Congress opens defense infrastructure funding to Indian Tribes
S. 5247 — Defense Community Infrastructure Program Tribal Eligibility Act of 2026 · Filed by Patty Murray (D-WA) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Aug 5, 2026 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill amends the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (a federal program that funds infrastructure projects in communities near military installations) to allow Indian Tribes to apply for and receive grants on the same basis as local governments. Currently, only local governments and states can participate; the bill adds Tribes as eligible applicants.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative function is to add Indian Tribes to an existing federal infrastructure grant program, removing a categorical exclusion and creating parity with local governments in eligibility.
What the text implies
- Tribes may now compete for federal infrastructure funding tied to military installations, potentially increasing tribal capacity to address infrastructure deficits in communities near bases.
- The bill references the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act's definition of 'Indian Tribe,' which includes federally recognized tribes and may include state-recognized tribes depending on that statute's scope—the precise universe of eligible entities depends on that external definition.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Indian Tribes (eligible for federal infrastructure grants); construction and infrastructure contractors serving tribal communities