[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 89 (Wednesday, June 29, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H5369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION ACT

  (Mr. REHBERG asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I introduced the Private 
Property Protection Act, a companion bill to legislation in the Senate 
designed to correct the erroneous decision made by the Supreme Court on 
June 23. That decision redefined the Constitution's fifth amendment. 
That decision, Kelo v. City of New London, was a slap in the face of 
homeowners, small businesses, and, frankly, Americans.
  Ordinary private property owners stand to suffer from the corrupting 
influence this sweeping legislation will have because government 
officials, because government officials can aggressively use the powers 
of eminent domain purely for economic reasons.
  Our legislation establishes two important standards that must be met 
before government decides to exercise its power and take and transfer 
private property.
  The first standard is that eminent domain should only be used for 
public use, as guaranteed by the fifth amendment. The second is that 
this power should be reserved only for true public uses, not simply to 
provide private economic development so government can make more tax 
revenue.
  Let us stop the abuse of eminent domain before it happens. I urge the 
Members of this body to support this very necessary piece of 
legislation.

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