Senator Ted Cruz | Senator Ted Cruz Official Website
Senator Ted Cruz | Senator Ted Cruz Official Website
WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have introduced several legislative measures to address acute water shortages in the Southwest, particularly in Texas, and to secure compliance by Mexico with the 1944 Treaty on Utilization of Waters. These measures aim to provide predictable and reliable water supplies, which are crucial for Texas farmers.
The first measure introduced by the Senators is an amendment to the government funding resolution. If passed, this amendment would direct the Secretary of State to use the voice, vote, diplomatic capital, and resources of the United States to ensure Mexico's compliance with the existing Treaty.
In addition to the amendment, the Senators have also introduced a separate bill containing the same language as their amendment. They have also introduced a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that these resources must be utilized to secure Mexican compliance.
Sen. Cruz highlighted the severity of the water shortages, stating, "Americans across the Southwest, and especially Texans and Texas farmers, are suffering from acute water shortages. This crisis is driven in part by non-compliance by Mexico with its obligations under the 1944 Treaty of Utilization of Waters."
The U.S. is currently in the third year of the five-year cycle outlined in the Treaty, but has only received about 39% of the water that Mexico is obligated to deliver. This lack of compliance has significantly impacted farmers and ranchers in Texas.
Sen. Cruz emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, "These measures begin to put the Senate on record and to mobilize the resources of the United States to address this crisis and secure Mexican compliance. I am proud to fight for farmers in Texas and beyond to make sure they are provided with the regular and predictable water supplies they need to survive and thrive."
Sen. Cornyn also expressed his commitment to ensuring Mexico fulfills its obligations, stating, "South Texas farmers and producers have faced below-average rainfall and severe crop losses this year, and our border communities rely on consistent releases of water to the Amistad and Falcon Reservoirs to help fill that gap. I am committed to ensuring Mexico fulfills its obligations and promptly releases the water owed to our farmers and ranchers."
The U.S. and Mexico signed the Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers in 1944. Under the Treaty, the U.S. must annually deliver a minimum of 1.5 million acre-feet of water, while Mexico must deliver a minimum of 350,000 acre-feet of water. However, Mexico routinely misses these deadlines, preventing American farmers from accessing predictable and reliable water supplies.
The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is responsible for administering the Treaty. U.S. diplomats and officials in the U.S. section of the IBWC have been working to push Mexico to fulfill its commitments and agree to rules that regularize water deliveries, but have had limited success thus far.
The legislative measures introduced by Sens. Cruz and Cornyn aim to provide the necessary resources and support for U.S. diplomats and officials to address the water crisis and secure Mexican compliance.
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