[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 181 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 181

   Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the obligations of 
Mexico under the Treaty Between the United States of America and Mexico 
 of 1944 relating to the use of the Colorado, Rio Grande, and Tijuana 
                                Rivers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 14, 2003

Mr. Ortiz (for himself, Mr. Bonilla, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. Green of Texas, 
    Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Rodriguez, and Mr. Gonzalez) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the obligations of 
Mexico under the Treaty Between the United States of America and Mexico 
 of 1944 relating to the use of the Colorado, Rio Grande, and Tijuana 
                                Rivers.

Whereas under the Treaty Between the United States of America and Mexico of 
        1944, the Governments of the United States and Mexico assumed certain 
        rights and obligations relating to the Colorado, Rio Grande, and Tijuana 
        Rivers;
Whereas under the treaty Mexico is obligated to supply to the United States over 
        successive 5-year periods 350,000 acre-feet of water each year from the 
        Rio Grande River, and the United States is obligated to supply to Mexico 
        1,500,000 acre-feet of water each year from the Colorado River;
Whereas from 1992 to 1997 Mexico accrued a deficit of 1,500,000 acre-feet of 
        water owed to the United States, and did not make prompt payment to the 
        United States under the 1944 treaty;
Whereas from 1998 to 2000 Mexico further accrued a deficit owed to the United 
        States of 700,000 acre-feet of water, making no payments to the United 
        States as provided under the 1944 treaty;
Whereas as of September 2002, Mexico has a total water debt of almost 1,700,000 
        acre-feet of water owed to the United States;
Whereas the United States has made annual payments of 1,500,000 acre-feet of 
        water to Mexico from 1992 to 2002 and has never been in violation of its 
        obligation to make payments of water under the 1944 treaty;
Whereas as of October 2, 2002, Mexico will be in formal violation of the 1944 
        treaty for the second consecutive 5-year cycle;
Whereas the recent agreement signed by the Governments of the United States and 
        Mexico in August 2002, authorizes the North American Development Bank to 
        offer financial resources to repair and upgrade Mexican irrigation 
        canals in Chihuahua and other projects on the United States side of the 
        border with Mexico, but fails to provide for prompt payment to the 
        United States of Mexico's water debt and is inadequate in establishing a 
        prompt water payment schedule, providing assistance to the South Texas 
        region for development of infrastructure improvements, and providing 
        economic assistance to farmers for their losses;
Whereas there has been a lack of commitment by the executive branch of the 
        United States Government during the past two administrations to find a 
        reasonable and fair solution to this situation; and
Whereas because of this unresolved matter, the agricultural sector in South 
        Texas has suffered economic losses of nearly $2,000,000,000 in the past 
        ten years: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress calls upon the executive branch--
            (1) to take specific actions to ensure that the Government 
        of Mexico meets its obligations under the Treaty Between the 
        United States of America and Mexico, and Protocol, signed in 
        1944, to supply Rio Grande River water to the United States;
            (2) to withhold deliveries to Mexico of Colorado River 
        water, until such time as Mexico complies with obligations 
        under such treaty and protocol to deliver Rio Grande River 
        water to the United States; and
            (3) to consult with and report to the Congress on the 
        actions taken under paragraphs (1) and (2).
                                 <all>