[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 33 (Thursday, February 27, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION ACT OF 2013

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                               speech of

                             HON. RUSH HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 2014

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, in 2005 I supported a similar version of this 
bill that was truly bipartisan and aimed at reversing a Supreme Court 
decision, Kelo v. City of New London. In that decision, the Court 
upheld the right of New London to take private property and transfer it 
to another private individual for the purpose of increasing the tax 
revenue of the city. The House passed that bill (H.R. 4128) by a vote 
of 376-38, but the Senate never took up H.R. 4128.
  Unfortunately, the version before us today goes much farther than the 
more narrowly tailored 2005 bill. H.R. 1944 would bar any form of 
eminent domain related to generating economic activity. Such a sweeping 
approach is contrary to the Constitution and to our history.
  The rights of property owners were so important to our nation's 
founders that they enshrined property rights in our Constitution. 
However, the Founders knew that towns and municipalities would need to 
look after the greater public good and occasionally acquire property 
with just compensation to the owners in order to use that property for 
public good. The power of eminent domain has enabled us to make many 
advances over the years. It was used to create the national railroad 
system, the interstate highway system, and make telephone, electric, 
sewer, and water lines available to all our communities. Eminent 
domain, when used properly, is a critical power of government that has 
benefited people in New Jersey and across America. This bill would 
eviscerate this power, and for that reason I cannot support this bill 
in its current form.

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