[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 23 (Monday, February 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S686-S687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BAUCUS (for himself and Mr. Tester):
  S. 339. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make 
permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation 
contributions; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Rural 
Heritage Conservation Extension Act.
  In the last few months, our nation has engaged in a discourse about 
responsibility. No one can deny that our job is to promote the 
protection of American interests and investment in our future. I am 
introducing this bill today, because we have a responsibility to 
protect one of our country's most precious resources: our land.
  When I visit with ranchers and farmers across my home state of 
Montana, it's clear to me they want to preserve open space on their 
land for their kids and grandkids. Together with Montana farmers and 
ranchers and the Montana Land Reliance, which is dedicated to 
protecting agricultural production, we've come up with a commonsense 
proposal. This is a plan we developed together based on teamwork and 
our common goal to leave our land in better shape than we found it for 
future generations.
  As we all know, we are losing precious agricultural and ranch lands 
at a record pace. But our soil is worth more more than just the 
nutritious foods and natural resources it produces. When we lose our 
land, we lose the natural habitat of our wildlife and open spaces for 
our communities. It is our job to protect the land for future 
generations and to support the farmers, ranchers and other landowners 
who rely on it to make a living.
  Many Montana farmers and ranchers are land rich, but cash poor. These 
landowners make a modest living off the land and, in this economy, need 
the right tools to move toward conservation.
  That is why Congress provides targeted income tax relief to small 
farmers and ranchers who wish make a charitable contribution of 
qualified conservation easements. This allows eligible farmers and 
ranchers to increase the deduction they can take for charitable 
contributions of qualified conservation easements. The provision allows 
farmers and ranchers to do this by increasing the current adjusted 
gross income limitations from 50 percent to 100 percent and extending 
the carryover period from five to 15 years. In the case of all 
landowners, the AGI limitation was raised from 30 percent to 50 
percent. This provision will expire at the end of this year. It is time 
to make this provision permanent--and that is what our Rural Heritage 
Conservation Extension Act will do.
  Conservation easements sometimes take years to work out. These tax 
breaks are meant to streamline the process and help those folks who 
struggle with cash flow but believe in the value of conserving our 
agricultural lands for future generations.
  Conversation easements continue to be an effective land management 
tool in Montana, and across the country. We currently have over two 
million acres covered by conservation easements. To some, that may seem 
like a

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large amount, but, in Montana, those easements are only 2.1 percent of 
the total State land area. Montana has begun to recognize the 
importance of using conservation easements to preserve our lands. I 
believe that now is the time for our state, and the entire country to 
do even more.
  It is time to say, ``We believe in the environment. We believe that 
landowners should be able to afford to choose conservation over 
development.'' Let us remove the uncertainty and build on the success 
of what we have already begun to do. Let's pass the Rural Heritage 
Conservation Extension Act.
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