Press Releases

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz announced Friday that the Continuing Resolution (CR), which passed the House tonight, maintains language to fund critical block grants to provide economic relief for South Texas farmers. This measure will address significant economic losses caused by Mexico's ongoing failure to meet its water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty.

"South Texas farmers have endured immense hardships due to Mexico's continued violations of the 1944 Water Treaty," said Congresswoman De La Cruz. "Securing and maintaining these block grants was a top priority because our agricultural producers urgently need this support to recover and rebuild. This victory ensures they have the resources to overcome the challenges caused by Mexico’s treaty violations and continue to thrive. This helps our local farmers and is a win for Texas and the entire nation."

The block grants allow the Secretary of Agriculture to provide targeted economic aid to agricultural producers in South Texas. These grants reflect provisions of Congresswoman De La Cruz's South Texas Agricultural Assistance Act, introduced in November, which directed similar relief to mitigate the impact of Mexico's failure to meet its treaty-mandated water deliveries.

Under the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico is required to deliver a set amount of water to the United States. Persistent noncompliance has led to severe water shortages for farmers in South Texas, devastating crops, costing jobs, and threatening the local economy. Key agricultural sectors, including citrus growers and sugar producers, have been hit particularly hard.