No FED in West Texas Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4412
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-08T18:37:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill aims to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) from putting into effect a specific plan to protect or expand land at the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in West Texas.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: "No Federal Expansion Designation in West Texas Act" or "No FED in West Texas Act."
- Prohibition on Land Protection Plan: The Secretary of the Interior is barred from finalizing, implementing, administering, or enforcing the "Final Land Protection Plan & Environmental Assessment Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge" (published by USFWS in February 2023) or any substantially similar plan.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a statutory ban on a specific USFWS environmental assessment and land plan, overriding the agency's authority to proceed without congressional approval.
- No prior law is directly amended; this acts as a targeted restriction on executive branch actions related to this refuge.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Prevents the Department of the Interior and USFWS from advancing land protection efforts at Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, potentially halting acquisitions or designations of additional protected areas.
- Citizens: May benefit local West Texas residents, landowners, or ranchers concerned about federal land expansion limiting private use; could maintain status quo for economic activities like grazing or farming.
- International Relations: None apparent.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Secretary of the Interior and USFWS (directly restricted).
- Local Interests: West Texas communities, property owners, and businesses near Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge (potentially protected from expansion).
- Conservation Groups: Environmental organizations advocating for wildlife protection (adversely affected).
- Legislators: Senator Ted Cruz (sponsor) and supporters opposing federal land growth.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes congressional override of an agency plan via direct prohibition, reinforcing Congress's plenary power over federal lands under the Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 3).
- Constitutional: Aligns with federal authority to manage public lands but limits executive discretion.
- Political: Signals opposition to perceived federal overreach in land management, common in debates over Western/Texas land use; could set precedent for blocking similar agency plans through legislation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- No Federal Expansion Designation in West Texas Act — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (2 pages)