Luján, Cornyn Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Drought Protections for Acequias

In First Bill Introduction of this Congress, Luján Centers New Mexico Priorities

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) reintroduced the bipartisan ACEQUIA Act, legislation that ensures acequias are able to access the same USDA disaster assistance programs available to other agricultural systems. The ACEQUIA Act amends the Non-Insured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to ensure that Parciantes qualify for drought and other disaster assistance. Additionally, the legislation codifies current agency guidance that Parciantes do not need to obtain a special-use permit to perform routine maintenance or in-kind improvements on federal land.

“Acequias are a rich part of New Mexico’s culture and essential to our way of life. For generations, our farmers and ranchers have relied on this community-owned and managed irrigation system that delivers water throughout local communities,” said Senator Luján. “As we continue to see prolonged droughts impact Western states and the toll it takes on farmers and their crops, USDA programs have provided critical financial support for certain agricultural operations but failed to include acequias. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan ACEQUIA Act with Senator Cornyn to ensure acequias have access to drought relief and other disaster assistance programs to protect this sacred tradition for generations to come.”

“Drought conditions make it much harder for farmers and ranchers to provide the goods and services our country depends on, and community-operated irrigation canals called acequias have long supported Western communities,” said Senator Cornyn. “This bill would support those who manage acequias by ensuring they have access to vital disaster assistance programs, and I am grateful for Senator Luján’s leadership on this issue.”

Acequias are community-owned and -managed irrigation systems comprised of gravity-fed irrigation channels and the people who maintain them. Acequias create a land-based culture that has sustained communities throughout the arid west for generations, yet, like other agricultural practices, increasing aridification is creating significant challenges for Acequias. Drought conditions in the West are affecting growing seasons and crop yields, and Parciantes face barriers in accessing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to cope with these setbacks. Barriers to accessing assistance are particularly pronounced for USDA programs that are predicated on prior year production values, over time Parciantes are being yielded out of disaster assistance.

Senator Luján has long fought for legislation that support acequias. This legislation builds on Senator Luján’s successful effort to ensure the USDA fully compensates Rio Arriba farmers and ranchers for unfair changes made to the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) reimbursement rate by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in New Mexico. In December 2024, Senator Luján secured $15 million in federal funding to support acequias. Additionally, Senator Luján has secured critical provisions that invest in acequias in biennial water infrastructure legislation and fought for federal support for acequia management in the Farm Bill.

Summary of the bill is available here. Full bill text is available here.

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