The House narrowly passed a $1.15 trillion defense bill Monday containing a controversial amendment that authorizes the Trump administration to seize California-owned land for a key oil pipeline — sending Democrats into an uproar.
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), was folded into the National Defense Authorization Act and squeaked through in a razor-thin 216-212 vote.
Under the Hunt Amendment, the Army secretary is empowered to acquire permanent easements along the Santa Ynez Pipeline System through “purchase, donation, exchange, or condemnation” — including property owned by the state of California and its agencies.
The measure states: “The Secretary of the Army is authorized to acquire, by purchase, donation, exchange, or condemnation, on behalf of the United States, such permanent easements over all lands along the route of the Santa Ynez Pipeline System, including all lands owned or otherwise held by the State of California or any agency, department, or instrumentality thereof.”
The amendment further authorizes the federal government to use eminent domain whenever the Defense secretary determines it’s needed to “ensure continuous pipeline transportation of crude oil from the Santa Ynez Unit to domestic refineries supplying Department of Defense installations in the State of California.”
California Democrats blasted the move, with Rep. Salud Carbajal arguing the measure “is about giving Big Oil special treatment at the expense of California.”
The amendment comes after Texas-based Sable Offshore reportedly asked the Trump Administration to use eminent domain to seize properties on their behalf.
Sable Offshore urged the US Department of Energy to seize properties around its pipeline in California as part of a proposed West Coast Strategic Petroleum Reserve, according to a leaked letter reported by Politico Pro on June 2.
Despite seven House Republican defections, the vote is a win for President Trump and for the House GOP.
The bill will now head over to the Senate, where it faces steep opposition from Democrats who previously blocked a defense measure in protest of the Iran War.
