 It was approved by each of the tribes in May. Bill sponsor Democratic Senator Mark Kelly says it would afford more certainty for the tribes, especially amid historic western drought. The tribes have tried to negotiate a water deal for decades and say they expect it to bolster local economies. If the bill was signed into law, tens of thousands of residents could be connected to tap water for the first time. For NPR News, I'm Ryan Heinshus in Flagstaff.