H.R. 4665 — Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act

This section establishes a payment program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Farm Service Agency Administrator, for eligible timber harvesting or hauling businesses (i.e., those that harvested or hauled unrefined timber products in the prior calendar year) that incur at least a 10% loss in gross revenue during a 30-day period or calendar quarter due to a major disaster—as compared to the same period in the prior calendar year. A major disaster has the meaning given in section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(2)) and includes an insect infestation declared a major disaster under that Act. Payments equal 10% of the entity's gross revenue during the loss period and may be used only for operating expenses, as certified by the recipient. The Secretary must issue implementing regulations within 30 days of enactment without regard to notice-and-comment or Paperwork Reduction Act requirements and submit reports to the agriculture policy committees within 180 days of enactment and annually thereafter detailing each recipient and payment amount. The program authorizes $50 million for each of FY2026 through FY2029.