Virginia Foxx: “Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman Sensenbrenner are to be applauded for the excellent, prompt work they have done on this…”

“Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman Sensenbrenner are to be applauded for the excellent, prompt work they have done on this outstanding bill. Fundamentally, this bill is truly one of the most important pieces of legislation that this Congress has or will consider. The Supreme Court's eminent domain decision contradicts the very ideals of liberty and property rights that have for 229 years defined the greatest government on earth. Our forefathers put their lives on the line and took up arms to obtain the liberties and independence we enjoy. They left their wives and families to shed blood so their children would not be subject to British taxation, invasion of privacy and wrongful seizures of property. The Framers of our Constitution clearly defined the rights to speak and worship freely, bear arms and hold personal property when they crafted the greatest form of government the world has ever known. Property rights are a hallmark of what separates America from nations whose citizens live in fear of their own government. In fact, property rights and the opportunity for homeownership are principal reasons that citizens come from other nations desperately to America. However, as a result of the atrocious decision made by the Supreme Court, those exact rights became jeopardized. As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of our constituents.…”