Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) voted in support of the passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, also known as the Farm Bill, on the House floor. The legislative package passed with bipartisan support.

"Food security is national security. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I am proud to deliver a major victory for South Texas farmers and producers. By passing the Farm Bill, we are reinforcing American agriculture’s global dominance and ensuring our farmers have the reliable water access they deserve. This is not just a bill; it’s a long-term investment in the future of Texas farming and our communities." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

Background:
De La Cruz offered an amendment to establish a permanent, inter-agency working group led by the Secretary of Agriculture. The group will coordinate a strategy to protect South Texas farmers and producers from the impacts of the Government of Mexico’s failure to comply with water deliveries under the 1944 Water Treaty.

Additionally, this year's Farm Bill included three provisions led by De La Cruz:

• Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act: Addresses the significant economic losses suffered by Texas ag producers due to the Mexican government’s non-compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty.
• Southern Border Farmers and Ranchers Protection Act: Authorizes payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist farmers and ranchers with repairing damages to farming infrastructure caused by illegal criminal activity along the Southern border.
• 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 or university or a non-land-grant college of agriculture.