Jared Golden (D-ME)
Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
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
The Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act establishes a payment program for timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses. These payments are intended for businesses that experience a loss of at least 10 percent in gross revenue due to a major disaster. Major disasters include those defined by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as well as declared insect infestations. The Secretary of Agriculture will issue payments equal to 10 percent of the entity's gross revenue during the affected period. Recipients must certify that the funds will be used only for operating expenses. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2029.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides financial support to timber harvesting and hauling business owners facing revenue losses.
- Scored +6
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill provides direct financial assistance to timber harvesting and hauling businesses experiencing major revenue losses.
- Scored +4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill establishes a specific relief mechanism for businesses impacted by major disasters and insect infestations.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $50,000,000 in annual appropriations for the payment program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Relief for Timber Businesses: Eligible entities, which include timber harvesting or hauling businesses that harvested or hauled unrefined timber in the previous year, can receive payments to help with revenue losses caused by major disasters (Section 2(a) and 2(b)).
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Specific Disaster Coverage: The program accounts for specific types of disasters, such as insect infestations, which are explicitly included as a major disaster (Section 2(a)).
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Targeted Support for Operations: Payments are designed to assist with the continuity of businesses because they are intended to cover operating expenses (Section 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Use of Funds: Businesses are restricted in how they use the money, as they must certify that the payment will be used only for operating expenses (Section 2(d)).
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High Revenue Loss Threshold: To qualify for any payment, a business must experience a loss of at least 10 percent in gross revenue during a 30-day period or a quarter when compared to the same period in the previous year (Section 2(b)).
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? — The bill provides financial support to timber harvesting and hauling business owners facing revenue losses. Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill supports agricultural-adjacent industries like timber harvesting that are central to rural economies. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill protects businesses that are major employers and economic drivers in rural areas.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill establishes a specific relief mechanism for businesses impacted by major disasters and insect infestations. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill supports the economic stability of timber-related industries which are vital to rural communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides direct financial assistance to timber harvesting and hauling businesses experiencing major revenue losses. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill provides financial relief to help timber businesses maintain their operations during disasters. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $50,000,000 in annual appropriations for the payment program.
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/23/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Becca BalintDemocrat · Vermont
Maggie GoodlanderDemocrat · New Hampshire
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Pete StauberRepublican · Minnesota