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119-hr-7195119th CongressWALLET

Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act

Sponsored By: Representative Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]

In Committee

Summary

Provides temporary, targeted financial relief for forest product harvesters, haulers, and timber-producing landowners after a declared regional market disruption, with funding tied to U.S. anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.

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  • Harvesters, haulers, and landowners can get payments if they meet income and production thresholds; approved applicants receive an initial payment up to $20,000 and may qualify for follow-up payments for as long as conditions persist, up to 5 years.
  • State governors or the Chief of the Forest Service can petition for a market disruption; the Secretary must decide within 14 days and publish a notice of funding within 30 days to start applications.
  • The Farm Service Agency administers the program, limits funds to operational costs like payroll, fuel, repairs, debt service, or expanding market access, and offers appeals through the Department of Agriculture's National Appeals Division with 30-day appeal timelines.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Timber Business Payment Rules

If enacted, the bill would pay approved applicants an initial amount up to $20,000 within 14 days of approval. A second payment would be made the following September 30 equal to the initial payment minus 30 percent of (the entity's estimated gross revenue in the disruption year minus gross revenue in the prior year). In each of the five years after a disruption, the petitioning Governor or Forest Service Chief could request continued payments; if market conditions have not improved, the Secretary would pay an amount equal to 50 percent of prior payments. The Secretary would prorate second and later payments if appropriations are insufficient. Payments could be used only for operational costs (payroll, fuel, repairs, debt service) or to expand access to other forest-product markets.

USDA Relief Program Setup Timelines

If enacted, the bill would create a USDA program to pay timber harvesters, haulers, and eligible landowners when a market disruption is declared. Governors or the Forest Service Chief could petition the Secretary, who must decide within 14 days to declare or explain a denial. The Secretary would set up an application within 60 days, publish notice within 30 days of a declaration, accept applications for 30 days, and act on each application within 30 days. Denied applicants could appeal to the National Appeals Division within 30 days, and NAD would have 30 days to decide; the Secretary would also report yearly to Congress when payments are made.

Eligibility and Market Disruption Triggers

If enacted, the bill would limit payments to entities that suffered revenue loss and meet set tests. An eligible entity must have at least $35,000 in Federal taxable income in the prior calendar year from selling, harvesting, or hauling unrefined forest products and must get at least 75% of gross revenue from harvesting or hauling. Landowners must meet production thresholds in at least 4 of the last 5 years (1,000,000 board feet sawtimber, or 2,000 cords pulpwood, or 5,000 green tons). The bill also lists numeric market-disruption triggers, such as a 20% regional processing capacity loss, a 50% drop in export receipts, or a 50% price decline over two years.

Funded by Canadian Softwood Duties

If enacted, the bill would fund the program each fiscal year with the total anti-dumping and countervailing duties collected that year on softwood lumber articles from Canada, as the Secretary determines. That means available program money would rise or fall with those duty receipts in a fiscal year.

Fraud Disqualification and Fines

If enacted, the bill would bar any entity that submits fraudulent information from receiving program funds. The Secretary could also impose fines on entities found to have submitted false information. These rules are meant to protect program integrity and punish bad actors.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]

GA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 6/10/2026

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 6/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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