H.R. 1544House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:45 AM UTC

The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire roughly 6,100 acres of land near Big Bend National Park in Texas through donation, purchase from willing sellers, or land exchange, and then officially expand the park’s boundary to include those lands. It requires the proposed boundary map to be kept on file for public inspection and bars the use of eminent domain or condemnation in the process. The changes affect the National Park Service, the Secretary of the Interior, and any landowners of the identified tracts.

Key Provisions

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire about 6,100 acres of land for the park by donation, purchase, or exchange.
Mandates that the map showing the proposed boundary adjustment be publicly available at the National Park Service and Interior Department offices.
Requires the park’s boundary to be revised to include any newly acquired lands and for those lands to be managed under existing park laws and regulations.
Prohibits the Secretary from using eminent domain or condemnation to acquire the land.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

March 22, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 10, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

March 10, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

March 22, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 10, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1544

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 10, 2023

Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To adjust the boundary of Big Bend National Park in the State of Texas, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Map

The term map entitled Big Bend National Park, Proposed Boundary Adjustment, numbered 155/167,296, and dated November 2022.

(2)

Park

The term Park means the Big Bend National Park, established pursuant to the Act of June 20, 1935 (49 Stat. 393; 16 U.S.C. 156).

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment

(a)

Land acquisition

The Secretary is authorized to acquire approximately 6,100 acres of lands or interests in land generally depicted on the map as Tracts to Include in Boundary by donation, purchase from willing sellers, or exchange.

(b)

Availability of map

The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior.

(c)

Boundary revision and administration

Upon the acquisition of any lands or interests in land pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall revise the boundary of the Park to include the acquisition, and shall administer such lands or interests in land as part of the Park in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

(d)

Eminent domain or condemnation

In carrying out this Act, the Secretary may not use eminent domain or condemnation.