Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) will soon introduce legislation that would provide tax incentives for landowners who help endangered species. Thompson’s bill is similar to one filed last week by five Senate members of the Caucus, S.700.

"Americans have always loved the great outdoors for our country's diversity of fish and wildlife," said Thompson. "We should do everything we can to provide incentives to landowners to help recover our endangered and threatened species. This bill will help the government create positive partnerships with landowners to implement effective recovery plans nationwide." Thirty-seven hunting and fishing organizations have already gone on record as supporting the anticipated bill.

Rep. Thompson is also partnering with Caucus member Representative Dave Camp (R-MI) to introduce companion legislation to a conservation easement tax break bill already being considered in the Senate. The two anticipate introducing the measure that will enable farmers and ranchers to voluntarily place land into conservation easements to help protect wildlife habitat next week and have started soliciting co-sponsors through a Dear Colleague letter sent this week.