By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

A bill aims to give local stakeholders in the Rio Grande Valley more influence in the discussions regarding the water Mexico owes the U.S. under the 1944 Water Treaty.

The Water Delivery Transparency Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, mandates the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to host public forums, create an online portal for stakeholder input and issue public reports detailing how this input will influence future treaty updates.

“South Texas’s farmers and communities have been carrying the weight of these water shortages for too long,” De La Cruz said. “It’s time for a new approach that prioritizes transparency, stakeholder engagement and accountability from our neighbors to the south.”

Mexico continues to fall short on water deliveries, and the bill will ensure farmers and ranchers can share how the lack of water impacts them.

The region relies heavily on the Rio Grande River for both agricultural and urban uses.

“The Water Delivery Transparency Act will give our agricultural community and local leaders a real voice in the process, ensuring that their concerns are heard and that the IBWC is held accountable to the needs of our region,” De La Cruz said.

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington and Rep. Kay Granger co-sponsored the bill.

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) supports the bill and commends De La Cruz on her efforts to amplify the voice of Texas farmers and ranchers.

“Texas Farm Bureau thanks Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz for introducing commonsense legislation to provide farmers more input and more transparency during the minute drafting process related to the 1944 Water Treaty,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “The current lack of communication and opportunity for stakeholder input in the minute process is concerning. We look forward to our continued work to ensure Mexico starts upholding the obligations set forth in the treaty. It is critical to achieve this goal to secure the future of agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley.”