POE: SELL EXCESS AND UNUSED FEDERAL LAND TO FUND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 23, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — This week, Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced H.R. 1931 the American Land Act. This bill would require the Bureau of Land Management and the National Forest System to open up about 1/3 of its land over five years for sale to the American people. The federal government currently owns 27% of the total land in the United States. This land is larger than the countries of France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Italy, United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium put together. The proceeds from the sales–potentially billions–would be directly deposited into the Highway Trust Fund, making an investment in our transportation infrastructure.

“It is time for the federal government to let Americans own American land. The government cannot afford its massive estate; we need to give up some of our assets to pay for desperately needed infrastructure projects”, said Poe. “Allowing Americans to buy American land would provide a way to generate new revenue without new taxes, create new jobs and stimulate economic growth. Transferring ownership of natural resources to the public would also be a more efficient way to utilize our natural assets. This is common sense.”

The bill does not authorize the sale of land owned by the National Park Service or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.