Smith Celebrates $100 Million Investment for Fort Laramie Tunnel Rehabilitation Project

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) issued the following statement in response to the Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) awarding $100 million to the Fort Laramie Tunnel Rehabilitation Project for repairs and enhancement of the groundwater irrigation canal in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming.

"This funding is welcomed news for Nebraska's agricultural producers who farm the nearly 55,000 acres this canal supports. Since the tunnel's collapse in 2019, I have worked to secure the resources needed to rebuild this critical irrigation project and get water flowing again. Irrigation is the lifeblood of western Nebraska agriculture, and this investment-made possible by the Working Families Tax Cuts I proudly supported-brings us one step closer to that goal. I look forward to working with the Trump administration to ensure that this funding is appropriately distributed so both Nebraska and Wyoming are able to reap its full benefits."

BACKGROUND:

Last July, Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts which authorized and appropriated $1 billion to the Bureau of Reclamation to utilize for water conveyance and surface water storage enhancement projects across the United States.

Recently, the Trump administration announced the Fort Laramie Tunnel Rehabilitation Project would receive a $100 million investment through the Department of Interior.

This funding builds upon the $14,625,000 Smith secured for this project in the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.