This resolution expresses support for diplomatic efforts to ensure Mexico fulfills its annual water delivery obligations to the U.S. under the 1944 treaty.
Mónica De La Cruz
Representative
TX-15
This resolution expresses strong support for diplomatic efforts to ensure Mexico fulfills its annual water delivery obligations to the United States under the 1944 treaty concerning the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers. It highlights the negative impact of Mexico's current practice of delaying deliveries until the end of five-year cycles, which causes shortages for South Texas farmers. The bill encourages the Administration to secure timely deliveries and pursue new agreements for a guaranteed minimum annual water transfer.
House Pushes Mexico for 350,000 Acre-Feet of Water Annually to End South Texas Farm Shortages
This resolution is the House of Representatives formally telling the President, "Hey, we really need Mexico to stop messing around with our water supply." Specifically, it’s about enforcing the 1944 treaty between the U.S. and Mexico concerning the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and the Rio Grande. The core of the issue is that Mexico is required to deliver an average of at least 350,000 acre-feet of water over a five-year cycle, but they often wait until the last year to send it. This resolution aims to shift that five-year cycle into a reliable annual commitment to stabilize water access for U.S. users.
The Farmers’ Forecast: Dry Spells and Delayed Deliveries
Imagine running a business where your most essential supply—say, the raw materials for your product—only shows up right before your contract deadline, causing you to halt production every year until the last minute. That’s essentially what’s happening to South Texas farmers. The resolution points out that because Mexico holds back the water until the end of the five-year cycle, farmers in the region face annual water shortages. This lack of predictable supply makes planting, harvesting, and general business planning a high-stakes gamble every season, directly impacting the stability of the agricultural economy along the border.
Pushing for an Annual Minimum
This isn't just a polite request for better timing; it’s a push for a structural change. The resolution strongly supports diplomatic efforts to encourage Mexico to meet its water commitments annually rather than just meeting the five-year average. Furthermore, it encourages negotiating new agreements to guarantee the U.S. receives at least 350,000 acre-feet of water every single year. This shift from a fluctuating five-year average to a firm annual minimum would provide crucial water security, allowing farmers and municipalities to plan their water usage with much greater certainty. For a farmer, knowing that water is reliably coming allows them to invest in crops and equipment without the constant fear of a dry year.
The Diplomatic Tightrope
While the goal is to stabilize the water supply for U.S. interests, this resolution is essentially a formal pressure campaign on a sovereign nation. The resolution supports the U.S. government applying diplomatic pressure to ensure compliance with the treaty. The immediate beneficiaries are clearly the South Texas agricultural sector, which stands to gain massive predictability and stability. However, the potential challenge lies in the diplomatic realm: pushing for an annual minimum delivery could strain relations or create new issues, especially if Mexico is dealing with its own severe drought conditions. This resolution is a clear statement that Congress prioritizes reliable water delivery and wants the Executive Branch to make that a top diplomatic priority.