Rep. Boebert: Arkansas Valley Conduit Included in Bipartisan Wrda as House Passes Bill on Suspension

September 16, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) today welcomed House passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R. 9497) under suspension of the rules, with the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit provisions included for southeastern Colorado. This is the second time this Congress the House has advanced the AVC repayment language in a must-pass package, after the House included it in the Agriculture appropriations bill (H.R. 8646) this June. “This is about clean water for families in the Arkansas Valley who have waited more than 60 years,” Rep. Boebert said. “The Arkansas Valley Conduit is the unfinished piece of the Fryingpan–Arkansas Project. Getting it in this bipartisan WRDA and across the House floor on suspension is a big step toward finishing the job. ”The conduit would serve more than 50,000 residents in 39 communities that still rely on groundwater with naturally occurring contaminants. The language adjusts the non-federal cost-share and repayment terms so rural districts can actually connect to the project. “I am a legislator who never gives up, especially when it involves Colorado water. After working on this issue with House leaders for years, Chairman Graves understands what needs to be done to improve water access for Coloradans, and I thank him for working with me to put southeastern Colorado in WRDA and move it under suspension,” Rep. Boebert said. The House-passed bill now heads to the Senate. Issues : Water