A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, Financial Services, Armed Services, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the Strong American Wood Act, aims to support and protect the domestic timber, wood products, and paper industries in the United States. It creates financial incentives, tax credits, and research programs for using domestic wood, mass timber, and biochar while also reinstating certain biomass energy credits. The legislation establishes a Build America Fund using collected softwood lumber duties to fund single-family housing construction grants that require domestically sourced timber. Additionally, it imposes strict trade investigations, potential retaliatory tariffs against the European Union, and requirements for federal agencies to buy strictly domestic forest products. Finally, the bill enacts regulatory changes, including relaxing certain air quality standards and mandating secondary customs inspections for imported wood products.
Yes· 3 of 27
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Domestic timber producers, sawmills, and forestry business owners benefit from tax credits, eliminated equipment tariffs, and procurement mandates.
- Scored +6
Does this invest in rural communities?
The legislation invests heavily in rural forestry, biochar demonstration projects, and timber management programs.
- Scored +6
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill establishes the Build America Fund and a grant program for State housing finance agencies to provide down payment and construction loans for single-family homes.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
The bill mandates retaliatory tariffs against the European Union and imposes strict domestic sourcing requirements that could spark trade disputes.
- Scored -3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill establishes new grant programs, funds, and tax credits that increase federal financial commitments.
- Scored -3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill relaxes certain national ambient air quality standards for PM2.5 emissions from 9 to 12 micrograms per cubic meter.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 102 (Credit for Mass Timber Buildings): This section provides a tax credit for constructing buildings using structural components made from domestically produced mass timber. This could benefit construction workers and domestic timber producers by increasing the demand for American-made wood building materials.
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Section 107 (Grants to Promote the Building of Single-Family Housing Using Domestically-Sourced Timber): This provision establishes a grant program for State housing finance agencies to operate revolving funds that provide loans and down payment assistance for single-family homes. This directly benefits everyday homebuyers by assisting with home purchases, provided the homes are built using domestic lumber and sold at or below the local median price.
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Section 112 (Treatment of Reforestation Expenditures for Qualified Natural Disasters): This section allows a tax deduction of up to $500,000 for disaster-related reforestation expenditures on qualified timber property damaged by a presidential-declared natural disaster. This provides financial relief to timber growers and landowners recovering from severe weather events or wildfires.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 202 (Retaliatory Measures with Respect to Discriminatory European Union Rules): This section mandates that the United States Trade Representative impose retaliatory tariffs on European Union imports if the EU enforces certain deforestation or fumigant rules. This could lead to trade disputes and higher prices for everyday consumers purchasing imported goods from European nations.
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Section 301 (Requirement to Procure Domestic Forest Products): This provision prohibits federal agencies from procuring any hardwood, softwood, pulp, paper, or furniture unless it is derived solely and fully processed from timber harvested and processed in the United States. This restriction could increase the cost and delay the procurement of necessary office and building supplies for the federal government, ultimately using more taxpayer funds.
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Section 303 (Revision of National Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM2.5): This section requires the Environmental Protection Agency to revise the national primary ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter from 9 micrograms per cubic meter to 12 micrograms per cubic meter. Relaxing this air quality standard could lead to higher levels of air pollution, which may negatively impact public health, particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Domestic timber producers, sawmills, and forestry business owners benefit from tax credits, eliminated equipment tariffs, and procurement mandates. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-income families gain access to homeownership assistance programs tied to domestically sourced timber homes. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — First-time homebuyers benefit directly from revolving fund loans and down payment assistance for single-family housing. Would farmers be better off under this? — Farmers and landowners benefit from new biostimulant definitions, biochar research, and tax deductions for disaster-related reforestation. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The housing grant program assists households up to 250 percent of the area median income with down payments and home construction loans. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Homebuyers and construction professionals benefit from expanded single-family housing grants and mass timber tax credits. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veterans seeking housing and employment in the forestry and construction sectors benefit from the bill's incentive programs. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Retirees and older homeowners benefit indirectly from broader economic investments in housing and community development.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill establishes research grants, demonstration projects, and eliminates machine tariffs for sawmills, pulp mills, and paper mills. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill creates grant programs, demonstration projects, and financial incentives designed to boost domestic timber and biochar industries. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Financial incentives and infrastructure support for the domestic timber industry are intended to stimulate economic activity in forestry sectors. Does this cut taxes for small businesses? — The bill increases the base expensing amount and adds inflation adjustments for qualified reforestation expenditures. Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — The bill provides tax credits for mass timber building construction and increases reforestation expense deductions. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill mandates secondary customs inspections and requires chemical input disclosures for imported wood-substitute products. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — Prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements are tied to certain enhanced tax credits for mass timber buildings. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill establishes new grant programs, funds, and tax credits that increase federal financial commitments.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The legislation invests heavily in rural forestry, biochar demonstration projects, and timber management programs. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill allows a significant tax deduction for disaster-related reforestation expenditures on qualified timber property damaged by declared natural disasters. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill reinstates investment and production credits for open- and closed-loop biomass facilities and establishes zero emissions rates for biomass transportation fuels. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill updates renewable biomass definitions to encourage forest thinning, wildfire risk reduction, and debris removal on public and non-federal lands. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill expands carbon capture credits to solid carbon capture facilities and provides tax incentives for mass timber buildings that store carbon. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill relaxes certain national ambient air quality standards for PM2.5 emissions from 9 to 12 micrograms per cubic meter.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill establishes the Build America Fund and a grant program for State housing finance agencies to provide down payment and construction loans for single-family homes. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill mandates secondary inspections and documentation reviews at ports of entry for all imported wood and paper products. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Assistance for first-time homebuyers and down payment support help lower-income households achieve homeownership.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill authorizes applied research and development grants for biochar innovations and woody biomass chemical compounds.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates strict federal procurement requirements and trade investigations conducted by federal agencies. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires various federal departments to conduct and publish comprehensive supply chain studies and reports on domestic forest products.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill provides extensive funding for biochar research and development grants and woody biomass studies.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill mandates retaliatory tariffs against the European Union and imposes strict domestic sourcing requirements that could spark trade disputes.
- 10/22/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, Financial Services, Armed Services, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marie PerezDemocrat · Washington