2011S0684-1 03/11/11
By: Lucio S.C.R. No. 33
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The United States government has erected a border
wall through urban and rural areas along the Rio Grande; the wall
cuts through the property of local residents, causing
inconvenience, hardship, and reduced productivity; and
WHEREAS, The border wall also disrupts natural habitats and
degrades the local environment, which has an adverse effect on the
quality of life of residents, particularly of residents who live
between the river and the wall; construction crews contributed to
this degradation by bulldozing orchards, draining lakes, and
grading over existing driveways and roads; and
WHEREAS, The border wall divides land granted by the King of
Spain to the families of landowners before the founding of the
United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Many local businesses depend on customers who live
near the river, and the border wall reduces the ability of customers
located between the river and the wall to reach these businesses,
which has an adverse effect on the local economy, especially in
Brownsville and nearby areas; and
WHEREAS, In and around Brownsville, the border wall cuts
through roads, backyards, agricultural fields, citrus groves, and
pastures for more than 21 miles; narrow gaps allow back-and-forth
access for vehicles and pedestrians, but the gaps are as much as a
mile apart; and
WHEREAS, Texas has a long history of protecting private
property rights, including the principle of full compensation for
property taken through eminent domain; the issue of property rights
and compensation for diminished access to one's own property has
been the subject of early legislative action during the 82nd
Legislature; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to offer just
compensation to landowners negatively affected by the erection of
the border wall, including compensation for the diminished value of
and access to their property and for easements over their property;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the United States Congress be respectfully
urged to consider removal of the border wall in places where the
border is already adequately guarded by the United States Border
Patrol agents of the United States Customs and Border Protection
Agency and other law enforcement agents; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the
senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the
Texas delegation to the Congress with the request that this
resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a
memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.