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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.