Political Quotes

“I had submitted two amendments for H.R. 1872, and so I want to clarify for my colleagues that I am only offering one of those amendments, the one that deals only with the question of takings under the fifth amendment. My amendment addresses a fundamental problem with H.R. 1872. As reported by the Committee on Commerce, the bill contains service restrictions which, when implemented, will constitute an unconstitutional taking of COMSAT's property, and so my amendment just very simply cures that problem. I know that the gentleman from Virginia, my good friend and chairman of the committee, contends these restrictions do not constitute a taking, but I must respectfully disagree. Quite frankly, if it does not constitute a taking, then this amendment is completely in order. Why not put it into the bill? Mr. Chairman, the United States induced private investors to fund COMSAT by offering the company an opportunity to earn a profit by helping to serve the communications needs of the United States and other countries. That is a quote. The United States also instructed COMSAT to sign the INTELSAT and Inmarsat operating agreements, which are binding on the parties. COMSAT's investments were made in reliance on existing law. The United States cannot take COMSAT's property by deliberately destroying its value without paying compensation. This is particularly true where, as here, the investments were compelled by Federal law.”