This legislation creates a new federal payment program to assist timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that suffer unexpected financial losses due to major disasters. The program aims to provide economic relief to these entities when their markets and revenues are significantly impacted by unforeseen events, including insect infestations declared as major disasters. To be eligible, a business must have harvested or hauled unrefined timber products in the previous calendar year and experienced a loss of at least 10 percent in gross revenue within a 30-day period or quarter, compared to the same period in the prior year. The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Farm Service Agency, is responsible for administering these payments. The amount of each payment will be equal to 10 percent of the gross revenue during the applicable loss period. Recipients must certify that the funds will be used exclusively for operating expenses . The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress on payment recipients and amounts, and authorizes $50,000,000 for appropriations for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out the program. Regulations for the program are to be prescribed quickly, without standard notice and comment procedures.
This legislation creates a new federal payment program to assist timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that suffer unexpected financial losses due to major disasters. The program aims to provide economic relief to these entities when their markets and revenues are significantly impacted by unforeseen events, including insect infestations declared as major disasters. To be eligible, a business must have harvested or hauled unrefined timber products in the previous calendar year and experienced a loss of at least 10 percent in gross revenue within a 30-day period or quarter, compared to the same period in the prior year. The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Farm Service Agency, is responsible for administering these payments. The amount of each payment will be equal to 10 percent of the gross revenue during the applicable loss period. Recipients must certify that the funds will be used exclusively for operating expenses . The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress on payment recipients and amounts, and authorizes $50,000,000 for appropriations for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out the program. Regulations for the program are to be prescribed quickly, without standard notice and comment procedures.