Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1011) to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to remove barriers to agricultural producers in accessing funds to carry out emergency measures under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1011
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 ``Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and Other Emergency Conservation Measures'' after ``Fencing''; and
(B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--With respect to a payment to an agricultural producer under subsection (a) for the repair or replacement of fencing, or for other emergency measures to rehabilitate farmland or to repair or replace a farmland or conservation structure, the Secretary shall give the agricultural producer the option of receiving--
``(A) before carrying out such replacement or rehabilitation, not more than 75 percent of the payment for such replacement or rehabilitation, which shall be based on the fair market value of the replacement or rehabilitation, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(B) before carrying out such repair, not more than 50 percent of the payment for such repair, which shall be based on the fair market value of the repair, as determined by the Secretary.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Wildfires.--A wildfire that causes damage with respect to which a payment may be made under subsection (a) includes any wildfire that is not caused naturally, including a wildfire that is caused by the Federal Government, if the damage is caused by the spread of the fire due to natural causes.''. SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE EMERGENCY FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM.
Section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2206) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Advance Payments.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall give an owner of nonindustrial private forest land the option of receiving, before the owner carries out emergency measures under this section, not more than 75 percent of the cost of the emergency measures, as determined by the Secretary based on the fair market value of the cost of the emergency measures using the estimated cost of the applicable practice published in the Field Office Technical Guide of each State by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
``(2) Return of funds.--If the funds provided under paragraph (1) are not expended by the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the owner of nonindustrial private forest land receives those funds, the funds shall be returned within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the Secretary.''.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1011, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, introduced by Representative Letlow of Louisiana.
The Emergency Conservation Program, or ECP, and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, EFRP, are two important cost-share programs available to landowners following a natural disaster.
Under ECP, landowners can receive technical and financial assistance for repairs and restoration of land adversely affected by natural disasters, including floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts. Additionally, EFRP offers financial assistance to nonindustrial private forestland owners for recovery efforts following similar natural disasters.
In recent years, agricultural producers have witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by numerous disasters. The recovery efforts and associated costs have underscored the importance of these programs during times of great need for our Nation's farmers.
Over the past decade, we have seen some of the largest and most destructive wildfires on record, particularly in Western States. While the West continues to face forest health and wildfire crises, significant wildfires have also ignited in States such as Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska, leaving producers in these areas in need of conservation and restoration assistance.
Our agricultural community has also seen the devastating impacts of hurricanes in recent years. A harrowing example of this occurred in 2024, when hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked havoc across several southeastern States. Many producers looked to ECP for help with fencing repairs, debris removal, replacement of watershed infrastructure, and land stabilization. At the same time, EFRP was utilized for hazard tree removal, reforestation, site preparation, and erosion control.
While these programs have been helpful to producers and forest landowners, some participants have reported experiencing delays in receiving payments.
To help expedite funding to those in need and get work done on the ground more quickly, this legislation would broaden eligibility for advanced payments for both ECP and EFRP and raise the cap on assistance from 25 percent of total costs to 50 percent of project costs for repairs and 75 percent for replacement.
Mr. Speaker, this is crucial for the American agriculture industry. When a natural disaster ravages valuable natural resources or dismantles critical agricultural infrastructure, landowners simply cannot afford to wait on the Federal government to finish processing paperwork before they begin the process of rebuilding. Advance payments allow us to streamline this process and improve program delivery.
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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Letlow).
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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, I am prepared to close, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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