Lynn A. Westmoreland: “Republicans are moving forward to protect one of the most foundational rights we cherish, the right to own private…”

“Republicans are moving forward to protect one of the most foundational rights we cherish, the right to own private property. One of our great former Presidents, John Adams, said: ``Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty.'' The first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court said: ``No power on Earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent.'' We have seen our Supreme Court rule that property can be taken from one private owner and given to another. Republicans in Congress are taking action to fix this problem with legislation we will consider today on the House floor. Government should not and must not have the authority to take property away from private landowners for the sole sake of giving it to another private landowner. Madam Speaker, I applaud the efforts of the majority in bringing forward this important legislation and look forward to supporting it on the floor this afternoon. ____________________”