During remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) criticized his Democratic colleagues for blocking a bill about the territorial boundaries of Big Bend National Park.
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00:00Senator from Texas is recognized.
00:02Mr. President, I want to start by thanking my friend from Utah, Senator Lee, the Chairman
00:09of the Committee of Jurisdiction, for hosting this unanimous consent request today to highlight
00:15the importance of many pieces of legislation, but including the Big Bend National Park Boundary
00:22Adjustment Act.
00:24It's no secret that Texas is home to a lot of wide-open spaces, beautiful terrain and
00:30vibrant wildlife, and Big Bend is a national treasure.
00:36This legislation expands and preserves the park's heritage, natural resources, and jaw-dropping
00:43scenery while safeguarding private property rights.
00:48It authorizes the National Park Service to acquire approximately 6,100 additional acres
00:55adjacent to Terralingua Creek along the western boundary of the park.
01:01And it clarifies that the Park Service may only acquire land through donation or exchange not
01:08through eminent domain.
01:11I'm disappointed that our colleagues across the aisle have objected to this.
01:17This legislation is critical to Texans and all Americans being able to continue to enjoy
01:22our big, beautiful national parks, including Big Bend.
01:28And I thank my colleague from Utah for making the unanimous consent request, but I'm disappointed
01:34that even on something as much of a no-brainer as something like this, our Democratic colleagues
01:40can't resist making partisan objections.