1-1  By:  Truan                                           S.C.R. No. 154
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed May 12, 1995; May 12, 1995, read first
    1-3  time and referred to Committee on International Relations, Trade,
    1-4  and Technology; May 17, 1995, reported adversely, with favorable
    1-5  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0;
    1-6  May 17, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-7  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.C.R. No. 154                  By:  Truan
    1-8                     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-9        WHEREAS, A long-term drought in northern Mexico has reduced
   1-10  the flow of the Rio Conchos which supplies the majority of the
   1-11  water available in the lower Rio Grande; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, The Mexican allocation of water from the lower Rio
   1-13  Grande will be depleted by June of 1995, and the Texas water
   1-14  allocation is sufficient until December of 1995 for both
   1-15  agricultural and municipal uses but thereafter will be sufficient
   1-16  only for municipal uses; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, The Mexican government determined on April 28, 1995,
   1-18  that it would not limit agricultural use of its allocation; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, The population on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande
   1-20  exceeds the population on the Texas side and will be endangered by
   1-21  the acute shortage of water; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, The reduced flow of water in the Rio Grande,
   1-23  combined with untreated waste water, creates a serious public
   1-24  health concern for the residents of both sides of the border, and
   1-25  the shortage of water threatens both agriculture and industry on
   1-26  each side of the border; and
   1-27        WHEREAS, The State of Texas does not have a comprehensive,
   1-28  long-term plan for the management of the water resources of the Rio
   1-29  Grande or for avoiding future water crises; now, therefore, be it
   1-30        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-31  hereby direct the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission,
   1-32  the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Department of Health,
   1-33  the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Rio Grande Compact
   1-34  Commission, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to
   1-35  establish a special task force on the management of the Rio Grande
   1-36  under the direction of the secretary of state or the designee of
   1-37  the secretary of state; and, be it further
   1-38        RESOLVED, That the special task force on the management of
   1-39  the Rio Grande coordinate with the appropriate federal agencies
   1-40  such as the International Boundary and Water Commission; and, be it
   1-41  further
   1-42        RESOLVED, That the task force develop plans for the State of
   1-43  Texas to respond to the immediate public health, natural resource,
   1-44  and economic threats created by the current water crisis on the Rio
   1-45  Grande; and, be it further
   1-46        RESOLVED, That the task force develop plans for the long-term
   1-47  management of the water resources of the Rio Grande, including
   1-48  joint management of the water resources of the entire Rio Grande
   1-49  basin; and, be it further
   1-50        RESOLVED, That the task force present its findings and
   1-51  recommendations to the 75th Legislature when it convenes in
   1-52  January, 1997.
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