H.R. 1234 — Introduced in House

I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1234 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 14, 2019Mr. Vela (for himself and Mr. Thompson of Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to prohibit seizing private land for a border wall, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preventing the Taking of Americans’ Land to Build Trump’s Wall Act. 2. Prohibitions on seizing private land for a border wall (a) In general Subtitle H of title VIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 890B. Limitation on seizing private land for a border wall system (a) In general Notwithstanding subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (c)(1), and (d)(1) of section 3114 of title 40, United States Code, or any other provision of law, until such time as the Secretary submits to Congress a certification that each property owner whose property the United States Government seeks to condemn or acquire for the purpose of constructing or installing additional physical barriers or roads between ports of entry along the land border with Mexico has received payment that each such property owner accepts as just compensation as established by judgment at the conclusion of the judicial process under section 3113 of such title, the following prohibitions shall apply with respect to each such property owner and the property of such property owner: (1) The Government may not take possession of or title to the property of such property owner. (2) The Government may not alter in any way the property of such property owner. (b) Definition In this section, the term property means land, including an estate or interest in land, including an easement or right of way in land. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 890A the following new item: Sec. 890B. Limitation on seizing private land for a border wall system. .