Gallego Backs Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Recover Millions in Unused Funding for Hoover Dam

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)backed the bipartisan, bicameralHelp Hoover Dam Actto allow the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to access $50 million in unused, long-stranded funds for Hoover Dam operations, maintenance, and improvement projects.
“For too long, red tape has kept $50 million tied up that should have gone toward maintaining and upgrading the Hoover Dam,”said Senator Gallego.“Unlocking these funds will strengthen critical infrastructure in Arizona, ensure the dam keeps delivering clean power and water, and offset rising energy costs for Northern Arizona – especially as drought continues to strain the region.”
Tens of millions of dollars in the Colorado River Dam Fund have been inaccessible for decades due to bureaucracy, federal red tape, and government inefficiency. 40 million people depend on the Colorado River for water and1.3 million peoplein Arizona, Nevada, and California depend on the Hoover Dam for electricity.
TheHelp Hoover Dam Actwill:
The bicameral legislation was introduced bySenator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)andCongresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV-03).Gallego also supported the act when he was a  member of the House.
Read full text of the legislationHERE.
Senator Gallego has long championed funding for Arizona’s water infrastructure. He helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which delivered historic investments for Western water systems, including funding for Colorado River conservation projects that Gallego hassuccessfullypushed to unfreeze. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing earlier this week,Gallego highlightedthe urgent need for drought relief in the Colorado River Basin and asked a Reclamation nominee to commit to releasing all previously appropriated drought funds.
5/2/25