William Tauzin: “Today we begin a historic debate, one that I and many Members of this House have long awaited, the debate on private…”

“Today we begin a historic debate, one that I and many Members of this House have long awaited, the debate on private property rights. I want to remind the House that this debate started with Democrats. It was Democrats who put together the private property owners' bill of rights which has now been incorporated into the Republican contract. Democrats like the gentleman from Texas, Greg Laughlin, the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Hayes, and the gentleman from California, Mr. Condit, and the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Stenholm, and I together joined with our colleague, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Fields. We have tried for years to bring this issue to the floor of the House. Today that debate begins and we are delighted. Today we begin providing protections for every private property owner in America, guaranteed under the fifth amendment. We are not going to be debating big landowner rights. They can go to court today to enforce their rights. Today we enforce the rights of every small landowner in America to enjoy the same civil rights and liberties guaranteed under the fifth amendment. Today we give meaning and life to the fifth amendment protection that says, no private property shall be taken by this Government, by regulation or otherwise, without just compensation.”