[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12218]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             H.R. 4719, THE AMERICA GIVES MORE ACT OF 2014

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2014

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4719, the 
America Gives More Act of 2014, and in particular in support of the 
provision that would make the current tax deduction for the 
contribution of conservation easements permanent. As a cosponsor of 
similar legislation, I am pleased to see this provision included in the 
bill. In my home state of Idaho, I have repeatedly seen the positive 
impact of conservation easements. One of my favorite stretches of river 
in Idaho is the South Fork of the Snake, near Idaho Falls, where I 
live. It is a great place to fish, watch bald eagles, or enjoy the 
beauty of nature without interruption, and this is due in large part to 
the fact that conservation easements protect the land on the river from 
development and created wonderful areas for recreation.
  More importantly, however, conservation easements have a significant 
benefit to our economy in Idaho. Farming and ranching have long been a 
way of life in my state, but increasingly what was once vast swaths of 
ranchland is being broken up into smaller parcels for development. The 
conservation easement tax incentive gives many farmers and ranchers the 
option to put some of their land into conservation easements, 
protecting habitat and scenic landscapes, instead of selling to 
developers. In addition, easements that allow for continued 
agricultural use provide certainty for those who want to keep ranching 
and farming.
  I am pleased that this provision was included in the bill, and I look 
forward to seeing it benefit willing landowners who are working 
together with land management agencies to preserve the open spaces in 
Idaho.

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