Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and forest land owners impacted by natural disasters.

Highlights:

• Amends the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to expand eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and owners of forest land impacted by natural disasters (Sec. 2-3).

• Establishes additional options to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures (Sec. 3).

• Expands advance ECP payments to include the replacement, repair, or restoration of farmland or conservation structures requiring an immediate response (Sec. 3).

• Increases the advance that producers may receive on cost-sharing payments from 25% for repair or replacement of fencing to 75% for replacement and 50% for repair or restoration (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by a natural disaster to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for up to 75% of the cost of the emergency measures (Sec. 3).

• Increases the amount of time that ECP and EFRP recipients must use funds from 60 days to 180 days after funds are disbursed (Sec. 3).

• Expands eligibility for payments under the programs to include emergency measures to address damages caused by either (Sec. 2-3):

• A wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes; or

• A wildfire that is caused by the federal government.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text