I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7690 
To establish a payment program for unexpected loss of markets and revenues 
to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses due to the COVID– 
19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 20, 2020 
Mr. ROUZER (for himself and Mr. GOLDEN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To establish a payment program for unexpected loss of mar-
kets and revenues to timber harvesting and timber haul-
ing businesses due to the COVID–19 pandemic, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR TIMBER HARVESTING 
AND TIMBER HAULING BUSINESSES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means any timber harvesting business or timber 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:05 Aug 06, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7690.IH
H7690
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
hauling business that harvested or hauled unrefined 
timber products in calendar year 2019. 
(2) GROSS
REVENUE.—The term ‘‘gross rev-
enue’’ means the gross revenue generated by an eli-
gible entity from timber harvesting or timber haul-
ing services within the normal range of operation of 
the eligible entity, as determined by the Secretary. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(b) PAYMENTS.—The Secretary shall make payments 
in accordance with this section to eligible entities that, as 
a result of the COVID–19 pandemic, experienced a loss 
of not less than 10 percent in gross revenue during the 
period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on July 
31, 2020, as compared to the gross revenue of the eligible 
entity during the same period in 2019. 
(c) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The amount of a pay-
ment made to an eligible entity under subsection (b) shall 
be equal to 10 percent of the gross revenue of the eligible 
entity during the period beginning on January 1, 2019, 
and ending on July 31, 2019. 
(d) ALLOWABLE USE.—The Secretary shall only 
make a payment under subsection (b) to an eligible entity 
that certifies to the Secretary that the payment will be 
used only for operating expenses. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:05 Aug 06, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7690.IH
H7690
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate a report describing the payments 
made under this section, including— 
(1) the identity of each recipient of a payment; 
and 
(2) the amount of each payment provided to 
each recipient described in paragraph (1). 
(f) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided in this section, not later than 30 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to 
carry out this section. 
(2) PROCEDURE.—The promulgation of regula-
tions under, and administration of, this section shall 
be made without regard to— 
(A) the notice and comment provisions of 
section 553 of title 5, United States Code; and 
(B) chapter 35 of title 44, United States 
Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Paperwork Re-
duction Act’’). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:05 Aug 06, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7690.IH
H7690
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS