Cornyn Introduces Bill to Hold Mexico Accountable for Water Debt

A Growing Water Crisis in the Rio Grande Valley

The Rio Grande Valley's agricultural community is facing a critical water shortage as Mexico continues to fall short on its water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. In response, U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have introduced new legislation aimed at holding Mexico accountable and protecting Texas farmers and ranchers who depend on these water deliveries for their livelihoods.

The 1944 Water Treaty: A Broken Agreement

The 1944 Water Treaty is a critical international agreement between the United States and Mexico that governs water distribution in the border region. Under this treaty, Mexico is obligated to deliver 1,750,000 acre-feet of water to the U.S. every five years, which breaks down to approximately 350,000 acre-feet annually. In exchange, the U.S. delivers 1,500,000 acre-feet of water from the Colorado River to Mexico each year.

However, Mexico has consistently failed to meet its obligations. When the most recent five-year cycle ended on October 24, 2025, Mexico had delivered only approximately 885,000 acre-feet of water—barely 50% of its total obligation of 1.75 million acre-feet. This leaves Mexico owing a significant water debt of 865,136 acre-feet to the United States.

Impact on Texas Agriculture

The water shortage has had devastating effects on the Rio Grande Valley's agricultural sector. Farmers and ranchers who rely on irrigation water from the Rio Grande are facing unprecedented challenges. When reservoir water is in short supply, irrigation for agriculture is often the first to be cut off, threatening crops and livestock.

This crisis has already led to the shutdown of Texas' last sugar mill in Santa Rosa, though investors have announced plans to revive it once water supplies stabilize. The economic impact extends beyond individual farms to the entire regional economy, which depends heavily on agricultural production.

The Ensuring Predictable and Reliable Water Deliveries Act of 2025

In response to this ongoing crisis, Senators Cornyn and Cruz introduced the Ensuring Predictable and Reliable Water Deliveries Act of 2025. This legislation aims to strengthen enforcement of the 1944 Water Treaty and compel Mexico to fulfill its water delivery obligations.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Requiring Mexico to make minimum annual deliveries of 350,000 acre-feet, rather than allowing them to defer payments until the end of the five-year cycle.
• Authorizing the President to deny all non-treaty emergency water requests from Mexico if they fail to meet their annual obligations, with exceptions for ecological, environmental, or humanitarian emergencies deemed vital to U.S. national interests.
• Empowering the President to limit or terminate engagement with Mexico in sectors identified as benefiting from water received from the U.S., excluding counterdrug cooperation.

Statements from Texas Senators

Senator Cornyn emphasized the importance of this legislation for Texas agriculture: "Mexico has repeatedly failed to uphold the 1944 Water Treaty, including last month when they missed the five-year deadline to deliver the 1.75 million acre-feet of water owed to the United States. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation alongside Senator Cruz, which will put added pressure on Mexico to live up to its obligations under the Treaty, ensure the South Texas agriculture community has the water it needs, and impose harsher penalties on Mexico should they choose to continue withholding the water we're owed."

Senator Cruz highlighted the catastrophic impact on Texas farmers: "Mexico has consistently failed to meet its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty, cycle after cycle. The Mexican government exploits the structure of the treaty to defer and delay its deliveries in each individual year until it becomes impossible for it to meet its overall obligations, and it continues to fail to meet its obligation to deliver water to the United States under the 1944 Water Treaty. These failures are catastrophic for Texas farmers and ranchers, who rely on regular and complete deliveries by Mexico under the treaty and are on the front lines of this crisis, facing water shortages that threaten agriculture and livestock."

What's Next?

The Valley's congressional delegation, including Representatives Monica De La Cruz and Henry Cuellar, has expressed support for including the water treaty in trade talks when the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement is up for review next year. This legislative effort represents a significant step toward addressing the water crisis in South Texas and ensuring that Mexico honors its international commitments.

As the bill moves through Congress, the focus remains on protecting Texas agriculture, ranching, and the American food supply from the ongoing water shortage crisis in the Rio Grande Valley.