By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

A new administration has given at least two lawmakers from Texas hope that action will be taken to ensure farmers, ranchers and communities in South Texas receive the water they’re owed under the 1944 Water Treaty.

In the last Congress, U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) was one of the lawmakers introducing legislation and asking the State Department to take action after Mexico fell hundreds-of-thousands of acre-feet of water behind on its obligations.

“We’re picking up the mess from the Biden administration that was left from their lack of support and their lack of communication in pressuring the Mexican government to deliver the water,” De La Cruz told the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “President Trump is picking up the pieces. What he’s doing through his team is working with our office to see how we can get the 1944 Water Treaty to be part of the discussions when talking about tariffs.”

The congresswoman also sent a letter to new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to take action.

“(We) ask him to discuss the water treaty when talking about tariffs,” De La Cruz said.

The water treaty outlines the allocation of water from the U.S. to Mexico from the Colorado River and the delivery of water from tributaries in Mexico to the Rio Grande Valley.

That water is vital to South Texas agriculture, but unfortunately, Mexico has fallen behind on delivery of the water it owes the U.S.

The lack of water led to the closure of the state’s only remaining sugar mill last year.

It now threatens the Valley citrus industry.

“I am very hopeful that under the Trump administration and the leadership of Secretary Rubio, that Texas farmers are going to finally get the water that is owed to them,” De La Cruz said. “The White House has shared with me that our farming community in South Texas is important, and this is why they’re working so closely with us on this issue.”

During Rubio’s nomination hearing, U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) urged Rubio to take action on the water situation.

Cornyn said he believes Rubio will be engaged on it.

“The Biden administration was well aware of the problem but wouldn’t really do anything about it,” Cornyn told the TFB Radio Network. “Unless there is increased costs or consequences for Mexico for failing to meet its obligations under the treaty, I don’t think we can expect any different treatment, but as you might have noticed, President Trump has taken a much more aggressive position. I think in addition to all of the illegal immigration and the border security issues, this will be one of the things that he holds Mexico’s feet to the fire on.”

According to De La Cruz’s office, as of Jan. 25, Mexico owed the U.S. 1.05 million acre-feet of water.