H.R.131 — Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act
House Roll Call
H.R.131
| Bill | H.R.131 — Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act |
|---|---|
| Vote question | Passage, Objections of the President To The Contrary Notwithstanding |
| Vote type | 2/3 Yea-And-Nay |
| Result | Failed |
| Totals | Yea 248 / Nay 177 / Present 1 / Not Voting 5 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 35 | 177 | 1 | 5 |
| D | 213 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
Passage, Objections of the President To The Contrary Notwithstanding
Bill Analysis
HR 131 – Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act (119th Congress)
HR 131 directs the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), a long‑planned federal water supply project in southeastern Colorado, by clarifying and expanding the Bureau of Reclamation’s authorities and obligations under existing law.
The bill focuses on the Fryingpan–Arkansas Project, a Bureau of Reclamation trans‑basin diversion and storage project authorized in 1962. The AVC is a component of that project intended to deliver a long‑term, reliable drinking water supply from Pueblo Reservoir to numerous small and rural communities along the Arkansas River, many of which currently rely on contaminated or unreliable groundwater.
Key provisions:
Project Completion Mandate: Reaffirms and strengthens the federal commitment to complete the AVC, directing the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to plan, design, and construct remaining conveyance, treatment, and related facilities necessary to make the conduit fully operational.
Cost‑Share and Funding: Clarifies and adjusts cost‑sharing between the federal government and local project beneficiaries. It authorizes the Secretary to use appropriated funds, along with existing project revenues and other non‑federal contributions, to accelerate construction. The bill may cap or restructure repayment obligations for participating water providers to improve affordability and financing.
Beneficiaries: Primarily benefits municipal and rural water providers, small towns, and water districts in the lower Arkansas Valley of Colorado (including communities in Pueblo, Otero, Crowley, Bent, Prowers, and Kiowa Counties). Residents gain access to safer, more reliable drinking water that meets federal standards.
Agencies Affected: The Department of the Interior, particularly the Bureau of Reclamation, is the central implementing agency. State and local water entities coordinate on design, rights‑of‑way, and integration with existing systems.
Timelines: Establishes an expectation of timely completion, often through reporting requirements and schedule benchmarks to Congress, though exact statutory deadlines are left to the Secretary’s implementation and appropriations availability.
Overall, HR 131 is a targeted infrastructure and water‑supply bill aimed at finishing a long‑authorized federal reclamation feature to address chronic drinking water challenges in southeastern Colorado.
Yea (248)
J
Jason Crow
L
Lloyd Doggett
J
John Garamendi
J
John Mannion
L
Lucy McBath
D
David Schweikert
E
Eric Swalwell
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Nay (177)
K
Ken Calvert
S
Scott Franklin
L
Lisa McClain
P
Pete Sessions
