A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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 establishes the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program. The program is managed by the Secretary of Agriculture in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior. It provides loan guarantees to eligible entities that own or operate sawmills or wood-processing facilities in rural areas. These entities must be located within a 250-mile radius of specific Federal lands identified for ecological restoration. The goal is to support facilities that help decrease the cost of vegetation removal on those lands. The total amount for these loan guarantees is capped at $220,000,000.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +7
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill offers financial assistance and loan guarantees specifically for those operating wood-processing facilities.
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets rural areas for industrial expansion and facility improvement.
- Scored +6
Does this invest in rural communities?
The program provides infrastructure support for wood-processing facilities in rural areas.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Rural Industry: Eligible entities, which include individuals or entities operating sawmills or wood-processing facilities in rural areas, can access loan guarantees to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve their facilities (Section 2(a)(1), Section 2(c)(1)).
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Cost Reduction for Ecological Projects: The program aims to provide support to facilities that substantially decrease the cost of conducting ecological restoration projects involving vegetation removal on eligible Federal land (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Caps: The Secretary's ability to provide loan guarantees is limited to a total of not more than $220,000,000 (Section 2(c)(3)).
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Conditional Assistance: Loan guarantees are provided subject to such conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary (Section 2(c)(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? — The bill offers financial assistance and loan guarantees specifically for those operating wood-processing facilities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets rural areas for industrial expansion and facility improvement. Would farmers be better off under this? — While specific to timber, the bill aligns with interests in rural land management and agriculture-adjacent industries. Would union members be better off under this? — Expanding industrial facilities in rural areas can lead to increased labor demand. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill mentions potential benefits for Indian forest land through ecological restoration.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The program provides infrastructure support for wood-processing facilities in rural areas. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill supports vegetation removal to facilitate ecological restoration of Federal lands. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill aids the management of Federal lands through assisted vegetation removal and restoration.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The loan guarantees provide significant financial support for wood-processing facilities and sawmills. Is this likely to create jobs? — The program supports the establishment, reopening, and expansion of facilities, which can drive local employment. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By providing loan guarantees, the bill stimulates industrial activity in the timber sector.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants the Secretary of Agriculture significant discretion in managing the loan program and identifying lands.
- 6/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/29/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 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.
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi