WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) today introduced their Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act, which would authorize the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to acquire more than 6,000 acres of donated or voluntarily sold land along the western boundary of the park:

“Texas is home to beautiful terrain and vibrant wildlife, and Big Bend National Park is no exception,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation expands and preserves the park’s heritage, natural resources, and scenery while also safeguarding private property rights, and I urge my Senate colleagues to support it.”

“Big Bend National Park is one of the many treasures in the Southwest,” said Sen. Luján. “I’m proud to join my colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation to expand Big Bend National Park. This expansion will allow the National Parks Service to conserve the ecosystem along the Terlingua watershed for years to come.” 

U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales (TX-23) introduced this legislation in the House of Representatives.

Background:

The Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act would authorize the limited expansion of Big Bend National Park by:

• Authorizing NPS to acquire approximately 6,100 acres of land adjacent to Terlingua Creek along the western boundary of the park;
• Clarifying that NPS may only acquire land within the expansion site through donation, purchase from willing property owners, or exchange;

• And explicitly prohibiting the use of eminent domain or condemnation, thereby protecting private property rights.