Rep. Charles Canady (R-FL), chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, sponsored H.R. 925, which redefines the legal concept of private property rights or "takings." Currently, the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution guarantees that "Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation." The government, however, can reasonably regulate activities that have adverse impacts on communities, such as prohibiting the filling of wetlands to prevent flooding. Under H.R. 925, landowners who claim that any portions of their lands were reduced in value by 20 percent would be entitled to compensation, or if the government cannot afford to pay, the landowner could violate the law. The bill would require agencies to develop a new layer of bureaucracy to handle the claims and challenges. H.R. 925 would require the government to use funds that otherwise would go to the appropriate environmental agency to go instead to pay property owners to obey the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, or other environmental statutes.

On March 3, 1995 the House approved H R. 925, 277 - 148. NO is the pro-environment vote.