McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) - U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, has filed legislation that, if approved, would give millions of dollars to farmers in the Rio Grande Valley affected by a lack of water payments from Mexico. Change in international water treaty too late for one Texas farmer The South Texas Agriculture Emergency Assistance Act would allocate $280 million in grants to the State of Texas to be administered through the Texas Department of Agriculture to help border farmers for losses incurred due to drought and a lack of water payments from Mexico. The money would help "farming operations along the Rio Grande who have suffered economic losses during crop years 2023 through 2024 due to the failure of Mexico to deliver water annually to the United States in accordance with the Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande," the legislation filed Tuesday reads. Mexico owes the United States a total of 1.75 million acre-feet of water by next October, under the 1944 international water treaty. But so far, the country has only paid 426,845 acre-feet, according to the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission. (IBWC Graphic) Last week, Mexico and the United States signed the first change to the 80-year-old treaty since 1969, which will allow Mexico to pay water from two southeastern river basins, not previously stipulated in the treaty. It's a way to give Mexico the "tools" to help the country pay back the water it owes, U.S. International Boundary and Water Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner told Border Report. But the region has already suffered devastating losses including the shut down of the state's only sugar mill in Hidalgo County in February, which cost 500 local jobs. Now citrus and other crops are threatened. U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (De La Cruz Photo) "The hardworking agricultural community in South Texas has faced significant challenges due to water shortages impacting their livelihoods," De La Cruz said Friday in a statement. "This bill is an essential step to ensure these producers receive the support they need to continue feeding and fueling our nation." De La Cruz serves on the House Agriculture Committee, where this bill currently is pending. She says this bill has the support of the Texas Citrus Mutual, Texas International Produce Association, Texas Vegetable Association, and Texas Farm Bureau. De La Cruz in August formed the South Texas Water Working Group, which is full of border leaders who are working on long-term solutions to the drought, population growth and lack of water from Mexico that are lowering water supplies in the region. Some of the ideas include opening desalination plants, more drip-irrigation for farmers and underground aquifers and covered canals to reduce evaporation and water loss from the Rio Grande. Sandra Sanchez can be reached at [email protected].