By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Texas lawmakers introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate to ensure future water deliveries by Mexico are predictable and reliable.

The bill, authored by U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, aims to enhance support for U.S. diplomats and officials seeking to secure Mexican compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty on the utilization of waters of Colorado, Tijuana and Rio Grande Rivers.

The proposed legislation comes in response to Mexico’s repeated failure to fulfill its obligations under the treaty, resulting in water shortages across the southwest.

“Mexico has consistently failed to uphold its end of the bargain when it comes to supplying the U.S. with water. Mexican officials are now so far in arrears, they will be unable to comply with the treaty and will fall short for the current cycle,” Cruz said. “These shortfalls have resulted in acute water shortages across the southwest and have been particularly devastating to Texans and Texas farmers. I am proud to spearhead language that will ensure our diplomats have the resources and backing they need to secure Mexican compliance.”

The 1944 Water Treaty was signed by the U.S. and Mexico, governing the allocation of water from the Colorado, Tijuana and Rio Grande Rivers. The treaty requires Mexico to provide the U.S. with an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water per year over a five-year cycle.

However, Mexico has repeatedly delayed fulfilling the agreement until the end of the five years, severely affecting Texas farmers and ranchers.

“If the drought and harsh weather conditions persist into the summer, it will continue to harm Texas agriculture and put the Amistad reservoir in imminent danger of falling below the water level needed to generate power for South Texans,” Cornyn, said. “I am glad to cosponsor this legislation with Sen. Cruz to pressure the State Department to negotiate with Mexico to comply with its treaty obligations and deliver the water it owes, so farmers, ranchers, cities and business owners in the Rio Grande Valley can continue to keep their doors open and their crops growing.”

The bill directs the secretary of state to fully support the International Boundary and Water Commission’s (IBWC) efforts to use diplomatic resources to bring Mexico into compliance.

Texas Farm Bureau supports the measure and passed organizational policy last December specific to the 1944 Water Treaty.

“This is a national legislative priority issue for Texas Farm Bureau. The ongoing water delivery issues severely affects our farmers and ranchers, risking significant yield reductions and poses a threat to our national food security,” Laramie Adams, TFB associate director of Government Affairs, said. “This situation also leads to higher costs for American families and increased reliance on imported produce.”

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz also introduced the Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act designed to help farmers and ranchers in the Valley impacted by Mexico’s failure to deliver water.