Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act
Sponsored By: Representative Allen
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a time-limited market-disruption relief program for timber harvesters, haulers, and qualifying landowners. It would deliver fast, targeted cash when a market disruption is declared and ties funding to anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.
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- Harvesters and haulers would be eligible for an initial payment up to $20,000 within 14 days of approval. They could receive a second payment tied to year-over-year revenue to reach 30 percent of estimated revenue and, if markets do not improve, partial continuation payments for up to 5 years equal to 50 percent of prior payments.
- Landowners would qualify only if they had at least $35,000 in federal taxable income from forest products the prior year, derive at least 75 percent of gross revenue from those activities, and meet production thresholds such as selling at least 1 million board feet of sawtimber in 4 of the last 5 years or 2,000 cords of pulpwood or 5,000 green tons of timber.
- State Governors or the Chief of the Forest Service can petition to trigger a market-disruption declaration. The Secretary of Agriculture must issue a declaration or explain a denial within 14 days.
- The Department of Agriculture, through the Farm Service Agency, must publish a notice of funding within 30 days of a declaration, accept applications for 30 days, decide on applications within 30 days, provide an appeal path to the National Appeals Division, and may penalize fraud. The Secretary may develop the application process without standard notice-and-comment or paperwork requirements.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Fast relief payments for timber businesses
This bill would create a fast payment program for timber harvesters, haulers, and qualifying landowners after a declared market disruption. You would get an initial payment within 14 days of approval, capped at $20,000. On the next September 30, the Secretary could top up payments toward a floor tied to 30% of estimated disruption-year revenue minus prior-year revenue. For up to five years after the declaration, the petitioning Governor or Forest Service Chief could request continuation payments; if markets have not improved, the Secretary would pay 50% of prior sums. Funding would come from anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber, and payments must be used only for operational costs (payroll, fuel, repairs, debt service) or to expand market access. If duty receipts are too small, payments would be prorated.
Who can get timber relief
This bill would let only a State Governor or the Chief of the Forest Service petition the Secretary to declare a market disruption. A disruption could be declared under five tests, such as a 20% loss of regional processing capacity or a 50% fall in prices or exports. The Secretary would have 14 days to decide on a petition and 30 days to publish a funding notice. You could apply within 30 days of that notice and the Secretary would approve, deny, or seek more information within 30 days of your application. To be eligible you would need to show revenue loss, at least $35,000 in federal taxable income from unrefined forest products in the prior calendar year, and that 75% of your gross revenue comes from harvesting or hauling. Landowners must meet production tests in 4 of the last 5 years (for example, 1,000,000 board feet sawtimber or 2,000 cords of pulpwood). The Secretary must create an application within 60 days of enactment and can skip normal notice and paperwork rules. If you submit fraudulent information you would be ineligible and could face fines. Denials could be appealed to the USDA National Appeals Division, which must decide within 30 days.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Allen
GA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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