[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8398-H8399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF FALCON INTERNATIONAL DAM

  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (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.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 818

       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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo).


                             General Leave

  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 818.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consider.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez). It is fitting we should recognize 
the importance of the Falcon International Dam. For 50 years this dam 
has benefited people on both sides of our shared border with Mexico.
  This resolution notes that Mexico under President Fox has made its 
water payments to the United States under its 1944 Treaty Relating to 
the Utilization of Water of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the 
Rio Grande. I note the United States has never failed to make a water 
payment to Mexico, even in drought years, under the 1944 treaty. While 
we appreciate President Fox's efforts to meet these treaty obligations, 
Mexico still owes our States water from past years.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for working with our 
committee in preparing this resolution and urge my colleagues to join 
with me in support of it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 818 and 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Chairman Hyde) and the ranking member, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lantos) of the Committee on International Relations for expediting 
consideration of this important resolution which recognizes once again 
the close relationship between our country and the United Mexican 
States.
  I would also like to recognize my friend and colleague, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), the Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, for the outstanding work that he does in general and for this 
particular resolution as he is the author of it.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 818 acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the 
opening of the Falcon International Dam and the importance of this 
public infrastructure to the people both of the United States and of 
the United Mexican States. It is no coincidence that water, a vital 
element of life, is the medium through which the bonds of our two 
countries are continually nourished.
  I strongly encourage all of my Members to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Rodriguez), the author of the resolution.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) personally for allowing me the 
opportunity to say a few words and for his hard work on this particular 
piece of legislation.
  In addition, I would like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina 
(Mr. Ballenger) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), as well 
as the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the ranking member, 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for their efforts.
  I also want to take the opportunity to thank the Chairman of the 
Democratic Caucus, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) and 
Jessica Lewis of his staff, who worked on this issue and helped make it 
happen.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 818, a resolution 
commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Falcon 
International Dam. Like all large scale dams, the

[[Page H8399]]

Falcon International Dam is an architectural wonder, a man-made barrier 
of cement and steel reining in the power of the most precious natural 
resources, our water.
  What makes this particular dam special, though, is its location right 
on the Texas-Mexico border down in Zapata, Texas. Its construction was 
part of an international plan to improve not only flood control, but 
also water conservation, and provide hydroelectric power for the 
benefit of communities living on both sides of the border. It serves as 
a representation of the unique relationship that Mexico and the United 
States hold.
  The particular dam provides electricity that helps the entire 
southern part of Texas, from Laredo in Webb County, to Hidalgo to 
Brownsville in all that area. While controversies surrounding the 
decision to build the dam existed, many families lost their land and 
five townships were submerged under the reservoir.
  The Falcon International Dam is part of a vibrant history. On October 
15, 1953, construction on the dam neared completion. President Dwight 
D. Eisenhower and President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines of Mexico met at the 
center to dedicate it to the well-being of the residents of both 
countries. The dam itself was completed on April 8, 1954, and the 
Falcon Power Plant generated power for commercial use for the first 
time on October 11, 1954.
  For 50 years, Falcon International Dam has served as an important 
source of water and power for irrigation and household use in this 
region, and its beautiful 60-mile-long reservoir known as the Falcon 
Lake is known as one of the best fishing lakes in Texas and supports an 
emerging recreational tourism industry.
  Yet maintaining and operating an international dam does not come 
without problems. As a shared resource governed by international 
treaty, events over the past decade have underscored the need for a 
better binational water management plan.
  Persistent and severe drought conditions put strain on both Texas's 
and Mexico's water resources. For South Texas, the struggle has even 
been harder because of Mexico's decision to withhold water from the 
U.S.
  Many of you have heard me speak before on the issue of the Mexican 
water debt, which peaked at 1.7 million acre feet. Farmers were unable 
to plan adequately for their planting seasons. The fluctuating 
reservoir levels on the Falcon Dam disturbed the delicate ecosystem and 
spawning season for the fish stock. The economic impact on South Texas 
agricultural economy was estimated at over $1 billion and 30,000 jobs.
  In a perfect world, the two countries would work closely together to 
manage water storage and release so that neither side would be 
disproportionately hurt during these droughts. Economic losses would be 
shared, and, in the end, this is a fair way to allocate shared 
resources.
  Unfortunately, this is not the way the situation has played out over 
time. While recent rains have allowed Mexico to release a portion of 
the water to the U.S., we must work to improve water conservation and 
development for the future and avoid these things occurring and 
happening.
  As I think about the needs of the communities living on the Falcon 
International Dam, I strongly believe we must evaluate how best to 
allocate our resources so it would be fair to all. In order to do so, 
we must first renew our binational spirit. I fear relations with our 
neighbors have become strained on many levels, from immigration, to 
water, to the war in Iraq.
  It is with this in mind that I introduced H. Res. 818. What better 
way to look to the future than to celebrate past accomplishments?
  Mr. Speaker, I ask Members of this great House for support on this 
important resolution to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening 
of the Falcon International Dam, and recommit itself to the binational 
efforts and spirit in which the Falcon International Dam was 
constructed.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 818.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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