Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today released the following statement on the successful settlement in the lawsuit filed against the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
For years we have fought to reinstate the rights of private landowners along the Red River and I am glad that their rights have finally been recognized following this prolonged legal battle Sen. Cruz said. Since the founding of our nation the right to property has empowered pioneers to create opportunity strengthened communities and fueled commerce. These rights are fundamental to Texas proud heritage and way of life.
In his fight to protect private property rights Sen. Cruz has long led efforts to rein in federal overreach along the Red River by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM):
- In April 2014 Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the BLM requesting the agency respond to concerns raised by then-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott about the Red River Boundary Compact and associated lands.
- In June 2014 Sen. Cruz joined Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) in introducing legislation to direct the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to transfer any land in Texas along the Red River to landowners who can prove through official records that they own the land outright.
- In March 2016 Sen. Cruz joined an amicus brief on behalf of 22 members of the Texas congressional delegation in support of private landowners along the Red River.
- In February 2017 Sen Cruz cosponsored the Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act which sought to end questions about the federal governments ownership of disputed land along the Red River. Cornyn Press Release link: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-thornberry-introduce-bills-advance-resolution-red-river-land-dispute OR Texas General Land Office Press Release link: http://www.glo.texas.gov/the-glo/news/press-releases/2017/february/george-p-bush-applauds-house-passage-of-the-red-river-gradient-boundary-survey-act.html
- In April 2017 Sen. Cruz joined Sen. Cornyn in commending President Trump for his suspension of three flawed surveys conducted along the Red River by the BLM that led to the attempted unconstitutional seizure of tens of thousands of acres of private property.
