[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION ACT

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1534, the Private 
Property Rights Implementation Act. Allowing property owners their day 
in court to defend their constitutional rights should be an easy vote. 
Why should property owners face enormously expensive hurdles in 
attempting to defend their Federal rights in court?
  Some opponents of the bill are now standing as defenders of 
federalism and local decisionmaking. I hope their faith in State and 
local officials and their ability to make responsible decisions carries 
over to future discussions about block granting various Federal 
programs.
  The fact is that H.R. 1534 does not impose any new limit on the 
ability of local governments to make decisions affecting zoning or any 
other land use controls. Those limits are imposed by the Constitution, 
not H.R. 1534. H.R. 1534 simply allows an individual who feels their 
fifth amendment rights have been violated the opportunity to have the 
facts of their case heard without fighting bureaucratic hurdles for 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 1534.

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