Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4665
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:07:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act (H.R. 4665) aims to provide financial support to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that suffer unexpected revenue losses due to major disasters, such as natural events or insect infestations. It establishes a targeted payment program to help these businesses cover operating expenses and maintain economic stability in affected areas.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility: Applies to "eligible entities," defined as businesses involved in harvesting or hauling unrefined timber products that operated in the previous calendar year. Losses must result from a "major disaster," which follows the definition in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (a federal law declaring severe events like floods, fires, or declared insect infestations as disasters).
- Payment Criteria: The Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Farm Service Agency) will make payments to eligible entities that experience at least a 10% drop in "gross revenue" (total income from normal timber operations) during a 30-day period or a full quarter, compared to the same period in the prior year.
- Payment Amount and Use: Payments equal 10% of the entity's gross revenue for the affected period. Recipients must certify that funds will be used solely for operating expenses, such as day-to-day business costs.
- Reporting Requirements: The Secretary must submit an annual report to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, detailing each payment recipient and amount. The first report is due 180 days after enactment.
- Implementation: Regulations to administer the program must be issued within 30 days of enactment. These rules bypass standard federal processes, including public notice-and-comment periods (under the Administrative Procedure Act) and paperwork burden reviews (under the Paperwork Reduction Act), to enable faster rollout.
- Funding: Authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to fund the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces an entirely new payment program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which does not previously exist in current federal disaster relief laws for the timber industry. It expands the scope of "major disasters" to explicitly include insect infestations when declared under the Stafford Act, but it does not alter the core definitions or operations of that act. The program's streamlined regulatory process represents a departure from typical federal rulemaking, prioritizing speed over procedural safeguards.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The USDA's Farm Service Agency will handle administration, reporting, and fund distribution, potentially increasing its workload and requiring quick regulatory adjustments. Congress will oversee via annual reports, ensuring accountability for the $200 million total authorization (over four years).
- On Citizens and Businesses: Timber harvesting and hauling businesses in disaster-prone areas (e.g., those affected by wildfires, storms, or pests) could receive direct financial relief to offset revenue losses, helping prevent closures and supporting local jobs in rural economies. It may stabilize timber supply chains but is limited to a small subset of the forestry sector.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the program focuses on domestic U.S. businesses and disasters; however, it could indirectly affect timber exports if it sustains U.S. production levels.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Timber harvesting and hauling businesses, particularly small or family-owned operations in forested regions like the Pacific Northwest, Maine, or the Southeast, which face frequent disaster risks.
- Government Entities: U.S. Department of Agriculture (especially the Farm Service Agency) for implementation; congressional agriculture committees for oversight.
- Indirectly Affected: Rural communities dependent on timber jobs, potentially including landowners, mills, and related suppliers who benefit from a more resilient industry.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The waiver of notice-and-comment rulemaking could face challenges if seen as undermining public input, though it aligns with emergency provisions in federal law for urgent situations. Payments are tied to certifications, which may invite audits or fraud prevention measures to ensure proper use.
- Constitutional: No direct conflicts; the bill exercises Congress's spending power under Article I to support commerce and disaster relief, consistent with precedents like agricultural subsidies.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from representatives in Maine and Minnesota) highlights regional interests in forestry states. The program's focus on a niche industry may spark debates on equity—why timber businesses specifically?—and could set a precedent for tailored disaster aid in other sectors, influencing future appropriations amid budget constraints.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (4 pages)