The House is set to vote this week on legislation that would expand two financial support programs for farm and nonindustrial forest land owners impacted by natural disasters.
The “Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act,” H.R.1101, from Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), would widen eligibility under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program and Emergency Conservation Program, specifically through advances on cost-sharing payments to fix disaster damage.
For the Emergency Conservation Program, the bill would also increase financial support for producers impacted by human-caused wildfires that spread uncontrollably.
“Recent natural disasters have had a profound effect on Louisiana’s timber and agricultural economy, making it essential that we guard against the consequences of extreme weather events before they happen,” Letlow said in a release. “My legislation would ensure that help is available for farmers and landowners as soon as disaster strikes, so they don’t have to wait months for support as they try to rebuild their lives.”
