Congress must take action now
iThe Land Trust Alliance and our 1,000 member land trusts welcome the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's thorough and revealing report released today on abuse of the federal conservation tax incentive.
The bipartisan investigation that yielded this report, led by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), concluded the ongoing abuse is egregious and must end. The report also makes clear in the starkest terms why Congress must take action now.
For too long and at a terrible cost to taxpayers, bad actors have disguised abusive tax shelters as legitimate conservation donations. These actors must be stopped.
A solution is ready for Congress to pass. The bipartisan Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act (S. 170 / H.R. 1992) will safeguard taxpayers by stopping these bad actors from their profiteering, all while allowing conservation donations motivated by charity to continue unimpeded. This legislation is concise, sensible and ready for passage in the House and Senate.
On behalf of our member land trusts, I thank Sens. Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) along with Reps. Mike Thompson (D-California) and Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania) for championing this solution. The Land Trust Alliance joins the Appraisal Institute, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy and other leading appraisal and conservation organizations in urging Congress to end the outrageous abuse by passing the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act.
But we can't do it without your help. Please, take a few moments to write a letter or op-ed for your local newspaper. Such pieces have outsized influence on Capitol Hill and can help increase momentum for this important legislation. (This document offers robust guidance to assist and inspire you.)
Together, we have a real opportunity to pass the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act. The time to act is now.
Andrew Bowman is president and CEO of the Land Trust Alliance.