Greenville Reporter

Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., in collaboration with Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), has introduced a bipartisan piece of legislation aimed at enhancing security around military installations. The bill, known as the Incentivizing Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Sales Act, seeks to encourage landowners to sell property near military bases by waiving federal capital gains tax on appreciated land value for these sales.

Murphy highlighted the importance of the Department of Defense's Readiness and Environment Protection Integration (REPI) program in his statement. "The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Readiness and Environment Protection Integration (REPI) is essential to our national security and invaluable ecosystems," he stated. "Avoiding land use conflicts in areas used by our military is imperative to their ability to conduct critical training and maintain readiness."

Rep. Panetta also emphasized the financial challenges faced by conservation efforts due to rising land costs. "Rising land costs are making it more difficult for the military and conservation partners to protect the land around bases,” said Congressman Jimmy Panetta. “Our bipartisan bill would make it easier to preserve those critical buffers by waiving the capital gains tax for landowners who sell to conservation organizations for Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) projects."

Jennifer Morris, CEO of the Nature Conservancy, expressed support for the REPI program, noting its dual benefits for both conservation and national security. "For decades, the Readiness Environmental Protection Integration, or REPI, program has successfully facilitated partnerships to preserve landscapes for both conservation value and their contributions to national security," she remarked.

The REPI program is designed to create cost-sharing agreements between military entities, government agencies, and conservation groups with goals that include preventing land conflicts, addressing environmental constraints on military activities, and bolstering resilience against environmental challenges.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Tedd Budd (NC) and Tim Kaine (VA).