Rick Allen (R-GA)
Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
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 Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act provides financial aid to forest product harvesting and hauling businesses during significant market disruptions. The Secretary of Agriculture provides payments to eligible entities after a Governor or the Chief of the Forest Service petitions for a disruption declaration. Eligible businesses can use these funds for operational expenses or to find new market opportunities. The program allows for an initial payment and potential subsequent payments over five years. Funding is sourced from anti-dumping and countervailing duties on softwood lumber imported from Canada.
Yes· 3 of 16
- Scored +8
Would business owners be better off under this?
Provides direct financial relief and operational funding for eligible business owners.
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Primarily targets industries and landowners located in rural forest regions.
- Scored +7
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Provides direct financial assistance to small harvesting and hauling businesses facing market disruptions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Relief for Businesses: Eligible entities can receive an initial payment of up to $20,000 and potentially further payments to help offset revenue losses caused by market disruptions. (Section 2(c)(3))
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Support for Operational Costs: The bill allows funds to be used for essential costs like payroll, fuel, equipment repairs, and debt service, which helps keep businesses running. (Section 2(c)(3)(5)(A))
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Market Expansion: Businesses can use the assistance to expand their access to other market opportunities within the forest product sector. (Section 2(c)(3)(5)(B))
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Right to Appeal: If an application for payment is denied, the applicant has the right to submit an appeal to the National Appeals Division of the Department of Agriculture. (Section 2(d)(1))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Eligibility Requirements: To qualify, businesses must have earned at least $35,000 in Federal taxable income in the year before the disruption and derive at least 75 percent of their gross revenue from harvesting or hauling. (Section 2(g)(1))
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Payment Reductions: If the appropriated funds are not enough to cover the second or subsequent payments, the Secretary must prorate the amounts, meaning individuals may receive less than the calculated amount. (Section 2(c)(3)(4))
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Penalties for Errors: Entities that submit fraudulent information are barred from receiving funds and face fines determined by the Secretary. (Section 2(d)(2))
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? — Provides direct financial relief and operational funding for eligible business owners. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Primarily targets industries and landowners located in rural forest regions. Would farmers be better off under this? — Specifically benefits landowners and those harvesting unrefined forest products. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Supports small business owners and employees in the forest product sector. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Supports business owners and employees in the timber industry. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Indirectly helps low-income workers in the timber industry by preserving their employers. Would union members be better off under this? — Helps maintain employment levels in the hauling and harvesting sector.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides direct financial assistance to small harvesting and hauling businesses facing market disruptions. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Funds the program using existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties rather than new deficit spending. Is this likely to create jobs? — Provides funding for payroll and operational expenses which helps preserve existing jobs in the timber sector. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Supports the stability of the forest products industry during market disruptions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Provides a formal appeals process through the National Appeals Division for denied applications. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Allows Governors to petition for market disruption declarations. Does this give the federal government more power? — Grants the Secretary of Agriculture authority to declare market disruptions and distribute funds.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Directly supports economic stability for rural timber harvesting and hauling operations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Prevents business failure and income loss for owners and employees in the timber industry.
- 6/10/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/20/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- 1/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Introduced in House
Randy FineRepublican · Florida
Maggie GoodlanderDemocrat · New Hampshire