After a June 23 U.S. Supreme Court ruling which allows federal, state and local governments to take private property for private economic development projects in the name of eminent domain, a group of lawmakers have questioned this decision and one of the strongest challengers Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-TX) has introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3405 that will penalize eminent domain abuses.
The Strengthening the Ownership of Private Property (STOPP) Act, H.R. 3405, will prevent governments from taking property from one private party and giving it to another private party. When abuses occur, the STOPP Act will prevent localities and states from receiving federal economic funding on ALL economic development projects, not just those upon which abuses occur. Furthermore, the legislation will make state and local governments subject to the Uniform Relocation Act, which provides fair market value and moving expenses for citizens relocated by abuses.
The National Grange policy supports legislation that requires eminent domain to be used only for public purposes, such as rights of way for transportation and utilities.
Action Needed
Please send a postcard to your U.S. Representative to ask to co-sponsor H.R. 3405.
Please copy or rephrase the sample message below on your own hand-written post card or please click Postcard Front | Postcard Back to download a postcard and print it on #8387 postcard sheet.
| Dear Rep. ____________:
I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor the Strengthening the Ownership of Private Property (STOPP) Act, H.R. 3405 to punish governments for taking private property and selling it to private developers. As a member of the nation’s oldest family farmers advocacy organization, National Grange, I urge you to know our farms of many generations are now in jeopardy of being taken for private gain. Please help stop abuses of eminent domain and protect the American dream of owning our own home and business.
Sincerely,
Name: __________________________
Grange and Number: __________________________
|
See also:
The U.S. Supreme Court's Eminent Domain Decision Shocks Nation
Kelo Speaks At Grange Meeting
If you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst Chil-Sook Hwang by e-mail: chwang@nationalgrange.org by fax: 202-347-1091 or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109.
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Thank you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program. |
