Mexico owes Texas approximately 900,000 acre-feet of water according to a binational agreement dating back to 1944. However, a regional drought has complicated the situation. In response, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn have introduced legislation that aims to force Mexico to comply with the treaty by imposing restrictions on federal aid and prohibiting trade and development funds for grantees in Mexico if they fail to deliver the agreed-upon water.
The proposed amendment, which is part of the National Defense Authorization Act, outlines three enforcement measures: prohibiting federal aid to Mexico’s private sector, prohibiting U.S. Trade and Development Agency funds for grantees in Mexico, and capping foreign assistance to Mexico at 85% of what was appropriated.
The U.S. Secretary of State would be responsible for reporting annually to Congress on Mexico’s compliance with the treaty, and if they fail to meet their obligations, the President would need to take action.
Senators Cruz and Cornyn hope that this legislation will help alleviate the suffering of Texas farmers and cities who are already struggling due to Mexico’s failure to uphold its end of the bargain.
The bill’s fate is uncertain, as it must also be approved by the House and President Joe Biden before becoming law. Agricultural advocates have expressed support for the move, stating that water scarcity in the region has become increasingly dire, with drought conditions causing the shutdown of a sugar mill and imperiling the rest of the agricultural industry.
The 1944 treaty requires Mexico to deliver water from six tributaries, with every five-year cycle ending in October 2025, at which point they must have made up the difference. However, the current drought has affected Mexican water supplies as well, making it difficult for them to comply with their obligations.
An agency responsible for overseeing treaties between the U.S. and Mexico declined to comment on the proposed amendment, stating that they do not comment on political matters.
The agency is continuing to negotiate an amendment to the treaty referred to as a “minute” that would improve the reliability and predictability of water deliveries. Overall, this situation highlights the ongoing efforts by lawmakers in recent months to force Mexico to provide Texas with the water it owes, with the latest proposal aiming to take enforcement measures to ensure compliance.
The fate of the proposed amendment remains uncertain, but the urgency of the situation is clear, as farmers and ranchers are already struggling due to the severe drought conditions in the region.
Source: Texas Tribune
