WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today released the following statement commending President Donald Trump for pressuring Mexico to deliver the water it owes to South Texas after years of continued delays under the Biden-Harris administration and endorsed the use of all diplomatic and economic options to force Mexico to supply timely and consistent water deliveries to Texas pursuant to the 1944 Water Treaty:

“South Texas farmers and ranchers have been snubbed by Mexico for years and denied the water they’re rightfully owed, but no more.”

“I commend President Trump for his show of force and commitment to taking back the water Mexico has essentially stolen from our agriculture community after four years of the Biden administration standing idly by as Texas farmers and ranchers struggled and Mexico took advantage of our country.”

“I will continue working with the President and Secretaries Rubio and Rollins on this effort to inflict maximum pain and force Mexico to make good on their end of the bargain. President Trump and I will fight for what Texas farmers and ranchers need to put food on the table for millions of Americans.”

Background:

Under the Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, Mexico is obligated to deliver an average of 350,000-acre feet of water annually over a five-year cycle as its contribution to the Rio Grande’s water supply. However, Mexico has consistently delayed fulfilling its water obligation until the end of the five-year cycle, which hinders South Texas farmers’ ability to plan for and grow crops as well as ranchers’ ability to provide water to livestock. The current cycle ends in October and so far, Mexico has paid less than 500,000 acre-feet of water—about a quarter of what it owes, according to IBWC data.

Sen. Cornyn has led the charge in Congress to boost Texas’ water supply and ensure Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations to provide annual deliveries of water to South Texas farmers and ranchers. He partnered with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to successfully secure more than $280 million in emergency assistance for Rio Grande Valley farmers and producers affected by the water shortage and led a request earlier this year to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking for renewed efforts to push Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty while also securing Secretary Rubio’s commitment to hold Mexico accountable for delays.

Last year, Sens. Cornyn and Cruz raised alarms after a Rio Grande sugarcane mill closed due to acute water shortages, cosponsored a resolution supporting diplomacy, and sent a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of State Blinken urging the Department to engage on Mexico’s violation of the intent of the treaty. Senator Cornyn also led a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on State and Foreign Operations urging them to withhold designated funds from Mexico until they enter into an agreement with the U.S. to balance the deficit of the water deliveries, which the House Appropriations Committee included in their funding bill.