To adjust the boundary of Big Bend National Park in the State of Texas, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill authorizes the expansion of Big Bend National Park in Texas by approximately 6,100 acres. The Secretary of the Interior may acquire the land through donation, purchase from willing sellers, or exchange - but explicitly prohibits the use of eminent domain.
Who Benefits and How
Big Bend National Park and visitors benefit from expanded park boundaries and protected lands. Landowners in the target area may benefit from sale opportunities if they wish to sell. Conservation interests gain additional protected federal lands.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal taxpayers/NPS bear acquisition costs for purchased lands. Landowners who don't want to sell are protected by the explicit ban on eminent domain.
Key Provisions
- Authorizes acquisition of ~6,100 acres adjacent to Big Bend National Park
- Limits acquisition to donation, willing-seller purchase, or exchange only
- Explicitly prohibits eminent domain or condemnation
- Acquired land becomes part of the National Park System
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 6,100 acres to expand Big Bend National Park through voluntary means only (no eminent domain).
Who Benefits
- National Park System
- Conservation interests
- Willing sellers
Who Bears Costs
- Federal taxpayers (acquisition costs)
Key Policy Areas
Public Lands, National Parks, Land Acquisition
Primary Purpose
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 6,100 acres to expand Big Bend National Park through voluntary means only (no eminent domain).
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Expand national park through voluntary acquisitions while protecting property rights with eminent domain ban"
Sponsors
John Cornyn
R-TX | Primary Sponsor
Legislative Progress
Passed SenateReported by Mr. Manchin, without amendment
Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Luján) introduced the following …
Passed Senate (inferred from es version)
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Big Bend National Park established under the Act of June 20, 1935
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology