A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Water Assurance and Treaty Enforcement for Rio Grande Farmers Act, or the WATER for Farmers Act. It deals with water deliveries from Mexico to the United States under the 1944 Water Treaty between the two countries. The bill requires the Secretary of State to determine annually if Mexico has met its minimum water delivery requirement of 350,000 acre-feet from the Rio Grande basin. If Mexico fails to deliver this water, the United States Trade Representative must place duties on imported goods from Mexico. Money collected from these duties will go into a newly established trust fund. This fund will then be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to provide direct financial compensation to United States agricultural producers who suffered economic losses from the water shortages.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Would farmers be better off under this?
Establishes a trust fund to provide direct financial compensation to agricultural producers suffering from water shortages.
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Provides critical economic and water security support for rural agricultural communities in South Texas.
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Directly aids agricultural business owners in South Texas experiencing economic losses from water deficits.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
Imposes retaliatory tariffs and duties on goods imported from Mexico.
- Scored -3
Does this strengthen ties with allied countries?
Enforcing water delivery mandates through unilateral trade tariffs may strain diplomatic relations with Mexico.
- Scored -2
Is this likely to slow the rise in prices?
Imposing trade duties on imported goods from Mexico could potentially lead to higher prices for consumers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Compensation for Farmers: Section 5 and Section 6 establish the South Texas Agricultural Compensation Trust Fund to provide direct financial compensation to United States agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley who suffer economic losses due to water delivery shortfalls from Mexico. This directly helps farmers who face financial harm from lack of water.
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Enforcement of Water Deliveries: Section 3 and Section 4 create a strict tracking system and impose trade duties on Mexican goods if water delivery requirements are not met. This provision aims to hold officials accountable and pressure Mexico into reliably delivering the required 350,000 acre-feet of water annually under the 1944 Water Treaty.
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Public Transparency: Section 7 requires the government to collect, monitor, and publicly report real-time data on monthly water deliveries, shortfall calculations, and the status of compensation payments. This keeps the public informed and holds the government accountable.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Increased Costs on Goods: Section 4 directs the United States Trade Representative to impose or increase duties on goods imported from Mexico if a water shortfall occurs. This could potentially lead to higher prices for consumers in the United States who buy these imported goods.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — Establishes a trust fund to provide direct financial compensation to agricultural producers suffering from water shortages. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Provides critical economic and water security support for rural agricultural communities in South Texas. Would business owners be better off under this? — Directly aids agricultural business owners in South Texas experiencing economic losses from water deficits.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires real-time data collection and public reporting on water deliveries, shortfalls, and compensation. Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands federal oversight and duties involving international water treaties and tariff enforcement.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Imposes retaliatory tariffs and duties on goods imported from Mexico. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — Enforcing water delivery mandates through unilateral trade tariffs may strain diplomatic relations with Mexico.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Supports Rio Grande agricultural producers by addressing water shortages and providing compensation funds.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides direct financial compensation to agricultural producers and small businesses suffering losses from water shortages. Is this likely to slow the rise in prices? — Imposing trade duties on imported goods from Mexico could potentially lead to higher prices for consumers.
- 5/29/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Michael CloudRepublican · Texas
Troy NehlsRepublican · Texas
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas