Urges Federal Action to Ensure Mexico’s Compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Senator Adam Hinojosa, representing Senate District 27, announced the successful passage of his first legislative measure, Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 (SCR 13), out of the Texas Senate. SCR 13 urges the U.S. Department of State and the International Boundary & Water Commission (IBWC) to take immediate diplomatic action to ensure Mexico fulfills its obligations under the critical 1944 US-Mexico Water Treaty.
The treaty requires Mexico to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water annually to Texas over five-year cycles. However, Mexico has repeatedly delayed these deliveries, creating severe water shortages that threaten agricultural production and economic stability in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).
Mexico owes the U.S. more than 730,000 acre-feet of water for the current cycle alone, and recent studies estimate the potential economic losses will exceed $993 million if irrigation water shortages continue.
“The passage of SCR 13 sends a clear message that Texas will not tolerate prolonged delays or shortfalls in water deliveries,” said Senator Hinojosa.“Waiting until the eleventh hour to release water means our farmers struggle unnecessarily for four out of every five years.
"Every drop matters, and we cannot afford to let our farms and communities suffer.”
Agriculture is a cornerstone of the Rio Grande Valley economy, generating nearly $1 billion annually and supporting 1,000s of local jobs.
Hinojosa emphasized that timely compliance with treaty obligations is essential for sustaining Texas’ municipal, industrial, and agricultural sectors. The region has already experienced significant impacts, including reduced crop production and the closure of critical businesses, such as Texas’ only sugar mill.
Hinojosa's SCR 13 enjoys broad bipartisan support from senators across Texas, who recognize the urgency and importance of this issue.
“This resolution is about safeguarding livelihoods and protecting our state’s economic future. We urge our federal partners to prioritize this issue in diplomatic negotiations with Mexico,” Senator Hinojosa said.
Elected to the Texas State Senate in 2024, Hinojosa became the first Republican elected to represent District 27 since Reconstruction.
A fourth-generation Texan who can trace his roots back to 1874, Sen. Hinojosa represents a district that spans Texas' Southern Gulf Coast and includes a significant number of Texas' most important economic assets, such as SpaceX, the Ports of Brownsville and Corpus Christi, extensive oil and gas infrastructure, and historic, expansive farming and agricultural operations.
SCR 13 now advances to the Texas House of Representatives for consideration.
