Congressman Tim Walberg has introduced legislation intended to reform the nation’s civil asset forfeiture laws.

Walberg says the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act, or the FAIR Act, will raise the level of proof necessary for the federal government to seize property.

“There are countless stories from across the country of innocent Americans having their property unjustly seized due to abuses within the civil asset forfeiture process,” Walberg said.

The FAIR Act would also reform the IRS structuring statute to protect small business owners and increase transparency and congressional oversight of the forfeiture process.

“This critical and bipartisan legislation will shift the presumption of innocence back to the American people to ensure that innocent Americans will not have their property unjustly taken.”

Walberg was joined by Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin in introducing the legislation last week.

Walberg says the bill also has the support of the Institute for Justice.