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As this
difficult week comes to an end, my thoughts and prayers remain with the
communities of Boston and West, Texas as well as the families of those who have
lost loved ones. Protecting Private Property Rights Private ownership of property is vital to our freedom and our prosperity and is one of the most fundamental principles embedded in our Constitution. The Founders realized the importance of property rights by enshrining these protections throughout the Constitution, including in the Fifth Amendment, which provides that “private property” shall not “be taken for public use without just compensation.” This clause created two conditions to the government taking private property: that the use of the property is for the public and that the government gives the property owner just compensation. 
Private property rights should be protected. Click HERE
to watch Congressman Goodlatte speak in support of these
rights.
The Supreme
Court’s 5-4 decision in Kelo v. City of New London was a step in the
opposite direction. This controversial ruling expanded the ability of State and
local governments to exercise eminent domain powers to seize property under the
guise of economic development when the public use is as incidental as generating
tax revenues or creating jobs. In the wake of this decision, State and local
governments can use eminent domain powers to take the property of any individual
for nearly any reason. For these reasons, it is important that Congress finally act. This week, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice held a hearing on the Private Property Rights Protection Act. I was honored to welcome Susette Kelo as a witness at this hearing and appreciate her courage in taking her case all the way to the Supreme Court and helping to highlight the plight that many property owners face. No one should have to live in fear of the government snatching up their home, farm, or business, and the Private Property Rights Protection Act will help to create incentives to ensure that these abuses do not occur in the future. Our constitutional rights as Americans must be steadfastly guarded. Deadline Next Week! Entries for the 2013 Congressional Art Competition are due on Wednesday, April 24th. All high school students who reside in the Sixth Congressional District are eligible to compete. For the complete guidelines and information on how to submit artwork, please click HERE.
This message was generated from an unattended
mailbox. Should you have further questions, please visit the “Contact
Bob” section of my website or call my office at (202)
225-5431.
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| WASHINGTON, DC
OFFICE 2309 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5431 Fax: (202) 225-9681 HARRISONBURG OFFICE 70 North Mason Street Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Phone: (540) 432-2391 Fax: (540) 432-6593 |
LYNCHBURG
OFFICE 916 Main Street Suite 300 Lynchburg, VA 24504 Phone: (434) 845-8306 Fax: (434) 845-8245 ROANOKE OFFICE 10 Franklin Road SE Suite 540 Roanoke, VA 24011 Phone: (540) 857-2672 Fax: (540) 857-2675 |
STAUNTON
OFFICE 117 South Lewis Street Suite 215 Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 885-3861 Fax: (540) 885-3930 |
VISIT
CONGRESSMAN BOB GOODLATTE'S WEBSITE |
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