[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 818 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 818

     Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Falcon 
  International Dam, recognizing the dam's importance as a source of 
 water and power and as a symbol of friendship and cooperation between 
 the United States and the United Mexican States, and urging Mexico to 
  honor all of its obligations under the 1944 Treaty Relating to the 
Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio 
                                Grande.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 2004

Mr. Rodriguez submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Falcon 
  International Dam, recognizing the dam's importance as a source of 
 water and power and as a symbol of friendship and cooperation between 
 the United States and the United Mexican States, and urging Mexico to 
  honor all of its obligations under the 1944 Treaty Relating to the 
Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio 
                                Grande.

Whereas the 1944 Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado 
        and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande between the United States and 
        the United Mexican States provided for the construction of the Falcon 
        International Dam on the Rio Grande River to provide flood control, 
        water conservation, and hydroelectric power for the benefit of 
        communities on both sides of the border;
Whereas on October 19, 1953, as construction on the dam neared completion, 
        President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines of 
        Mexico met at the center of the Falcon International Dam to dedicate it 
        to the well-being of the residents of both countries;
Whereas the dam was completed on April 8, 1954, and the Falcon Power Plant 
        generated power for commercial use for the first time on October 11, 
        1954;
Whereas the Falcon International Dam is 26,394 feet long, and its construction 
        created a beautiful 60-mile-long reservoir known as Falcon Lake;
Whereas the construction of the dam and reservoir resulted in the submersion and 
        relocation of 5 townships in the United States and Mexico, including the 
        town of Zapata, Texas;
Whereas the Falcon International Dam and the adjacent United States Falcon State 
        Park now serve as a valued community resource and source of pride for 
        the residents of Zapata County, Texas and neighboring Starr County, 
        Texas;
Whereas Falcon Lake is considered one of the best fishing lakes in Texas and 
        supports an emerging recreational tourism industry;
Whereas the Falcon International Dam is an important source of water and power 
        for irrigation and household use;
Whereas operations at the Falcon International Dam require a coordinated 
        binational effort among numerous agencies, including the International 
        Boundary and Water Commission, the United States Border Patrol, the 
        Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Zapata County, and their Mexican 
        counterparts;
Whereas the Mexican government has incurred a deficit in its water delivery 
        obligations, and this has lowered the water level in the reservoir and 
        hurt the communities on the United States side of the border;
Whereas the Falcon International Dam serves as an important shared resource 
        between the 2 countries and the continued success of the project 
        requires mutual adherence to the terms of the Treaty;
Whereas the Falcon International Dam serves as a symbol of friendship and 
        cooperation between the United States and Mexico; and
Whereas October 11, 2004 marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Falcon 
        International Dam: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the 
        Falcon International Dam;
            (2) recognizes that building of the Falcon International 
        Dam was an extraordinary project and that operating its 
        facilities continues to represent a substantial undertaking;
            (3) acknowledges recent payments by the United Mexican 
        States under the 1944 Treaty Relating to the Utilization of 
        Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande 
        between the United States and Mexico and urges Mexico to honor 
        all of its obligations under the Treaty;
            (4) recognizes that the Falcon International Dam has been 
        both an important source of water and power and a symbol of 
        friendship and cooperation between the United States and Mexico 
        for 50 years; and
            (5) recommits itself to the binational effort and spirit in 
        which the Falcon International Dam was constructed.
                                 <all>