Bill is headed to the Presidents desk
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON
D.C. U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) and U.S. Senator John
Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statements after the Red River
Gradient Boundary Survey Act legislation requiring the necessary
gradient boundary survey of the 116-mile stretch of the Red River between Texas
and Oklahoma passed the House as a part of the Natural Resources
Management Act. This bill will now go to the Presidents desk for
signature.
The fundamental right to own property must be protected. This bill
takes another crucial step in giving property owners the assurance they deserve
to know once and for all where public lands end and private lands begin.
The pieces are now in place to see that property owners are
protected Thornberry said. I am grateful for all
of the work that has been done on this issue for the past several years.
Senator Cornyn has been an important advocate for private property rights and
instrumental in getting this done."
With the passage of this bill were one step closer to delivering
certainty for Texas families who live and own land along the Red River that the
federal government has no rightful claim to their property" said Sen.
Cornyn. Im grateful to Rep. Thornberry and my colleagues in the
House for supporting this bill."
Currently the BLM has the authority to survey the contested area using BLM
surveyors without any input from the states. This legislation requires
the BLM to use independent third-party surveyors chosen in consultation with
the states and the Tribes. BLM can then only implement the completed
survey or portions of the survey that have the written approval of the states
and the Tribes. Texas Oklahoma and the affected Tribes would have full
veto authority to protect private property rights and ensure an accurate
survey. To read more click
here.
History of the Red River Survey Legislation
- Issue: In 2013 the BLM held public meetings that indicated there is an estimated 90000 acres of land along the 116-mile stretch of the Red River that may be considered public domain which immediately created concern that the federal government was claiming to own land to which private individuals had deeds and on which they had paid taxes for generations.
113th Congress (2013-2014)
- Introduction: On June 26 2014 Congressman Thornberry introduced H.R. 4979 and Senator Cornyn introduced S. 2537 the Red River Private Property Protection Act."
- Committee Action: H.R. 4979 The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands held a legislative hearing on H.R. 4979 on July 29 2014. On December 22 2014 the Committee amended the bill and reported it to the full House.
- Appropriation Language Signed into Law: Language included in FY2015 Consolidated Appropriations Bill H.R. 83 directed BLM to defer land use planning until proper surveys completed. H.R. 83 was signed into law on December 16 2014.
114th Congress (2015-2016)
- Introduction: On April 30 2015 Congressman Thornberry introduced H.R. 2130 and Senator Cornyn introduced S. 1153 the Red River Private Property Protection Act."
- House Passage: H.R. 2130 passed the House on December 9 2015.
- Introduction: On December 15 2016 Congressman Thornberry introduced a modified bill as H.R. 6479 the Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act."
115th Congress (2017-2018)
- Introduction: On January 10 2017 Congressman Thornberry introduced H.R. 428 and Senator Cornyn introduced S.90 the Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act."
- House Passage: H.R. 428 passed the House on February 14 2017.
- Committee Action: S. 90 Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held legislative hearing on July 26 2017 and reported bill to Senate on November 29 2018.
- Survey Funding Signed into Law: $1 million allocated to conduct the Red River survey included in H.R. 1625 the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2018 which was signed into law on March 23 2018.
116th Congress (2019)
- Introduction: On January 8 2019 Congressman Thornberry introduced H.R. 346 and Senator Cornyn introduced S.41 the Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act."
- Appropriation Language Signed into Law: Language included in FY2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act H.J.Res. 31 which was signed into law on February 15 2019 directs the BLM to contract with independent third-party surveyors chosen by the states and the Tribes.
Signed Into Law: Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act" included in S. 47 the lands package that passed the Senate on February 12 2019 and passed the House on February 26 2019 and is now being sent to the President for signature.
