Sponsors (4)
The bill provides quick, targeted federal payments and a dedicated $50M/year fund to help timber harvesters and haulers recover from disasters, trading off additional federal spending and limited transparency, with benefits narrowly targeted and potentially insufficient for larger or supply‑chain losses.
Timber harvesting and hauling businesses in declared major disaster areas receive rapid direct payments equal to 10% of their gross revenue for the affected 30-day period or quarter if they lost at least 10% of revenue, providing immediate cash relief to help stay afloat.
The program is funded at $50 million per year (FY2026–2029), creating a dedicated pool of money to deliver timely financial relief to affected timber businesses rather than relying on ad hoc appropriations.
The Secretary must issue implementing regulations within 30 days and the bill waives notice-and-comment and PRA delays, enabling faster distribution of aid after disasters.
Taxpayers will finance $50 million in new annual federal spending (FY2026–2029) to subsidize timber businesses during disasters.
A payment cap of 10% of period revenue may be insufficient for businesses that suffer larger revenue declines or face long-term recovery costs, leaving many needs unmet.
Eligibility is limited to businesses that harvested or hauled unrefined timber in the prior calendar year, excluding related supply-chain firms and other impacted local businesses from relief.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a USDA payment program paying 10% of gross revenue to timber harvesters/haulers with ≥10% revenue loss from a declared major disaster; authorizes $50M/year for FY2026–2029.
Official title: To establish a payment program for unexpected loss of markets and revenues to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses due to major disasters, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Jared Golden · Last progress July 23, 2025
Provides direct emergency relief payments through USDA to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that suffer revenue losses from a declared major disaster (including insect infestations). Eligible businesses that lost at least 10% of gross revenue during an affected 30‑day period or quarter would receive a payment equal to 10% of their gross revenue for the impacted period, with funds certified for operating expenses and program reporting to congressional agriculture committees. The Secretary of Agriculture would run the program through the Farm Service Agency, must issue regulations within 30 days (with certain expedited rulemaking waivers), and Congress authorizes $50 million per year for FY2026–2029 to carry out the program.