[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 28, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H5926-H5928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS REQUIRED TO ENCOURAGE 
 THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO TO FULFILL ITS WATER DELIVERIES ON AN ANNUAL 
 BASIS TO THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES 
                               AND MEXICO

  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 683) expressing support for the diplomatic 
relations required to encourage the Government of Mexico to fulfill its 
water deliveries on an annual basis to the United States under the 
treaty between the United States and Mexico regarding the utilization 
of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 683

       Whereas the treaty between the United States and Mexico 
     regarding the utilization of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers 
     and of the Rio Grande, signed at Washington, February 1944 
     (59 Stat. 1219), commits the Government of Mexico to send an 
     average of not less than 350,000 acre-feet of water annually 
     over a 5-year cycle to the United States;
       Whereas Mexico repeatedly waits until the end of this 5-
     year cycle to fulfill such water commitment; and
       Whereas each year, farmers in south Texas are experiencing 
     water shortages: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the diplomatic relations required to encourage 
     the Government of Mexico to fulfill its water deliveries on 
     an annual basis to the United States under the treaty between 
     the United States and Mexico regarding the utilization of the 
     Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, signed at 
     Washington, February 1944 (59 Stat. 1219);
       (2) encourages Mexico to fulfill such commitments on an 
     annual basis;
       (3) acknowledges that farmers in south Texas are 
     experiencing water shortages;
       (4) supports negotiations on a Minute that will ensure more 
     predictable and reliable water deliveries to users in the 
     United States; and
       (5) encourages new commitments to ensure that the United 
     States receives annual deliveries of at least 350,000 acre-
     feet of water under such treaty.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Lawler) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous materials on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yakym). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H5927]]

  Mr. Speaker, stretching from the mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of 
Mexico, the Rio Grande River also forms over 1,200 miles of the 
international border between the United States and Mexico.
  The Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana 
Rivers and of the Rio Grande, signed in 1944, secures consistent and 
dependable water supplies for both countries, which is critically 
important in our desert Southwest.
  The treaty obligates Mexico to make available to the U.S. not less 
than 350,000 acre-feet of water per year from the main channel of the 
Rio Grande, averaged over a consecutive 5-year period. However, since 
1994, Mexico has, on multiple occasions, failed to fulfill its Rio 
Grande water delivery commitments.
  The latest data indicates that we have now moved into year 4 of the 
5-year cycle, and Mexico is in arrears of over 680,000 acre-feet of 
water, nearly two full years' worth. Mexico's recurring failure has 
reached real-world repercussions, especially for American farmers and 
ranchers, who have suffered devastating crop and cattle losses.
  U.S. diplomats and officials must urge Mexico to honor its 
commitments and establish regulations to regularize water deliveries.
  With this resolution, the House of Representatives affirms its 
support for the United States to use its resources to secure compliance 
by the Mexican Government.
  I thank my colleague from Texas, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, for 
introducing this bipartisan measure, which received unanimous support 
in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I 
rise in strong support of H. Res. 683, introduced by my colleague, 
Representative Monica De La Cruz.
  I had the opportunity to support this resolution as it made its way 
through the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this month, and I 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage here.
  Mr. Speaker, climate change has led to more prevalent and severe 
climate events across North America and has affected us all. Lack of 
rain, for example, has caused severe drought, impacting farming 
communities and businesses that provide critical crops and jobs. Rising 
temperatures have affected the volume and distribution of rainfall and 
snowfall over time. Without water, farmers have had to make difficult 
choices about whether to plant their crops, resulting in major losses 
all around.
  In these challenging times, I recognize the importance of engaging 
constructively with our neighbors to resolve issues that may seem local 
but have broad global implications and downstream effects. One instance 
where we must improve our international cooperation concerns the share 
of water between the United States and Mexico from the Colorado and the 
Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande.

                              {time}  1830

  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 683 recognizes that, as farmers in south Texas 
experience greater water shortages, we must work with the Government of 
Mexico to ensure its deliveries of water to the U.S. are made more 
consistent and timely and encourages new commitments to be made for 
that purpose.
  I am particularly impressed by the International Boundary and Water 
Commission's engagement this year to advance the goals of the 1944 
treaty relating to the utilization of the waters of the Colorado and 
Tijuana Rivers and the Rio Grande.
  The Commission's work to ensure that commitments made to distribute 
water are upheld in a timely manner and in the right quantities have 
not gone unnoticed. No doubt these changes in regular access to water 
will have a positive impact on those who grow the food and livestock we 
depend on.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the 
dialogue and diplomacy necessary to confront this urgent issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. De La Cruz), the author of this resolution.
  Ms. De La CRUZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 683. 
This is a matter of utmost importance that impacts the lives and 
livelihoods of families in south Texas and across all of America.
  The ongoing drought and resulting water scarcity in the Rio Grande 
Valley represents a crisis for our farmers and our communities. Under 
the 1944 water treaty, our neighbors in Mexico have pledged to supply 
the United States of America with an average of 350,000 acre-feet of 
water annually over a 5-year cycle.
  Unfortunately, there have been consistent delays in meeting these 
obligations that have severely affected American agriculture.
  The absence of adequate water threatens to drastically reduce their 
yields, potentially cutting their usual production in half. This 
situation poses a threat not only to local communities but also to our 
national food security, escalating the costs for American families, and 
increasing our reliance on imported produce.
  This shortfall is also leading to stringent water restrictions in our 
community, further burdening families and businesses. It is, therefore, 
incumbent upon the Mexican Government to fulfill their treaty 
obligations. It is not fair for American families, American farmers, 
and ranchers to be penalized due to noncompliance by Mexico.
  In response to this pressing issue, I introduced this bipartisan 
House resolution that expresses support for the diplomatic relations 
necessary to ensure Mexico adheres to the 1944 water treaty.
  This resolution emphasizes the need for consistent water delivery to 
the United States and encourages renewed commitments to uphold the 
annual water deliveries.
  Mr. Speaker, I express my sincere thanks to the bipartisan coalition 
of House Members, including my esteemed colleague, Henry Cuellar, for 
their support in bringing the resolution to the House floor. 
Additionally, I thank the chairman, my fellow Texan (Mr. McCaul), for 
his efforts with this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support this bipartisan House resolution. It is crucial that the 1944 
water treaty be honored as it provides vital support for American 
farmers who are pivotal in sustaining our Nation's food supply.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my community and all of south Texas, we are 
thankful for the attention given to this urgent matter.
  Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
for the purpose of closing.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes that, as farmers in south 
Texas are suffering from water shortages, dialogue and diplomacy will 
be critical to ensuring that water deliveries from the Government of 
Mexico, per the 1944 treaty, are made in a timely and consistent 
manner.
  H. Res. 683 supports the negotiations being undertaken to secure 
water deliveries on an annual basis that would allow farmers to have 
predictable quantities of water for their crops and their livestock.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge all of my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 683.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

[[Page H5928]]

  

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