Ralph Hall: “I rise in support of the private property owners and in support of H.R. 1534. Mr. Chairman, the fifth amendment to the…”

“I rise in support of the private property owners and in support of H.R. 1534. Mr. Chairman, the fifth amendment to the Constitution guarantees certain private property rights and protections that have been subject to various interpretations by the courts over the years, often at great expense and a great waste of time to private property owners. For many years the Congress has attempted to secure the rights of private property owners and to clarify the intent of the fifth amendment. In the 104th Congress the House passed legislation that would have curtailed judicial interpretation of the takings clause in the amendment and would have established a formula for the Federal Government to compensate private property owners from Federal agencies limited use of their property. Unfortunately, the Senate did not act on the bill, and private property disputes were left to the discretion of the courts. However, today we will try again to provide some long-sought relief for private property owners through a bill, H.R. 1534, that would expedite disputes between private property owners and Federal agencies in Federal court.”