Number: RL33208
Title: Condemnation of Private Property for Economic Development: Legal Comments on the House-Passed Bill (H.R. 4128) and Bond Amendment
Authors: Robert Meltz, American Law Division 
Abstract: The main topic of this report is the principal "Kelo bill" in Congress at this time, H.R. 4128, the Private Property Protection Act of 2005. H.R. 4128 hews to the prevalent congressional approach to Kelo: imposing a condemnation-restricting condition on the grant of federal money. It was originally introduced as H.R. 3135 by Representative Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, one week after the Kelo decision. It was reported in greatly expanded form as H.R. 4128 and passed the House 376-38 on November 3, 2005. This report also examines a bill amendment introduced by Senator Bond, like H.R. 4128 a federal-money-restricting provision. The Bond Amendment was added on the Senate floor to H.R. 3058, the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2006. H.R. 3058 was enacted November 30, 2005, as P.L. 109-115, with the Bond Amendment as Section 726.
Pages: 15
Date: January 20, 2006