FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT:
November 14, 2013 Brenda Lopez 956.544.8352
Legislators will scrutinize Funding Requests--Noting that Continuing Appropriations Act Expires on January 15, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pursuant to a 1944 Treaty, Mexico is required to deliver average annual allotments of water to the Rio Grande Valley. Mexico has continually failed to set aside adequate amounts of water to comply with its treaty obligations.
Today's letter authored by Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to International Boundary and Water Commissioner Edward Drusina explains, “we intend to closely scrutinize any appropriation of federal funds or authorization of expenditures toward the implementation of Minute 319 or other efforts which may not directly support an immediate resolution of this matter. We would note that the FY2014 Continuing Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-46) expires on January 15, 2014.” A copy of the letter is attached.
Last month, Senator Cornyn and Congressman Vela hosted a meeting with State Representative Eddie Lucio, III (Brownsville), Texas Water Development Board Chairman Carlos Rubinstein, and Rio Grande Valley Partnership President Julian Alvarez, to address Mexico’s failure to uphold its water obligations and eliminate the deficit owed to the U.S.
Because Mexico is still behind on water deliveries to the U.S., further action is needed to produce a solution in the long-term interest of South Texans.
"The United States meets its treaty obligations to deliver water to Mexico on the Colorado River,” said Congressman Vela. “Unfortunately, Mexico continually fails to comply with its water delivery obligations on the Rio Grande River. Thus, we must look at all options including funding cuts to encourage the International Boundary and Water Commission to take effective action and ensure Mexico makes timely water deliveries. The IBWC’s failure to take action hurts South Texas' farmers and municipalities."
“For far too long, Mexico has refused to consistently provide Texans with the water they are owed under the treaty,” said Senator John Cornyn. “This is an issue that has serious consequences for Texas, and I am pleased to join Representative Vela in sending this letter as part of our continued joint efforts to make sure Texans have the water they deserve.”
"South Texas water stakeholders will continue to struggle to meet their water needs until they can depend upon a consistent and reliable water delivery schedule from Mexico,” said State Representative Eddie Lucio, III. “Texas is investing a significant amount of resources towards its State Water Plan. Without a reliable delivery schedule from Mexico, South Texas cannot accurately account for the amount of water supply available now and in the future. The resolution of this issue is not only critical for today's planning and needs but for future needs as well."
"The fundamental problem remains that Mexico does not recognize the U.S. as a water user under the treaty and does not set aside any water for treaty compliance,” said Carlos Rubinstein, Chairman of the Texas Water Development Board. “To the extent that remains unchanged, water reliability under the treaty for the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas will remain at risk."
"There are more than 1.3 million people in the lower Rio Grande that rely on the river for their raw water supply,” said City of McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “Since the river basin is primarily located in Mexico, the cooperation of the Mexican governmental authority is paramount to water planning for our citizens. We urge the IBWC to assist in setting up a process so that the United States is designated by the Mexican governmental agency as a water user for the specific annual allotment under the treaty. This would allow for proper water planning to be to the benefit of all diverters from our Rio Grande River."
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