Loggers Relief Act

Bill: 116-s-4233
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2020-07-21
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Congressional oversight

Department of Agriculture

Economic performance and conditions

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Executive agency funding and structure

Forests, forestry, trees

Infectious and parasitic diseases
Latest action: action_date: 2020-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4350-4351)

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-07-21
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Loggers Relief Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make payments to a timber harvesting business or timber hauling business that, as a result of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, experienced a loss of not less than 10% in gross revenue during the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on July 31, 2020, as compared to its gross revenue during the same period in 2019.</p> <p>The amount of a payment made to an eligible entity shall be equal to 10% of the gross revenue of the business during the period beginning on January 1, 2019, and ending on July 31, 2019.</p> <p>USDA shall make such a payment only to a business that certifies that the payment will be used only for operating expenses.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4233 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 21, 2020 Ms. Collins (for herself and Ms. Smith ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Loggers Relief Act . 2. Payment program for timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means any timber harvesting business or timber hauling business that harvested or hauled unrefined timber products in calendar year 2019. (2) Gross revenue The term gross revenue means the gross revenue generated by an eligible entity from timber harvesting or timber hauling 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 payment 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. (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 Representatives 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 provided 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 regulations 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 Reduction Act ). (g) Funding There are appropriated, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to make payments to eligible entities under this section.