[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PRESERVE OUR NATION'S FARMLAND

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                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 1997

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the family farms of Lancaster and Chester 
Counties are national treasures. Sadly, pristine farmland which has 
been operated by families in the 16th District of Pennsylvania for 
generations is at risk due to the Federal estate tax. Many family farms 
in southeast Pennsylvania and across this National are sold in an 
effort to pay off huge estates taxes, and others are sold to developers 
in fear of the impending estate tax. Thanks to excessive taxation, our 
Nation's farms are slowly being eliminated.
  That is why I am introducing the Farm Preservation Act today. This 
bill will protect our farmland by eliminating estate taxes on a farm 
which has a covenant ensuring that the land will remain a farm. By 
eliminating the estate tax on farms, families can be rest assured that 
their life's work will not be abandoned once the farm is left to a 
family member who will continue the farming tradition. Further, this 
bill waives all capital gains taxes on the sale of a farm which will be 
used only as farmland. This provision provides a real incentive for 
people who must sell their farm to ensure that it remains in 
agricultural production in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, in order to preserve our precious farmland, we need to 
end the tax practices which destroy them. We must also provide 
incentives for people to keep farmland undeveloped. The Farm 
Preservation Act accomplishes these important goals. As we consider 
another tax relief bill in 1998, I urge Members to join me in 
protecting our Nation's farmland and provide real opportunities to keep 
family farmers in business.

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