Impose tariffs on Mexico if it refuses to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty, and use the tariff revenue to help South Texas farmers affected by missed water deliveries.
Commitment kind: unknown. Promised action: not established. Promised outcome: not established. Deadline: unknown; not assumed expired.
Occurrences
introduced the Water Assurance and Treaty Enforcement for Rio Grande Farmers Act (WATER for Farmers Act). The legislation will impose tariffs on Mexico if they refuse to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty. The funds collected from the tariffs will be allocated to the South Texas farmers impacted by missed water deliveries.
De La Cruz introduced legislation to impose tariffs on Mexico for failing to meet 1944 Water Treaty obligations and direct the tariff revenue to affected South Texas farmers.
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): Within the 2026-08-20 to 2026-09-18 lookback window, a legislative tracker updated September 9 reported H.R. 9053 still in committee, indicating the tariff-and-compensation proposal had not been enacted.
unverified · Source version 60811 · locator unknown
Ms. DE LA CRUZ (for herself, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. NEHLS, and Mr. CLOUD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Official GPO bill text confirms De La Cruz introduced the House bill and that it was referred to committee, showing concrete effort but not enactment.
unverified · Source version 60811 · locator unknown
shall impose duties with respect to imports of goods from Mexico
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): The official bill text contains the promised tariff mechanism aimed at Mexico if a water-delivery shortfall is determined.
unverified · Source version 60811 · locator unknown
Amounts in the Trust Fund shall be available, without further appropriation, to the Secretary of Agriculture to provide direct financial compensation to agricultural producers
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): The official bill text includes a mechanism to route tariff-related funds through a South Texas Agricultural Compensation Trust Fund for affected producers.
The legislation will impose tariffs on Mexico if they refuse to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty. The funds collected from the tariffs will be allocated to the South Texas farmers impacted by missed water deliveries.
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): De La Cruz's official office announcement matches the campaign commitment and documents her effort to pursue it legislatively.
Mexico committed to deliver a minimum of 350,000 acre‑feet of water per year to the United States during the current five‑year cycle
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The administration secured a water-delivery commitment from Mexico, addressing part of the underlying treaty-compliance problem, but this source does not show tariffs imposed or tariff revenue used for farmers.
Mexico pledged to pay off its water debt to its powerful northern neighbor within five years.
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): Within the lookback window, Le Monde reported that Mexico had pledged to address its water debt after U.S. tariff pressure, indicating movement on treaty compliance but not enacted De La Cruz tariff legislation or tariff-funded farmer compensation.
The current one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires September 30.
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): Late-September reporting described the farm bill path as still unfinished before the September 30, 2026 extension deadline, so related agricultural relief efforts had not yet become final law as of September 28, 2026.
holding Mexico accountable for water owed under the 1944 Water Treaty
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The same September report documented continuing De La Cruz-related effort in the House farm bill, but the described effort is broader accountability language and not the specific enacted tariff-and-revenue mechanism promised.
unverified · Source version 84738 · locator unknown
Last Action Date Listed
May 29, 2026
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Official GovInfo metadata still lists the House tariff-and-compensation bill only at its May 29, 2026 introduction/referral action, with no enacted-law action shown.
Ms. De La Cruz (for herself, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Nehls, and Mr. Cloud) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The official record confirms De La Cruz introduced the relevant House bill and it was referred to committees, documenting effort but not enactment or implementation.
The Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act addresses losses farmers in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas have suffered due to Mexico’s non-compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty.
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): Within the lookback window, reporting described a related De La Cruz farm-bill effort addressing farmer losses from Mexico’s noncompliance, but this is not the promised tariff-and-revenue mechanism becoming law.
Mr. Cornyn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The Senate companion was introduced and referred, showing parallel congressional effort, but the official GovInfo record does not show passage or enactment.
unverified · Source version 84744 · locator unknown
S 4549 | WATER for Farmers Act Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. | May 14, 2026 | In Committee
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): A current legislative tracker still places the Senate companion in committee, reinforcing that the tariff-and-compensation proposal has not been completed.
unverified · Source version 84746 · locator unknown
President Trump reportedly threatened to impose a 5% tariff on Mexico for not meeting its water deliveries to the United States in the Rio Grande Valley agreed upon in a 1944 Water Treaty. After high-level talks, Mexico agreed to provide a specified level of water per year.
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): The updated CRS report indicates tariff pressure produced some movement on water deliveries, but it does not show De La Cruz’s tariff-revenue compensation mechanism was enacted or used.