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WATER for Farmers Act

USA119th CongressHR-9053| House 
| Updated: 5/29/2026
Monica De La Cruz

Monica De La Cruz

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Michael Cloud (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Agriculture Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, known as the "WATER for Farmers Act," seeks to enforce the 1944 Water Treaty by ensuring Mexico's reliable annual delivery of 350,000 acre-feet of water to the United States. It establishes a mechanism for the Secretary of State to determine yearly water delivery shortfalls, recognizing that current diplomatic agreements lack sufficient enforcement and that unpredictable deliveries cause significant economic harm to U.S. agricultural producers. Upon a determination of a water delivery shortfall, the United States Trade Representative is mandated to impose duties on imports from Mexico. These duties would target agricultural products or goods with significant economic impact, particularly those produced in areas using Rio Grande water, and would increase for consecutive years of non-compliance. The revenue generated from these duties will be deposited into a newly established South Texas Agricultural Compensation Trust Fund . This fund will provide direct financial compensation to agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley who suffer economic losses due to water delivery shortfalls, with the Secretary of Agriculture calculating losses based on shortfall volume, economic value per acre-foot, and an impact multiplier. The bill also requires the International Boundary and Water Commission, in coordination with the Secretaries of Agriculture and State, to collect and publicly report detailed, real-time data on water delivery, shortfalls, and compensation payments. This legislation is intended to be consistent with the 1944 Water Treaty while providing necessary enforcement and compensation mechanisms.
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Timeline
May 14, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-4549
Introduced in Senate
May 29, 2026
Introduced in House
May 29, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • May 14, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-4549
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 29, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • May 29, 2026
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • S 119-4549: WATER for Farmers Act

WATER for Farmers Act

USA119th CongressHR-9053| House 
| Updated: 5/29/2026
This bill, known as the "WATER for Farmers Act," seeks to enforce the 1944 Water Treaty by ensuring Mexico's reliable annual delivery of 350,000 acre-feet of water to the United States. It establishes a mechanism for the Secretary of State to determine yearly water delivery shortfalls, recognizing that current diplomatic agreements lack sufficient enforcement and that unpredictable deliveries cause significant economic harm to U.S. agricultural producers. Upon a determination of a water delivery shortfall, the United States Trade Representative is mandated to impose duties on imports from Mexico. These duties would target agricultural products or goods with significant economic impact, particularly those produced in areas using Rio Grande water, and would increase for consecutive years of non-compliance. The revenue generated from these duties will be deposited into a newly established South Texas Agricultural Compensation Trust Fund . This fund will provide direct financial compensation to agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley who suffer economic losses due to water delivery shortfalls, with the Secretary of Agriculture calculating losses based on shortfall volume, economic value per acre-foot, and an impact multiplier. The bill also requires the International Boundary and Water Commission, in coordination with the Secretaries of Agriculture and State, to collect and publicly report detailed, real-time data on water delivery, shortfalls, and compensation payments. This legislation is intended to be consistent with the 1944 Water Treaty while providing necessary enforcement and compensation mechanisms.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 14, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-4549
Introduced in Senate
May 29, 2026
Introduced in House
May 29, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • May 14, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-4549
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 29, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • May 29, 2026
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Monica De La Cruz

Monica De La Cruz

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Michael Cloud (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Agriculture Committee

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • S 119-4549: WATER for Farmers Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted