{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pearce.house.gov/press-release/pearce-applauds-court%E2%80%99s-decision-uphold-water-rights", "PEARCE APPLAUDS COURTS DECISION TO UPHOLD WATER RIGHTS", "2017-11-07", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "NM", "Steve Pearce", "P000588", "pearce.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. (November 7, 2017)\u00a0Congressman Steve Pearce has been working with the Goss Family Ranch SGA for over a decade to resolve a water rights battle between the Goss\u2019s and the federal government. The Forest Service, following direction from the Federal Wildlife Service (FWS), took away the Goss\u2019s right to property they owned, which included a stream that was crucial to the success of their business and ongoing operation. The federal government\u2019s overreach in this case not only hindered the Constitutional rights of American citizens, but cut into rural jobs and the local economy in Otero County, NM.\u00a0\nThe Goss family filed a lawsuit that ensued for over 20 years. Rep. Pearce\u2019s office worked since 2003 with the Goss family, the Forest Service, and the FWS to ensure that the Goss\u2019s were able to access the water to continue running their cattle through the area. The culmination of this work was an agreement facilitated through Rep. Pearce\u2019s office last year, which is still currently in place this year.\u00a0\nPrevious courts ruled the Forest Service did not have the right to the Goss\u2019s property. Rather than upholding the Constitution, the Goss family was forced to fight for their rights in court, putting them in financial peril and hindering the full operation of their ranch. On Friday, November 3, 2017, Chief Judge Braden of the United States Court of Federal Claims issued a decision in the Goss\u2019s favor, claiming the Forest Services\u2019 actions constituted takings under U.S. law and violated the right to beneficial use of stock water sources under New Mexico law.\nThe Constitution is meant to protect the small people from an oversized government. In this case, Judge Braden ruled the Federal Services\u2019 actions violated the Fifth Amendment\u2019s taking clause, which states \u201cprivate property [shall not] be taken for public use without just compensation.\u201d\nRep. Pearce stated, \u201cthis decision has been a long time coming. I have been working on this issue since 2004, when Jimmy and Frances Goss were still with us leading the fight for their rights and their ranch. They wore their life out fighting the federal government. Now, I\u2019m pleased to see that justice is served for the Goss family and ranch. As a rural state, we rely on the production and success of small, locally owned businesses. It is a shame that the federal government impeded on the operations of one of the largest ranching and cattle operations in Arizona and New Mexico. Rather than having the freedom to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the Goss family was tied up for over 20 years in court, paying out-of-pocket to afford the battle. Government employees need to remember that they must act within the law and with complete respect for our individual liberties. I thank the Goss family and entire ranching community for staying in this fight. I\u2019ll continue standing up for the Constitution and working to ensure New Mexicans\u2019 rights are preserved and upheld.\u201d\nTo read the full opinion by Judge Braden, click\u00a0here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pearce.house.gov/press-release/pearce-applauds-court%E2%80%99s-decision-uphold-water-rights"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.703415997326374, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}