Ted Poe: “First off, I would like to thank Congressman Thornberry for leading this effort in the House. It is no surprise that the…”

“First off, I would like to thank Congressman Thornberry for leading this effort in the House. It is no surprise that the Bureau of Land Management under this Administration has become greedy. But their blatant disregard of the law and private property rights is shameful. One would think the federal government would be satisfied with the 653 million acres of land it currently controls and owns, which is over 27 percent of the total U.S. surface area. A lot of which goes unused, but apparently that is not enough. If anything the federal government should being selling land instead of trying to claim more. The Bureau of Land Management's actions are a cloud on the title of Texas ranches. Since the 1845 annexation of Texas into the United States, the federal government has owned very little to no property in Texas. The Red River Private Property Protection Act, if signed into law would settle these absurd claims and clearly define the borders. It is important that we support and protect Oklahoma and Texas landowners from this Administration's ridiculous attempt at another land grab. The CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired. Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment under the 5-minute rule. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources printed in the bill.…”