Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the full committee markup of the FY25 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill:

“Water is life, and water deliveries from Mexico are essential for South Texas communities to operate and grow. I was pleased to secure language in the FY25 SFOPS appropriations bill that ensures Mexico complies with the delivery terms set in the 1944 Water Treaty,” said Dr. Cuellar. “As a member of Congress, it is my job to ensure communities on the border have an adequate, reliable water supply. While there is still more work to be done to make this bill bipartisan, I will continue to focus my efforts on securing immediate water deliveries from Mexico. Thank you to my fellow Texan and Appropriator, Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), and my colleagues in the Texas delegation, Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15), for working with me to secure this key victory for South Texas.”

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.

In the FY25 SFOPS appropriations bill, Dr. Cuellar also secured $250,350,000 for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), an increase of 13% from FY24. The IBWC is responsible for applying the boundary and water treaties between the United States and Mexico. The Commission manages the Falcon and Amistad international dams and is responsible for other water infrastructure and flood control projects along the U.S.-Mexico border. Funding increases would help ensure the Commission can hire and retain qualified staff and would be used for construction projects to maintain critical infrastructure.

The FY25 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill now heads to the full House chamber for consideration.

To view Dr. Cuellar’s remarks during the full committee markup, click here.

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