Rick Hill: “If someone loaded a gun and handed it to somebody and then pointed that person at a target, the person providing the gun…”

“If someone loaded a gun and handed it to somebody and then pointed that person at a target, the person providing the gun could not plead innocent when the other individual pulled the trigger. But that is what the authors of this bill are suggesting, that they are innocent of any condemnation because they are not the ones that are going to pull the trigger. Now, it is true that language in this bill that directed the Secretary to establish a process for condemnation has been removed, and I offered an amendment to do that in the committee. And I applaud the chairman for having done that. However, if we go to page 33, subparagraph (iv), it directs the Secretary to identify properties that are proposed to be acquired from willing sellers and to specify a need for which adverse condemnation is being requested. That is what this bill does, it tells the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture to go out and find property that they want to condemn and then provide a list to the Congress so the Congress can act on it. Now, this bill leaves open two loopholes; one, that loophole, but the second loophole is the local government loophole.”