Carter Joins Thornberry, Files Legal Brief in Lawsuit Between Red River Landowners and Federal Government

Press Release

Today, Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) joined Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX-) along with Texas Republican Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and 18 representatives in filing an amicus brief in the case of Aderholt et al. v. Bureau of Land Management et al. The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of landowners along the Red River by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, seeks to protect the landowners' property rights from claims by the federal government's Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

"The federal government has no business making claims on land owned by Texans along the border of the Red River," said Rep. Carter. "I support Texas property owners and the plaintiff in this lawsuit against the BLM which has clearly overstepped its authority under our laws."

The dispute began in December 2013 when BLM announced it was beginning the process to revise its Resource Management Plan for lands it manages. The agency says there are thousands of acres along the Red River that may be considered public domain. The 116-mile stretch of land spans Wilbarger, Wichita, and Clay counties. Because of the uncertainty and questions about BLM's claim, landowners are unable to sell, borrow against, or improve their land.

In December 2015, with Rep. Carter's support, the House passed the "Red River Private Property Protection Act," H.R. 2130, by a vote of 253-177. Sen. Cornyn has introduced similar legislation in the Senate.

Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Clay, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties and Clay County Sheriff Kenny Lemons. The State of Texas and the Texas General Land Office have each been granted motions to intervene in the lawsuit by a federal judge.

Rep. Thornberry filed the amicus brief on behalf of the supporters including Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and Reps. Kevin Brady, Michael Burgess, John Carter, Mike Conaway, John Culberson, Blake Farenthold, Bill Flores, Kay Granger, Louie Gohmert, Jeb Hensarling, Sam Johnson, Kenny Marchant, Michael McCaul, Randy Neugebauer, Ted Poe, John Ratcliffe, Pete Sessions, Randy Weber, and Roger Williams.

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