U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R) has welcomed a new agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Mexico that will bring long-awaited water deliveries to South Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, offering relief to farmers and ranchers impacted by prolonged shortages.
"After many months of pressure from the Trump administration and myself, I am pleased that Mexico has finally agreed to deliver more water it owes under the 1944 Water Treaty and has started to make those disbursements to the United States this week," said Cornyn in a statement.
Under the treaty governing the Rio Grande, Mexico is required to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water annually over a five-year cycle. However, Mexico has repeatedly delayed those deliveries until the end of each cycle, creating uncertainty for South Texas agriculture and contributing to severe water shortages.
Cornyn has led congressional efforts to hold Mexico accountable for its treaty obligations.
Earlier this year, he secured more than $280 million in emergency assistance for the Rio Grande Valley farmers and producers affected by the shortages. He also pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to intensify diplomatic efforts and obtain a commitment to hold Mexico accountable for delays.
Last year, Cornyn urged the North American Development Bank to restore its Water Infrastructure Fund, raised alarms after a RIO Grande sugarcane mill closed due to water shortages, and introduced legislation aimed at enforcing Mexico's compliance with the treaty.
"Thanks to the hard work of President Trump and Secretary Rollins, farmers and ranchers in South Texas can finally begin to have some certainty on the water deliveries they need to ensure their crops and livestock can thrive," said Cornyn.
Cornyn affirmed he will continue working with the administration to ensure Mexico delivers the full amount of water owed to the United States and that South Texas producers receive the reliability they need to plan for future growing seasons.
