All Roll Calls
Yes: 395 • No: 10
HR1011119th CongressWALLET
Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
Passed House
Summary
Expand upfront access to emergency conservation funds by allowing producers and private forest owners to get advance payments for repairs and restoration, and by clarifying what wildfire damage qualifies for support. It also sets rules for returning unspent advances within 180 days.
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- Agricultural producers gain an option to receive up to 75% of a payment before replacing or rehabilitating fencing or other conservation structures, and up to 50% before repairs, with amounts based on fair market value as determined by the Secretary.
- Owners of nonindustrial private forest land get an option to receive up to 75% of estimated emergency restoration costs in advance, using cost figures from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide, and must return unspent funds if not used within 180 days.
- Program scope and definitions are clarified. The bill adds "other emergency conservation measures" to eligible activities and specifies that wildfire damage can include fires not caused naturally, including those caused by the Federal Government when spread is due to natural causes.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Faster farm disaster help and wildfire aid
If enacted, farms could get money up front for emergency conservation work. Help would extend beyond fencing to other urgent measures that fix farmland or repair or replace farm or conservation structures. Producers would be able to choose an advance: up to 75% for replacement or rehabilitation, or up to 50% for repairs. The Secretary of Agriculture would set advances based on fair market value. Wildfire damage would also count when the fire was not natural, including when started by the federal government, if the damage came from the spread due to natural causes.
Upfront forest repair aid, 180-day rule
If enacted, owners of nonindustrial private forest land could get up to 75% of estimated costs in advance for emergency restoration. The Secretary would set the amount using fair market values based on each State’s NRCS Field Office Technical Guide. Any part of the advance not spent within 180 days after receipt would have to be returned within a reasonable timeframe set by the Secretary.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
LA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 4/14/2026
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
Yes: 395 • No: 10