[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       DEBATE ON PROPERTY RIGHTS

  (Mr. TAUZIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Speaker, today we begin a historic debate, one that I 
and many Members of this House have long awaited, the debate on private 
property rights.
  I want to remind the House that this debate started with Democrats. 
It was Democrats who put together the private property owners' bill of 
rights which has now been incorporated into the Republican contract. 
Democrats like the gentleman from Texas, Greg Laughlin, the gentleman 
from Louisiana, Mr. Hayes, and the gentleman from California, Mr. 
Condit,  and the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Stenholm, and I together 
joined with our colleague, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Fields. We 
have tried for years to bring this issue to the floor of the House.
  Today that debate begins and we are delighted. Today we begin 
providing protections for every private property owner in America, 
guaranteed under the fifth amendment. We are not going to be debating 
big landowner rights. They can go to court today to enforce their 
rights. Today we enforce the rights of every small landowner in America 
to enjoy the same civil rights and liberties guaranteed under the fifth 
amendment. Today we give meaning and life to the fifth amendment 
protection that says, no private property shall be taken by this 
Government, by regulation or otherwise, without just compensation.


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