By De La Garza                                       H.C.R. No. 207
       74R12997 CCK-D
                              HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, Low levels of precipitation throughout much of the
    1-2  Rio Grande basin have created a serious crisis of water
    1-3  availability on both sides of the international border; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A treaty completed in 1944 establishes allotments
    1-5  for water withdrawals by the United States and Mexico, but less
    1-6  than five months into the current year, Mexico has consumed up to
    1-7  90 percent of its allocated share for the whole of 1995; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, South Texas farmers and water experts complain daily
    1-9  and vociferously about unchecked, unauthorized, and wasteful
   1-10  siphoning of Rio Grande flows by Mexican irrigators; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Given ongoing weather patterns, prudence dictates
   1-12  strict water conservation measures and action by governmental
   1-13  officials to keep river basin withdrawals within allocated levels;
   1-14  now, therefore, be it
   1-15        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-16  hereby urge the Mexican government to prevent Mexican farmers from
   1-17  siphoning water from the Rio Grande; and, be it further
   1-18        RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
   1-19  copies of this resolution to the president of the United Mexican
   1-20  States and to the presiding officers of the Senate and Chamber of
   1-21  Deputies of the General Congress of the United Mexican States.