Congresswoman Julia Letlow introduces bill to offer more support to forest landowners after natural disasters

MONROE, La. - Congresswoman Julia Letlow announced a legislative proposal meant to improve disaster relief programs for forest landowners.

Letlow introduced the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act in response to the 2023 Louisiana Wildfires that burned more than 60,000 acres of forest land.

The legislation adds on to existing programs within the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 — the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP).

Under Letlow’s proposed bill, farmers and nonindustrial forest landowners would get advanced emergency payments to implement urgent measures after natural disasters.

“For many producers, once they have lost their timber, they simply do not have the cash to rehabilitate and replant in order to access federal assistance programs that operate on a reimbursable basis only,” said Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Mike Strain.

Letlow’s office said payment eligibility would include damage caused by man-made fires when the damage was spread due to natural causes, as well as wildfires caused by the federal government.

Craig Anderson, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Forest Landowners Association, said Letlow’s legislation is vital to ensuring private forest landowners are properly supported after a natural disaster.

“These landowners provide the economic and environmental benefits our nation depends on, yet they lack adequate support when disasters strike. Strengthening recovery programs will help them restore forests, protect rural economies, and ensure the long-term health of our working forests,” Anderson said.

Letlow said she wants to have the legislation included in the next farm bill passed by Congress, which is currently under negotiation.

Read Letlow’s Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act here.