long-term water security to Tribes, Pueblos and to every community in New Mexico is absolutely essential, and I\u2019m committed to that work.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe waters flowing from Taos mountain sustain culture, community, and life itself. The Pueblo has worked hard to fulfill its commitments under the 2010 settlement but costs and conditions have changed dramatically. Congress must respond so the Pueblo can finish the water projects that will benefit everyone who relies on these waters,\u201d said Leger Fern\u00e1ndez. \u201cThese amendments honor our trust responsibility so Taos Pueblo has the resources to build and maintain the water infrastructure their families and future generations deserve and realize the dream of water security\u2014not just for the Pueblo, but for the entire Taos Valley.\u201d\n\n\u201cResolution of Tribal Water Rights is a high priority of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham\u2019s administration,\u201d said State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson. \u201cThis Taos settlement provides far-reaching benefits to Taos Pueblo and the surrounding communities, and we look forward to working with the Pueblo, the non-Pueblo parties and the federal government to ensure we make continued progress.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe would like to thank Senator Luj\u00e1n, Senator Heinrich, and Congresswoman Leger Fern\u00e1ndez for introducing the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025. Their unwavering support for tribal sovereignty and self-sustainability, as embodied in this legislation, ensures the successful implementation of our Indian water rights settlement, and provides a secure future for our tribe and our non-Indian neighbors in the Taos Valley,\u201d said Taos Pueblo Governor Edwin Concha.\n\nAdditional funding is needed for deep wells and pipelines \u2013 which provide a means for critically needed and sustainable groundwater development in the Taos Valley and are vital to implement the Settlement \u2013 due to multiple compounding factors beyond the control of settlement parties. These factors include delays in initiating environmental reviews, inflation, market volatility further increasing construction prices, updated hydrology information that has changed where wells can be located, and changing regulatory requirements for wells.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-heinrich-leger-fernandez-introduce-legislation-to-fulfill-taos-pueblo-water-rights-settlement/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7887009307742119, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}