Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced submission of a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting additional funding for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP). The letter requests $100 million to expand the BWIP in Fiscal Year 2024 and help finance critical water infrastructure in colonias along the southern border. Nine Senators and House Members joined in the letter’s submission.

“Our southern border states are home to 2,000 colonias, many of which lack basic infrastructure like water and wastewater services. BWIP is designed to aid those communities on both sides of the border, which have the capacity to maintain and administer utilities funded through grants,” said Congressman Cuellar. “We must prioritize funding for BWIP to meet the needs of colonia residents who lack basic services, and to meet the broader needs of the border, including first-time water hook-ups and sewage infrastructure. I look forward to working with OMB to adequately fund this much-needed program for South Texas and our neighboring border states.”

The following Senators and House Members joined in the letter’s submission:

• Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
• Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
• Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
• Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-6)
• Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15)
• Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16)
• Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23)
• Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34)
• Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-2)

The Border Water Infrastructure Program funds competitive grants on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border to help finance critical infrastructure projects impacting predominantly Hispanic and Native communities. To date, 137 projects have been financed using BWIP funds (69 in the U.S. and 68 in Mexico), including colonias and federally recognized tribes.

To view Congressman Cuellar’s letter, click here.