IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 494

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the obligations of Mexico

under the Treaty Between the United States of America and Mexico

of 1944 relating to the use of the Colorado, Rio Grande, and Tijuana

Rivers.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 1, 2002

Mr. ORTIZ (for himself, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. REYES, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr.

GREEN of Texas, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. BONILLA, Mr.

FROST, and Mr. BENTSEN) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the obligations of Mexico under the Treaty Between the United

States of America and Mexico of 1944 relating to the

use of the Colorado, Rio Grande, and Tijuana Rivers.

Whereas under the Treaty Between the United States of

America and Mexico of 1944, the Governments of the

United States and Mexico assumed certain rights and obligations relating to the Colorado, Rio Grande, and Tijuana Rivers;

Whereas under the treaty Mexico is obligated to supply to the

United States over successive 5-year periods 350,000

acre-feet of water each year from the Rio Grande River,
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•HCON 494 IH

and the United States is obligated to supply to Mexico

1,500,000 acre-feet of water each year from the Colorado

River;

Whereas from 1992 to 1997 Mexico accrued a deficit of

1,500,000 acre-feet of water owed to the United States,

and did not make prompt payment to the United States

under the 1944 treaty;

Whereas from 1998 to 2000 Mexico further accrued a deficit

owed to the United States of 700,000 acre-feet of water,

making no payments to the United States as provided

under the 1944 treaty;

Whereas as of September 2002, Mexico has a total water

debt of almost 1,700,000 acre-feet of water owed to the

United States;

Whereas the United States has made annual payments of

1,500,000 acre-feet of water to Mexico from 1992 to

2002 and has never been in violation of its obligation to

make payments of water under the 1944 treaty;

Whereas as of October 2, 2002, Mexico will be in formal violation of the 1944 treaty for the second consecutive 5-

year cycle;

Whereas the recent agreement signed by the Governments of

the United States and Mexico in August 2002, authorizes

the North American Development Bank to offer financial

resources to repair and upgrade Mexican irrigation canals

in Chihuahua and other projects on the United States

side of the border with Mexico, but fails to provide for

prompt payment to the United States of Mexico’s water

debt and is inadequate in establishing a prompt water

payment schedule, providing assistance to the South

Texas region for development of infrastructure improve-
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•HCON 494 IH

ments, and providing economic assistance to farmers for

their losses;

Whereas there has been a lack of commitment by the executive branch of the United States Government during the

past two administrations to find a reasonable and fair solution to this situation; and

Whereas because of this unresolved matter, the agricultural

sector in South Texas has suffered economic losses of

nearly $2,000,000,000 in the past ten years: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress calls upon the executive

3 branch—

4 (1) to take specific actions to ensure that the

5 Government of Mexico meets its obligations under

6 the Treaty Between the United States of America

7 and Mexico, and Protocol, signed in 1944, to supply

8 water from the Rio Grande River to the United

9 States; and

10 (2) to consult with and report to the Congress

11 on the actions taken under paragraph (1).

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