South Texas Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz is calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to address the water shortage affecting Texas farmers and ranchers. In a letter sent on February 23rd, De La Cruz highlighted Mexico's failure to meet water delivery obligations under the 1944 water treaty, stating, "As of now, Mexico has delivered less than 40 percent of what should have already been delivered."
De La Cruz emphasized the long-standing struggle of South Texas farmers with Mexico's non-compliance with the treaty, expressing disappointment in the State Department's handling of the situation. She warned that the inaction of the administration could lead to more job losses and economic hardships in Texas.
The congresswoman urged Blinken and Vilsack to address the issue with Mexico and ensure compliance with the treaty's terms, stressing the importance of prioritizing the citizens and agricultural producers of South Texas. She concluded her letter by stating, "Continued failure by this administration to prioritize this issue will lead to further job losses and negative economic impacts on communities across Texas."
In a separate interaction at a House Agriculture Committee hearing on February 14th, De La Cruz raised concerns to Secretary Vilsack about the issue, particularly highlighting the risk faced by sugar processors. Vilsack, however, claimed to be unaware of the situation.
The closure of the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, which was announced recently and will affect 500 workers, has further underscored the urgency of addressing the water shortage issue between Texas and Mexico.
Alerts Sign-up