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S. 1059Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)Passed Senate

Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act

Sponsored by John CornynSen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
Introduced March 29, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 5:22 AM UTC

The Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act lets the Secretary of the Interior acquire about 6,100 acres of land near Big Bend National Park in Texas through donation, purchase from willing sellers, or land exchange, and then expand the park’s boundary to include the new land. The law requires the proposed boundary map to be publicly available and bars the use of eminent domain, meaning land must be obtained voluntarily. It affects the National Park Service’s management of the park and any current owners of the identified tracts.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary may acquire roughly 6,100 acres shown on a specific map by donation, purchase, or exchange.
  • The map showing the proposed boundary adjustment must be filed and available for public inspection.
  • After acquisition, the park’s boundary will be revised to include the new land, and the land will be managed as part of the park under existing laws.
  • The Secretary is prohibited from using eminent domain or condemnation to obtain the land.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 19, 2024 • 6:04 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 29, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

March 29, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-284.

National Parks Subcommittee

June 21, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

September 21, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin without amendment. With written report No. 118-145.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

December 20, 2023

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 297.

December 20, 2023

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7153; text: CR S7155)

December 18, 2024

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 19, 2024

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 19, 2024 • 5:26 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 19, 2024 • 6:04 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 1059 on the floor

1 Democrat
Richard Blumenthal
Sen. Richard BlumenthalD-CT · Dec 18, 2024

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills, en bloc: Calendar No. 276, S. 1088; Calendar No. 297, S. 1059; Calendar No.…

Record

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued December 18, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1059

AN ACT

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

1.

Short title

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

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Map

The term map means the 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 under the Act of June 20, 1935 (49 Stat. 393, chapter 283; 16 U.S.C. 156).

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment

(a)

Land acquisition

The Secretary may acquire approximately 6,100 acres of land 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.

(c)

Boundary revision and administration

On acquisition of any land or interests in land under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

revise the boundary of the Park to include the acquired land or interests in land; and

(2)

administer the acquired land or interests in land as part of the Park in accordance with applicable laws (including regulations).

(d)

Eminent domain or condemnation

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

Passed the Senate December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024.

Secretary