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WASHINGTON, DC-Two key issues pending in Congress of keyimportance to the real estate community--the extension of a 15-yearleasehold improvement depreciation and immediate deductibility forbrownfields cleanup costs--appear likely to be headed forsuccessful conclusion by the Memorial Day weekend, and perhaps assoon as this week. According to Stephen M. Renna, senior vicepresident and counsel of the Real Estate Roundtable, thesemeasures, originally part of a $70-billion tax reconciliationpackage, are likely going to be part of a separate House-Senateconference committee on pension reform legislation.

"There is no controversy about the provisions," Renna says. "Theonly controversy, and that is being resolved, is the process on howto get them passed. " It could be done as early as this week."