Hickenlooper, Bennet, Boebert, Hurd Push for AVC Completion

After Trump veto, Colorado lawmakers urge Congress to include in upcoming WRDA legislation

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert and Jeff Hurd, urged committee leadership in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to include the bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act (H.R. 131) in the upcoming 2026 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

"H.R. 131 passed both the House and Senate in 2025 without objection, but has not been signed into law. The bill would adjust the non-federal cost share financing for the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), which is the final, unfinished component of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project authorized by Congress in 1962. More than six decades later, over 50,000 residents across 39 communities in southeastern Colorado continue to rely on groundwater sources contaminated with naturally occurring pollutants, including carcinogens. These predominantly rural and economically vulnerable communities have waited generations for the federal government to meet its commitment," wrote the lawmakers.

In December 2025, President Trump recklessly vetoed the bill, despite it passing both chambers of Congress unanimously. Hickenlooper denounced the failed House vote to override President Trump's veto.

While the AVC has overwhelming bipartisan support, rising material and labor costs have threatened the project's completion. The Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act provides measures that ensure the project can be completed without additional taxpayer burden by adjusting financing terms, reducing interest rates, and providing greater repayment flexibility.

WRDA regularly authorizes water infrastructure projects, and 1992 WRDA authorized the construction of a component of the Arkansas Valley Conduit. WRDA has long served as a popular solution for critical water infrastructure and has a history of supporting the AVC. Including the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act in the 2026 WRDA is not only backed by precedent,t also supports the tradition of using the WRDA to adapt and support authorized water resource projects.

Hickenlooper and Bennet have long advocated for increased federal funding for the AVC and will continue pushing to complete the project. Both senators helped deliver $500 million in funding for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the AVC, including $250 million, $90 million, $100 million in 2023 and $60 million in 2022. Last year, they reintroduced the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act and passed the bill through the Senate before it was recklessly vetoed by President Trump.

Hickenlooper visited the AVC construction site earlier this year to highlight bipartisan support for this vital project to deliver clean drinking water to thousands of Coloradans.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members:

We write to respectfully request that H.R. 131, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, be included in the forthcoming 2026 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Incorporating this legislation into WRDA would ensure Congress fulfills a long-standing federal commitment to deliver clean, affordable drinking water to tens of thousands of rural Coloradans, while advancing a project with strong bipartisan support without increasing federal spending.

H.R. 131 passed both the House and Senate in 2025 without objection, but has not been signed into law. The bill would adjust the non-federal cost share financing for the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), which is the final, unfinished component of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project authorized by Congress in 1962. More than six decades later, over 50,000 residents across 39 communities in southeastern Colorado continue to rely on groundwater sources contaminated with naturally occurring pollutants, including carcinogens. These predominantly rural and economically vulnerable communities have waited generations for the federal government to meet its commitment.

WRDA has long served as the primary vehicle for advancing critical water infrastructure and honoring federal project authorizations. In fact, the 1992 WRDA included a Section 219 authorization supporting the AVC, recognizing its importance as a regional water supply project. Including H.R. 131 in the 2026 WRDA is consistent with this precedent and with Congress's bipartisan tradition of using WRDA to strengthen, modify, and complete authorized water resource projects.

Although administrations of both parties have supported the AVC, rising material and labor costs now threaten its completion. H.R. 131 provides a practical solution by adjusting financing terms to reduce interest rates and provide greater repayment flexibility-measures that enable completion of the project without imposing additional costs on taxpayers. These targeted updates are well suited for inclusion in WRDA, which routinely refines existing authorizations to reflect changing economic conditions and ensure project viability.

Given WRDA's established role as Congress's bipartisan water infrastructure package, we believe 2026 WRDA is the appropriate legislative vehicle to secure completion of the AVC. We respectfully urge the Committee to include H.R. 131 in the 2026 Water Resources Development Act and help ensure that southeastern Colorado communities finally receive the safe, reliable drinking water they were promised.

Thank you for your leadership and consideration.

Sincerely,

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