Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity Act; SAWMILL Act
Summary
The SAWMILL Act aims to bolster American wood and mill infrastructure by establishing the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program. This program, overseen by the Secretary of Agriculture in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, provides loan guarantees to eligible entities operating sawmills or wood-processing facilities in rural areas. These facilities must be located within a 250-mile radius of eligible Federal land identified as high or very high priority for ecological restoration involving vegetation removal.
The Act seeks to reduce the cost of ecological restoration projects on Federal land by supporting local wood-processing infrastructure. It authorizes up to $220 million in loan guarantees under the program.
The bill requires the Secretaries to review Federal land every five years to identify areas suitable for ecological restoration.
Expected Effects
The SAWMILL Act is likely to stimulate economic activity in rural areas by supporting the wood-processing industry. It could also lead to more efficient and cost-effective ecological restoration projects on federal lands.
This could result in increased timber production and improved forest management practices. The Act may also create new jobs in the forestry and wood-processing sectors.
Potential Benefits
- Supports rural economies by providing financial assistance to wood-processing facilities.
- Reduces the cost of ecological restoration projects on federal lands.
- Promotes sustainable forest management practices.
- Creates jobs in the forestry and wood-processing sectors.
- Encourages public-private partnerships in ecological restoration.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for environmental damage if ecological restoration projects are not properly managed.
- Risk of loan defaults by eligible entities, leading to financial losses for the government.
- Geographic limitations may exclude some deserving facilities from receiving loan guarantees.
- The definition of 'eligible Federal land' could be subject to political influence.
- May face opposition from environmental groups concerned about increased logging.
Constitutional Alignment
The SAWMILL Act appears to align with the General Welfare Clause (Article I, Section 8) of the U.S. Constitution, as it aims to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability. The Act's focus on supporting rural communities and managing federal lands also aligns with the government's responsibility to manage public resources.
However, the Act's delegation of authority to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior could raise concerns about the separation of powers. Congress is establishing the parameters of the program and the executive branch is executing it.
No specific constitutional conflicts are apparent.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).