Kent Conrad: “We see this as a budget-neutral amendment because of the language of the amendment that provides that only if the…”

“We see this as a budget-neutral amendment because of the language of the amendment that provides that only if the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources reports a bill that provides full, permanent, mandatory funding for PILT, this actually comes through the authorizing committee. On that basis, this is an important amendment. With payment in lieu of taxes, the Federal Government has made a commitment to those localities within which they have property that they are going to be a good neighbor, that they are going to pay the taxes anybody else would pay. I salute the Senator from New Mexico. This is an important amendment that says the Federal Government keeps its word. It is as simple as that.”