One step forward in the U.S. Senate

It wasn’t the action we wanted, but it’s good news nonetheless.

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday passed a large, complex tax bill containing a two-year extension of the powerful landowner incentives that have helped conserve more than two million acres in the past 10 years. While this fell short of the permanent extension the Alliance and land trusts have long sought, this action is a good indicator of the committee’s general support for conservation incentives.

In fact, the hearing was convened exclusively to address short-term extensions. That didn’t stop lawmakers from offering — and then withdrawing — amendments for the sole purpose of demonstrating their support for permanence in the future. Sen. Dean Heller, sponsor of a free-standing bill to make the conservation incentive permanent, offered it as an amendment in partnership with Sens. Debbie Stabenow, Chuck Schumer, Johnny Isakson, Michael Bennet, Pat Roberts and Rob Portman. A second amendment from Sens. John Thune, Roberts and Portman also sought permanence for the conservation incentive.

“These are popular provisions that Congress is going to extend year after year,” Thune said. “I think it is really important that we debate permanent tax law that provides a certainty, the predictability and the reliability in policy that people around the country need.”

Sen. Orrin Hatch, the committee’s chairman and a past cosponsor of the easement incentives, also noted his intent to make certain provisions permanent later this year. The Alliance will be there to encourage him and all members of Congress to take the action we want.

Join us as we maintain our momentum and advance our advocacy! If your senator has not yet cosponsored the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2015, please email me so we can work together to make that happen.