| In the legislative language that was negotiated with Frelinghuysen and approved by the House last year, those groups were abolished. Also, the bill now limits land preservation efforts to the most appropriate areas within the region, preserves local land use authority, reduces annual funding authorization for land acquisition from $25 million to $10 million over the next decade and protects the rights of private property owners by allowing them to opt out of any land conservation project. Last month, just prior to recessing for the election, the Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 1964 that left intact all of the changes that had been negotiated between NAHB and Frelinghuysen. The Senate's bill was also favorable to NAHB's position. It required a study of the Highlands region in Connecticut and Pennslyvania and also used a U.S. Forest Service map to establish the highlands region rather than relying on the less clearly defined geographical boundary in the House version. On Nov. 17, the House agreed to the Senate’s changes. To read the legislation, click here and enter H.R. 1964 in the box at the upper left. For more information, e-mail J.P. Delmore at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8412. | 
