WATER for Farmers Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9053
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-29: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-08T17:44:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill aims to enforce reliable annual water deliveries from Mexico to the United States under the 1944 Water Treaty by establishing oversight mechanisms. It also creates a system to compensate U.S. agricultural producers in South Texas for economic losses caused by shortfalls in those deliveries.
Key Provisions
- Findings: The legislation notes that the 1944 Water Treaty requires Mexico to deliver at least 350,000 acre-feet of water annually from the Rio Grande basin over five-year cycles. It highlights issues with unpredictable deliveries and past shortfalls harming U.S. farmers.
- Shortfall Determination: The Secretary of State must assess yearly whether Mexico meets the 350,000 acre-feet minimum. Shortfalls trigger further actions.
- Duties on Imports: The U.S. Trade Representative imposes duties on select Mexican goods starting 90 days after a shortfall is confirmed. Duties end only after Mexico remedies all prior shortfalls. Rates or categories increase for consecutive shortfalls, prioritizing goods from water-dependent areas or those with high economic impact on Mexico.
- Compensation Trust Fund: A South Texas Agricultural Compensation Trust Fund is created in the U.S. Treasury, funded by revenues from the new duties. The Secretary of Agriculture uses these funds for direct payments to affected producers.
- Loss Calculations: Economic losses are computed using a formula based on shortfall volume, economic value per acre-foot (factoring crop revenues and costs), and an impact multiplier (accounting for job losses and related business effects).
- Data and Reporting: The International Boundary and Water Commission must collect and publicly report monthly data on deliveries, shortfalls, and compensation status.
- Treaty Consistency: The bill requires interpretations that align with U.S. obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty and does not limit other legal remedies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This legislation introduces new enforcement tools not present in prior U.S. law, including trade duties tied directly to treaty compliance. It establishes a dedicated trust fund for farmer compensation, funded by import duties, and mandates annual shortfall assessments and data transparency requirements. These elements add mechanisms beyond existing diplomatic agreements like Minutes 325 and 331 of the International Boundary and Water Commission.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Department of State, Department of Agriculture, U.S. Trade Representative, and International Boundary and Water Commission in monitoring, duty imposition, and compensation administration.
- Citizens: Provides financial relief to agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley but may raise costs for U.S. consumers of Mexican imports. It could affect interstate commerce through altered agricultural markets.
- International Relations: May influence U.S.-Mexico trade dynamics and diplomatic negotiations, potentially affecting broader cooperation on water and border issues.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. agricultural producers and related businesses in South Texas.
- Mexican exporters and producers of goods targeted by duties.
- U.S. federal agencies involved in foreign affairs, trade, agriculture, and water management.
- Communities and economies in the Rio Grande region dependent on treaty water deliveries.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill frames its actions as consistent with the 1944 Water Treaty and preserves rights under other federal, state, or international laws. It uses congressional authority over trade to link water treaty compliance with import duties, which could raise questions about executive branch coordination in foreign policy and trade enforcement. No direct changes to constitutional powers are specified, but the approach emphasizes enforcement through economic measures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-29: 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.
- 2026-05-29: 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.
- 2026-05-29: 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.
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Water Assurance and Treaty Enforcement for Rio Grande Farmers Act — issued 2026-05-29 — PDF (10 pages)