[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 40 (Friday, March 3, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                        PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS

  (Mr. COOLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, today we will again address private property 
rights. And there is only one issue: whether or not we will obey the 
fifth amendment.
  For those who haven't read their constitution lately, I would like to 
quote these 12 profound words.
  The final clause of the fifth amendment states the following: ``* * * 
nor shall private property be taken for public use without just 
compensation.''
  This is a simple statement that requires little explanation. Just as 
a thief need not destroy the property he steals to be guilty, neither 
must the Government necessarily require a landowner to vacate his 
property for it to be taken for public use.
  Mr. Speaker, without these 12 words, we would be little better than a 
socialistic society.
  I, personally, subscribe to the axiom that if a man has done nothing 
wrong he has nothing to fear. Unfortunately, many law abiding citizens 
have a great deal to fear from the Federal Government.
  Why? Because our environmental agencies create laws and regulations 
that destroy the value of their property.
  In my district, millions of acres of timber lie unharvested because 
the government exercised its authority to save the spotted owl.
  The Government has the authority to take my land. It also has the 
authority to save owls, but it does not have the right to do so without 
justly compensating you or me for it.
  Mr. Speaker, let's reaffirm the fifth amendment, protect private 
property rights, and pass H.R. 925.

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