Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding the inclusion of language withholding funding from Mexico until water deliveries are made as required by the 1944 Water Treaty in the Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs government funding bill:

“Water from Mexico is essential for South Texas communities to operate and grow,” said Dr. Cuellar. “As a member of Congress, it is my job to ensure communities on the border have a consistent water supply. While there is still more work to be done, I will continue to focus my efforts on securing immediate water deliveries from Mexico for South Texas. Thank you to my colleagues in the Texas delegation, Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), Congressmen Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15).”

The language withholds funding for Mexico until the United States and Mexico have entered into an agreement to balance the deficit of water deliveries to the United States. However, this funding does not include assistance for countering the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into the United States.

This builds on previous work Dr. Cuellar has done to ensure water deliveries for South Texas, including:

FY24 Appropriations Provisions

• Doubling funding for the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico at $220,850,000, compared to FY23.

• Language directing the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission to engage with their Mexican counterparts and relevant stakeholders to improve the predictability and reliability of water deliveries in accordance with the Mexican Water Treaty of 1944.

Other 118^th Congress Legislation

• Co-led H.R. 7468, which directs the Secretary of State to use the voice, vote, diplomatic capital, and resources of the United States to ensure compliance by Mexico with the 1944 Water Treaty.

• Co-led 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.

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