Brady Calls for End to U.N. Land Grab in U.S.

Congressman Kevin Brady joined a majority of his colleagues in the House of Representatives yesterday to support a measure that would reassert America’s power over lands belonging to the United States. H.R. 901, the Land Sovereignty Protection Act, was drafted in response to the designation of U.S. lands as "World Heritage Sites" and "Biosphere Reserves" by the United Nations through its Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These designations were made without the approval or consultation of Congress. Texas has two biosphere reserves containing nearly 750,000 acres.

The Land Sovereignty Protection Act, cosponsored by Brady, requires specific approval of Congress before any area of land within the United States is made part of a World Heritage Site. It also prohibits nomination of any new biosphere reserves in the United States and requires the termination of existing biosphere reserves unless authorized by the end of the year 2000. Currently, the Department of Interior is only required to notify Congress if it nominates a UNESCO site in the United States.

"This bill simply says that the American people, through its Congress, should have a say in what happens to our lands and our states," said Brady. "America’s lands ultimately belong to America and not to the world. Private lands belong to private property owners and not the United Nations. It’s time to protect our lands and our rights by giving us a voice, through Congress, on how these lands are used."

As a member of the Resources Committee, Brady actively participated in hearings on H.R. 901 and heard testimony from several local government leaders who claimed they were never consulted about the designation of biosphere reserves in their areas. Brady also noted that several state legislatures have passed resolutions opposing the biosphere reserves that have already been created. "The actions by the states alone raises a real doubt about the validity of the lands already designated and underscores the need for Congress to have a say."

The House approved the Land Sovereignty Protection Act on a bipartisan basis by a vote of 236 to 191.