Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2024

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This legislation establishes a new federal funding stream for private forest owners and timber contractors to offset up to 85% of the costs associated with managing pine beetle infestations, provided the land is located in a county recently declared a due to drought.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Nonindustrial private forest land owners

They are eligible to receive cost-share payments and emergency loans for forest restoration.

Timber service businesses

They are eligible to receive cost-share payments for contractual services related to outbreak response.

State, Tribal, and local governments

They may receive supplemental grants to aid in pine beetle response and damage repair.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill creates federal financial assistance and loan programs for private forest owners and es to combat pine beetle outbreaks. It provides cost-sharing payments and emergency loans for landowners and contractors working to restore forest health in areas designated as drought-related disaster zones.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for these payments?

Owners of and es that operate in counties designated as s due to drought in the previous year.

What costs are covered for timber service businesses?

Eligible costs include labor for drivers and operators, equipment usage (e.g., bulldozers, skidders), and materials like gravel, grass seed, and culverts.

How do I apply for this assistance?

Applications must be submitted to the local office of the Farm Service Agency.

Why It Matters

This legislation establishes a new federal funding stream for private forest owners and timber contractors to offset up to 85% of the costs associated with managing pine beetle infestations, provided the land is located in a county recently declared a due to drought.

News Coverage

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Related Legislation

Federal Bill

Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2023

This bill would allow Congress to group multiple 'midnight rules'—regulations finalized during the final year of a presidential term—into a single res

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Integration of Drought and Pest Management

The bill explicitly links eligibility for pine beetle assistance to counties previously designated as drought disaster areas, creating a multi-hazard response framework.

Farm Service Agency Forest Service

Connected Entities

personThompson of Mississippi“Co-sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives.”Map →

organizationSecretary“The Secretary of Agriculture, responsible for administering the program.”Map →

organizationTimber service business“Businesses involved in timber harvesting and related services.”Map →

organizationForest Service“The Forest Service conducts forest pest surveys.”Map →

personOwner of nonindustrial private forest land“Landowners eligible for assistance.”Map →

personKelly of Mississippi“Lead sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives.”Map →

bill_number8024“Bill number”Map →

organizationState forestry agency“State agencies conduct forest pest surveys.”Map →

otherAgricultural Credit Act of 1978“The act being amended.”Map →

organizationFarm Service Agency“A USDA agency administering the payments.”Map →

personGuest“Co-sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives.”Map →

personEzell“Co-sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level