Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

This is the beginning of what will hopefully be a very fruitful investigation into a--that may result in a unified, intelligent, comprehensive freight policy for this country.

The gas tax, the gasoline tax, which has been the--or the diesel fuel tax, which has been the primary source of financing for infrastructure, has been--is a wasting asset.

freight projects face significant barriers in securing funding under Federal-aid Highway Programs.

We have to figure out how to cut down on the red tape and on the delays in implementing projects.

the penalties in this bill are so draconian and misguided that even a government that never took a prohibited action would be hobbled financially by it.

The point is, the existence of this statute on the books would put a cloud, like a cloud of title, like a cloud on title, here being a cloud on future revenue.

I continue to believe that this bill is the wrong approach to a very serious issue.

Since the Kelo decision, there have been new developments that call into question whether Congress should even act at this point.

But this is very important. This is how it would normally operate.

I think we owe it to the many property owners who have been subject to eminent domain by this foreign corporation to consider whether that use of the takings power is appropriate.

I think it is a very misguided clause. I think all it will do is enable states to be sued.