Press Releases

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) re-introduced three agriculture-focused pieces of legislation Tuesday that benefit farmers across the Rio Grande Valley.

·       Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act: Addresses the significant economic losses suffered by Texas ag producers because of the Mexican government’s failure to comply with the 1944 water treaty between the U.S. and Mexico.

·       Southern Border Farmers and Ranchers Protection Act: Authorizes payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist farmers and ranchers with repairing farming infrastructure and land along the Southern border caused by illegal criminal activity.

·       Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act: Mandates the USDA to enter into a contract to evaluate the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program with a land-grant college/university or a non-land grant college of agriculture.

“These bills are essential to protecting the future of farming in Texas,” De La Cruz said. “Farmers have been devastated financially by the lack of water payments from Mexico and destruction of their land by illegal immigrants and cartels. Improvements to the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program protects cattle farmers from further losses. As long as I represent Texas in Congress, I will be a voice for Texas ag producers and I will not stop until these bills are law.”

All three bills were initially introduced during the 118^th Congress and included in the Farm Bill that passed out of the House Agriculture Committee last Congress.