[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5411]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      FAMILY FARM PRESERVATION ACT

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, America has some of the most beautiful 
farmland in the world. But rapidly expanding urban sprawl is 
threatening this cherished natural resource every day. In fact, since 
1960, approximately 1.5 million acres of American farmland have been 
converted to nonagricultural uses each year.
  This week, I will introduce legislation aimed at slowing this trend 
that threatens family farms and our cherished open spaces. The Family 
Farm Preservation Act would encourage farmers to continue farming their 
land by exempting them from capital gains taxes when they sell their 
land development rights to qualified groups committed to conservation. 
Without protection from this significant tax burden, too many farmers 
are being forced to sell their land to developers, and that means fewer 
family farms and ever-shrinking open spaces.
  By giving farmers an incentive to continue farming their land, this 
bill helps preserve the cherished way of life while protecting 
beautiful American landscapes at the same time. I hope all my 
colleagues will support the Family Farm Preservation Act.

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