H.R. 8305

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8305 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8305 To establish a payment program for unexpected loss of markets and revenues to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses due to major disasters, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 8, 2024 Mr. Golden of Maine (for himself, Mr. Stauber, and Ms. Pingree) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To establish a payment program for unexpected loss of markets and revenues to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses due to major disasters, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act''. SEC. 2. PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR TIMBER HARVESTING AND TIMBER HAULING BUSINESSES. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means any timber harvesting business or timber hauling business that harvested or hauled unrefined timber products in the previous calendar year. (2) Major disaster.--The term ``major disaster''-- (A) has the meaning given the term in section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(2)); and (B) includes an insect infestation declared a major disaster pursuant to such Act. (3) Gross revenue.--The term ``gross revenue'' means the gross revenue generated by an eligible entity from timber harvesting or timber hauling services within the normal range of operation of the eligible entity, as determined by the Secretary. (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency. (b) Payments.--The Secretary shall make payments in accordance with this section to eligible entities that as a result of a major disaster experienced a loss of not less than 10 percent in gross revenue in a 30-day period or quarter of a calendar year, as compared to the gross revenue of the eligible entity during the same 30-day period or quarter of the previous calendar year. (c) Amount of Payment.--The amount of a payment made to an eligible entity under subsection (b) shall be equal to 10 percent of the gross revenue of the eligible entity during the applicable period under subsection (b). (d) Allowable Use.--The Secretary shall only make a payment under subsection (b) to an eligible entity that certifies to the Secretary that the payment will be used only for operating expenses. (e) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report describing the payments made under this section, including-- (1) the identity of each recipient of a payment; and (2) the amount of each payment provided to each recipient described in paragraph (1). (f) Regulations.-- (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (2) Procedure.--The promulgation of regulations under, and administration of, this section shall be made without regard to-- (A) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act''). (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025. <all>