Sponsors (3)
This bill provides fast, targeted emergency cash relief and dedicated funding for timber harvesters and haulers after disasters, trading broader eligibility, stronger transparency, and taxpayer cost containment for speed and narrowly focused support.
Timber harvesting and hauling businesses suffering a ≥10% revenue loss during a 30-day period or quarter because of a declared major disaster will receive a payment equal to 10% of their gross revenue for that period, providing immediate cash relief to keep operations afloat.
Affected timber businesses gain access to dedicated funding ($50 million per year for FY2026–2029) to deliver timely financial relief rather than awaiting appropriations delays.
The program can be implemented quickly because the Secretary must issue regulations within 30 days and notice-and-comment and PRA requirements are waived, enabling faster distribution of aid after disasters.
All taxpayers bear the cost of a new $50 million per year federal spending commitment for FY2026–2029 to subsidize timber businesses.
The 10% payment cap may be insufficient for businesses facing larger revenue losses or long-term recovery costs, leaving many still vulnerable despite receiving aid.
Limiting eligibility to those who harvested or hauled unrefined timber in the prior calendar year excludes related supply-chain businesses (e.g., processors, transporters, equipment suppliers) that may also suffer disaster losses.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates USDA payments equal to 10% of eligible timber harvesters' or haulers' gross revenue for disaster-impacted periods and authorizes $50M/year for FY2026–2029.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Jared Golden · Last progress July 23, 2025
Creates a USDA payment program to give cash assistance to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that lost at least 10% of gross revenue over a 30-day period or quarter because of a federally declared major disaster (including insect infestations). Payments equal 10% of the affected entity's gross revenue for the disaster-impacted period, must be certified as used only for operating expenses, and the program is administered by the Farm Service Agency. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to issue regulations within 30 days (waiving notice-and-comment and the Paperwork Reduction Act), directs reporting of recipients and amounts to the House and Senate agriculture committees (first report within 180 days and then annually), and authorizes $50 million per year for FY2026–2029 to carry out the program.