Ensuring Predictable and Reliable Water Deliveries Act of 2025

Key Points

• The bill requires the Secretary of State to report annually on whether Mexico is meeting its water delivery obligations under the 1944 treaty governing the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande rivers. Specifically, the report must determine whether Mexico delivered at least 350,000 acre-feet of water in the preceding year.
• If Mexico falls short of the 350,000 acre-feet annual threshold, the bill forces the U.S. to deny all of Mexico's non-treaty emergency water requests. These are special requests Mexico makes to receive Colorado River water for cities like Tijuana during shortages.
• Beyond blocking emergency water requests, the bill gives the president the option to limit or cut off engagement with Mexican economic sectors that depend on treaty water. However, cooperation on stopping fentanyl and other synthetic drugs from entering the U.S. is specifically protected.
• A narrow exception allows emergency water deliveries to Mexico if the Secretary certifies they address an ecological, environmental, or humanitarian emergency and are vital to U.S. national interests. The water cannot be used for municipal, industrial, or normal supply purposes.
• Introduced by Cruz and Cornyn, both Texas senators, the bill targets a long-running dispute over Mexico's water debts to the U.S. under the 1944 treaty. Texas farmers and border communities along the Rio Grande are the primary intended beneficiaries, as they depend on those treaty-guaranteed deliveries for irrigation and drinking water.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.