Jim Sensenbrenner: “I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I want to state at the beginning that I deeply…”

“I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I want to state at the beginning that I deeply appreciate my cosponsor of this legislation, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters). This is a Sensenbrenner-Waters bill. You will never see another Sensenbrenner-Waters bill, and that is probably one of the best reasons to vote in favor of it. Yet, on the merits, I am pleased that the House of Representatives today is considering H.R. 1433, the Private Property Rights Protection Act. This legislation will prevent economic development from being used as a justification for exercising the power of eminent domain. I first introduced a version of this bill after the 2005 Supreme Court's ruling in Kelo v. City of New London. In this decision, the Court held 5 4 that ``economic development'' can be a ``public use'' under the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause, justifying the government's taking of private property and giving it to a private business for use in the interest of creating a more lucrative tax base. As a result of this ruling, the Federal Government's power of eminent domain has become almost limitless, providing citizens with few means to protect their property. Under the decision, farmers in my State of Wisconsin are particularly vulnerable. The fair market value of farmland is less than that of residential or commercial property, which means it doesn't generate as much property tax as homes or offices.…”