McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A spending bill that Congress is debating to continue funding the federal government past Friday also contains funding relief for farmers on the South Texas border who have been affected by a lack of water payments from Mexico.
Language inserted into the Continuing Resolution would allow the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to give grants to farmers and growers who have been hurt by Mexico not paying water to the Rio Grande as expected during this current five-year cycle.
If passed, the 1,500-page bill would allow the secretary to issue block grants to states and territories “for agricultural producers who have suffered losses due to the failure of Mexico to deliver water to the United States in accordance with the 1944 Water Treaty,” according to text of the measure obtained Wednesday by Border Report.
The funding is part of $31 billion in disaster and economic assistance for farmers and ranchers nationwide that is included in the government funding bill, said U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee.
“We need to show up for our farmers and ranchers,” Cuellar said. “I’m excited to announce that I helped secure $10 billion in economic assistance, as well as $21 billion in disaster assistance for our farmers and producers in the upcoming government funding bill. Furthermore, I helped secure language to provide economic support to farmers who have been negatively impacted by Mexico’s failure to deliver water to the United States in accordance with the 1944 Water Treaty.”
“They will be eligible for assistance,” Cuellar said in response to a question from Border Report during a call with reporters on Wednesday. “This is so important. Specifically, this will cover some of those losses.”
U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, is on the House Agriculture Committee.
She also is praising inclusion of these funds to help agriculture producers on the border.
“Our farmers are the backbone of South Texas, and they have faced tremendous hardship due to Mexico’s refusal to fulfill its treaty obligations. These water shortages have devastated crops, cost jobs, and threatened our local economy,” De La Cruz said in a statement. “By securing this relief, we are delivering real solutions to the families, businesses, and communities who rely on agriculture to thrive.”
Under the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico is required to pay the United States 1.75 million acre-feet of water every five years. The current cycle ends next October, and so far Mexico has only paid just over 430,000 acre-feet, according to the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission.
With just 10 months to go, experts do not believe Mexico will be able to make up the lost payments before the current cycle ends.
Lack of water earlier this year caused the state’s only sugar mill in Hidalgo County to shut down, taking with it 500 local jobs. Hidalgo County also declared a state of emergency due to a lack of water.
De La Cruz has filed a South Texas Agricultural Assistance Act, which is similar to the language in the current Continuing Resolution.
De La Cruz’ bill would allocate $280 million in grants to the State of Texas to be administered through the Texas Department of Agriculture to help border farmers for losses incurred due to drought and a lack of water payments from Mexico.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at [email protected].
