International Boundary and Water Commission Authority

Floor Speech

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Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1948) to authorize the International Boundary and Water Commission to accept funds for activities relating to wastewater treatment and flood control works, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1948

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION AUTHORITY.

(a) Authorization.--The Commission is authorized to accept funds from a Federal or non-Federal entity, including through a grant or funding agreement, to study, design, construct, operate, or maintain wastewater treatment works, water conservation projects, or flood control works, and related structures, consistent with the functions of the Commission.

(b) Deposit.--Any funds accepted by the Commission under this section shall be deposited into the account in the Treasury of the United States entitled ``International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico'' and shall be available until expended to carry out the activities described in subsection (a).

(c) Limitations.--

(1) Limit on reimbursement.--The Commission may not provide credit towards the non-Federal share of the cost of a project, or reimbursement, to non-Federal entities for funds accepted under this section in an amount that exceeds a total of $5,000,000 in any fiscal year.

(2) Source of funds.--The Commission may not accept funds under this section from any non-Federal entity--

(A) that is domiciled in, headquartered in, or organized under the laws of, or the principal place of business of which is located in, a foreign country of concern; or

(B) that has in place any agreement with a foreign country of concern.

(d) Report.--Not later than the last day of each fiscal year, the Commission shall submit to the Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on the funds accepted under this section that includes a description of--

(1) the activities carried out with such funds; and

(2) costs associated with such activities.

(e) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico.

(2) Foreign country of concern.--The term ``foreign country of concern'' has the meaning given that term in section 10638 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19237).

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Mr. EZELL. 1948, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1948 would allow the United States section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, or IBWC, to receive additional funding from other Federal and non-Federal partners to support water and wastewater infrastructure.

The IBWC is already authorized to receive funds from the Environmental Protection Agency, but this bill will allow the IBWC to partner with other agencies and entities, such as the Department of Homeland Security, to address the maintenance backlog for critical water infrastructure.

This legislation will allow the IBWC to access more funding sources so it can maintain these assets and, in turn, help provide cleaner water for our warfighters to train in and strengthen our security posture along our southern border.

Enacting the bill would help advance the Trump administration's priorities as outlined in the President's fiscal year 2026 budget request.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1948 is a strong, bipartisan bill that advances the Trump administration's priorities that helps the IBWC effectively manage critical water infrastructure along the southern border.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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