WASHINGTON, DC -- Today during debate on H.R. 925, the Private Property Protection Act, an Amendment sponsored by Congressman Collin Peterson (DFL-7th District), Congressman Billy Tauzin (D-LA) and several other members passed the House, with 89 Democrat votes, by a vote of 301-128.
Peterson said "The amendment limits the scope of the bill to laws that are responsible for 95 percent of the property rights problems."
Under the amendment, the compensation requirements apply only in the cases involving restrictions on property use imposed by an agency under the Clean Water Act 404 wetlands permitting programs; resource conservation provisions of the 85 Farm Bill, which includes swampbuster and sodbuster provisions; The Endangered Species Act; and water rights.
H.R. 925 allows arbitration when the use or value of a persons property is limited by 10 percent or more. The amendment sponsored by Peterson would also further require the Federal government to purchase the portion of property affected by an agency action, at fair market value, if the reduction in value exceeds 50 percent of a specified parcel at the owners discretion.
"If the government can restrict what you do on your land by 50 percent or more, you no longer have control or fully own your property.
"Overall, H.R. 925 will give land owners some sort of recourse when the use of their land is restricted by the federal government. "
Under the present system, only wealthy people and big corporations have the means to protect their property rights through the legal process. The average citizen does not have the money and should not have to combat federal agencies expansive power and resources. The purpose of the private property rights bill is to shift some of the power back to private property owners.
"Our founding fathers clearly recognized the need for the protection of property rights as they laid out the foundation of American democracy. The right to own property is one of the basic doctrines of the Constitution, and the Fifth Amendment does require that the government provide just compensation for property taken for public purposes."