Via Facebook: I’m deeply disappointed by the President’s veto of the Arkansas Valley Conduit legislation.
This was a bipartisan, unanimous bill passed by Congress to uphold a long-standing federal commitment to southeastern Colorado. The Arkansas Valley Conduit is part of a federally authorized water system dating back to 1962, designed to deliver safe, reliable drinking water to rural communities that have waited decades for completion.
The vetoed legislation did not authorize new construction spending or expand the federal government’s original commitment. It adjusted repayment terms to reflect decades of federal delay, rising construction costs, and changing regulatory requirements—factors largely outside local control—so existing federal investments could actually result in completed infrastructure and clean drinking water.
More than $200 million has already been invested, alongside significant state and local contributions. Further delay risks stranding taxpayer dollars and leaving communities without a viable path to meeting drinking water standards.
In southeastern Colorado, water infrastructure isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. I will continue fighting for rural Colorado by working across party lines to get this project back on track and ensure our communities are not left behind.