[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 440 Introduced in House (IH)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 440

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government of Mexico 
  should adhere to the terms of the 1944 Utilization of Waters of the 
 Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande Treaty Between the 
                       United States and Mexico.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 31, 2000

    Mr. Bonilla (for himself and Mr. Ortiz) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government of Mexico 
  should adhere to the terms of the 1944 Utilization of Waters of the 
 Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande Treaty Between the 
                       United States and Mexico.

Whereas the United States and Mexico signed a treaty on water utilization on 
        February 3, 1944, to divide the waters of the Rio Grande and Colorado 
        River systems;
Whereas the treaty required Mexico to deliver a minimum of 350,000 acre feet of 
        water per year on a 5-year average from 6 Mexican tributaries;
Whereas the treaty required the United States to deliver a minimum of 1,500,000 
        acre feet of water per year from the Colorado River;
Whereas the United States has never failed to meet its obligations under the 
        treaty;
Whereas during the period of 1992-1997, Mexico failed to meet its obligations 
        under the treaty by 1,024,000 acre feet;
Whereas a recent study conducted by the Texas A&M University Agriculture Program 
        has determined the economic impact to south Texas from this water loss 
        due to noncompliance with the treaty at $441,000,000 per year; and
Whereas the Government of Mexico has not presented any plan to repay its entire 
        water debt as required by the treaty: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the President of the United States should promptly 
        utilize the full powers of his office to bring about compliance 
        with the 1944 treaty on water utilization in order that the 
        full requirement of water be available for United States use 
        during the next full crop season; and
            (2) the United States Section of the International Boundary 
        and Water Commission should work to bring about full compliance 
        with the 1944 treaty on water utilization and not accept any 
        water debt or deficit repayment plan that does not provide for 
        the full repayment of water owed.
                                 <all>