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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 27, 2013 09:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Rob W. Kauffman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Agenda 21 Legislation |
| Our nation’s founders recognized that private property is a basis for both freedom and prosperity. Additionally, President Lincoln clearly demonstrated his understanding of the benefits of private property ownership to society when he said, “Property is the fruit of labor—property is desirable—is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise.” The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects property rights through the Just Compensation Clause, which states, ‘‘…nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.’’ Likewise, the Pennsylvania Constitution establishes the rights of persons to acquire, possess and protect property in Article I, section 1. Article I, section 10 establishes that private property may not be taken or applied to public use without just compensation. The United Nations Agenda 21 has a plan for promoting sustainable development throughout the world, which was developed and adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. There is growing concern that Agenda 21’s recommended objectives and activities relating to sustainable development may threaten the private property rights of Pennsylvanians. One of the objectives of Agenda 21 is to “facilitate the allocation of land to uses that provide the greatest sustainable benefits.” Will private property rights be protected by those who are charged with implementing Agenda 21? I am concerned that these rights may be in jeopardy, given that Agenda 21 declares that those who implement the plan should – not must -- take private property rights into consideration. That is why I plan to introduce legislation that will prohibit the Commonwealth and local governments from adopting and implementing policies or plans in furtherance of any objectives or activities recommended in Agenda 21 that violate the Pennsylvania Constitution or U.S. Constitution. Furthermore, my proposal will preclude state and local government entities from receiving money from, contracting with or providing money to non-governmental organizations in order to advance objectives or activities recommended in Agenda 21. |
Introduced as HB1206