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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Resolution requests study of farmland preservation Recently, I introduced a resolution in the state Senate to request a comprehensive study and analysis of Pennsylvania's farmland preservation program. The state's 25-year-old farmland preservation program has been hugely successfully in preserving both farmer and farmland, and in fact, it has become a model for other programs across the nation. Pennsylvania currently leads the nation in number of farms and total acres preserved, although the program is so popular that hundreds of farms remain on the waiting list. We have made a solid commitment to ensure that farmland cannot be developed and is thus available for future generations. During the statewide listening sessions held earlier this year by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, which I chair, several individuals expressed an interest in reviewing the farmland preservation program to ensure that it is still as effective as it could and should be. For that reason, I introduced Senate Resolution 195, which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the program. This review would include an analysis of, among other items, the criteria by which farms are selected, options available to the program, and the feasibility of providing other incentives, such as tax credits, in lieu of cash payments. Preserving our agricultural heritage is key to the future viability and success of Pennsylvania farms, and I look forward to developing ways in which we can continue to improve this important program. Business tax credits still available The state's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program has helped thousands of Pennsylvania children attend schools that meet their educational needs. Enacted in 2001, the EITC program allows private businesses to donate up to $200,000 each year to a registered and approved scholarship organization or educational improvement organization of their choice. Each donating business is then awarded a tax credit of 75 percent of their donation amount, or 90 percent if the donation is pledged for two subsequent years. For contributions to pre-kindergarten scholarship organizations, a business may receive a 100 percent tax credit for the first $10,000 donated, and up to 90 percent of any remaining amount up to a maximum of $100,000 annually. Over the past six years, more than 2,300 Pennsylvania companies have participated in the EITC program, donating more than $260 million to participating organizations. In the 2006-07 school year alone, more than 33,000 children received EITC scholarships. Although all funds allocated for contributions to educational improvement organizations in 2007-08 have been exhausted, about $7.7 million remains available for contributions to scholarship organizations and $1.2 million for pre-kindergarten scholarship organizations. Applications are approved on a first-come, first-served basis. I encourage all businesses that would like more information, an application, or a list of approved organizations to go to www.newpa.com and click on "Funding & Program Finder." Check recalls before Christmas shopping With the number of recalls that have been issued recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers information for shoppers who are about to begin their holiday shopping. The list of more than 4,000 product recalls and recall alerts is available at www.cpsc.gov. Visitors to the web site can search by date, company or category, and special lists are set up for toys as well as other child, household, outdoor, sports and specialty products. I wish everyone a safe and very happy holiday season!
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