U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry’s (R-TX) Red River Private Property Act to clarify the federal government’s ownership of disputed land on the Red River passed the House on Wednesday.
The act, H.R. 2130, passed by a vote of 253-177.
“This is a big victory for the landowners along the Red River and also for property owners everywhere who deserve to know that the federal government cannot come in and take away what they own. I hope we can use this momentum to get the bill passed in the Senate and then signed into law by the president,” Thornberry said. “I will continue working with the landowners, local and state officials, and Senator Cornyn (R-TX) until this issue is resolved once and for all.”
Concerns about the contested Red River land first came to light in Dec. 2013. Since then, Thornberry’s office has held numerous meetings and took part in multiple phone calls and other correspondence with landowners and local and state officials to coordinate action. As a result, H.R. 2130 reflects input from landowners, the Texas General Land Office and many others.
Legal certainty for property owners is provided by the legislation, which commissions a survey of the 116 mile stretch of contested land. The survey will use the gradient boundary survey method, which was developed and backed by the Supreme Court, to determine the proper boundary between private and federal land. The survey will be conducted within two years.
The legislation will also give landowners holding the proper right, title and/or interest in the contested area the ability to appeal the survey’s determination to an administrative law judge. Landowners may also file for a modified Color-of-Title Act land patent request for public land held in good faith and in peaceful adverse possession for $1.25 per acre.
“Texas families that have owned land along the Red River for generations deserve certainty that their property rights will be protected from overreach by the Obama administration,” Cornyn said. “Today’s vote is a positive step toward ensuring the federal government’s land claims are restrained and Texas landowner rights are protected.”