Paul Testifies Before Congress on Behalf of Matagorda Property Owners Washington, DC:  Congressman Ron Paul today testified before a congressional committee in support of legislation he introduced to help Matagorda Dunes property owners.  Paul’s bill will prevent the mistaken application of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CoBRA) to the Matagorda Dunes home sites area due to a mapping error made by federal officials.  Without the corrections made by Paul’s legislation, Matagorda Dunes property owners face severe land-use restrictions and loss of property value.

Matagorda County Judge Greg Westmoreland also testified on behalf of Paul’s legislation and the landowners of Matagorda Dunes.

“I want to thank the staff of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, for their efforts in helping to correct this error, and the local government officials and property owners who brought this problem to my attention,” Paul stated in his testimony.  “As you’ll hear today from Fish and Wildlife, more than some 18-acres of property have been placed in a CoBRA designated area in Matagorda County, Texas by mistake.  This has prohibited more than a dozen landowners from participating in state and federal programs in which all other landowners similarly situated may participate.  My bill would fix this error.  I mentioned the local governments and property owners and, in your next panel you will hear from the top elected official from Matagorda County… I ask that this legislation receive expeditious consideration so that these errors might be corrected prior to the next significant storm event occurring in Matagorda County.  These past couple years have seen particularly devastating storms hit this area.  Fortunately, even more destruction has not already occurred, but now we are pressed by time.”