De La Cruz Bashes Mexico for Failing to Adhere to Water Treaty Impacting Farmers

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) has secured language to withhold funds from Mexico as it has allegedly failed to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty. The language from Rep. De La Cruz has been secured for the FY25 (Fiscal Year 25) State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill which was passed out of committee on Tuesday.

According to Rep. De La Cruz, Mexico is in deficit by more than 870,000 acre-feet of water owed to the United States.

She provided comment on the developing nature of the issue, accusing the Mexican government of failing to adhere to international agreements and attempting to put American farmers out of business.

“As the representative of a large agricultural district disproportionately hurt by the Mexican government’s failure to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty, I’ve taken decisive action to protect our farmers,” Rep. De La Cruz said. “I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation that demands action at the highest levels of the U.S. government, and I’ve met with the U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Now, I’ve secured language in the appropriations bill that explicitly withholds funding until Mexico complies with the treaty. This bill sends a clear message: if the Mexican government thinks it can starve us of our water and put our farmers out of business, they are sorely mistaken. Withholding funding will highlight to everyday Mexicans their government’s failure to adhere to binding international agreements.”

The Texas congresswoman concluded, “In Congress, I won’t stop putting pressure on Mexico’s government until its leaders admit their mistakes and come to the table to make this right for Texas farmers and American consumers caught in the middle.”

This move from De La Cruz comes just hours after Mexico elected its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum of the Morena Party. She will take over for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (also of the Morena Party). The party favors liberal policies and has maintained popularity as President Obrador has consistently recorded a 60% approval rate.

It will be interesting to see how the new President of Mexico will address the water treaty, the southern border, and trade between the two nations – with or without a new President of the United States.