House Republicans back Homeland Security powers in border parks

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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/me-border-parks-20120419,0,7029508.story


Hikers enjoy a meal in Joshua Tree National Park. The park is one of 54 within 100 miles of the borders with Mexico and Canada where the Department of Homeland Security would have increased power under legislation in the House. (Rick Loomis, Los Angeles Times / April 19, 2012)

House Republicans are backing legislation in Congress to give the Department of Homeland Security control of more than 50 national parks and forests within 100 miles of the U.S. borders.

The legislation involves a sweep of land along the frontier with Canada and Mexico, but exempts state land, private property and federal holdings used for mining, livestock grazing and timber harvesting. The new authority would carve through 54 national parks, including Joshua Tree, Saguaro, Acadia and Glacier.

The National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act, sponsored by conservative Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), would give Border Patrol and Customs agents and other federal officials the right to suspend any federal law on land managed by the departments of Interior and Agriculture. It would give Homeland Security the right to conduct any activity or construct any facility required to secure the border.

Although stalled in the House and with little hope in the Democratic-controlled Senate, the legislation demonstrates the intentions of Republicans as the November elections approach.