Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act
Summary
The Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act aims to provide financial assistance to businesses in the forest product sector affected by significant market disruptions. The bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to provide payments to eligible entities following a declared market disruption. This declaration can be initiated by a state governor or the Chief of the Forest Service.
Expected Effects
The act will likely provide short-term financial relief to timber harvesting and hauling businesses facing economic hardship due to market disruptions. It could also incentivize these businesses to explore new market opportunities. The act appropriates funds collected from anti-dumping and countervailing duties on softwood lumber imports from Canada.
Potential Benefits
- Provides financial assistance to eligible forest product harvesting and hauling businesses.
- Helps businesses cover operational expenses during market disruptions.
- Encourages exploration of new market opportunities in the forest product sector.
- Offers a mechanism for appealing denied applications.
- Uses funds collected from duties on imported softwood lumber from Canada.
Potential Disadvantages
- The definition of 'market disruption' is broad, potentially leading to disputes over eligibility.
- Financial assistance is capped, which may not fully address the needs of larger businesses.
- The program's reliance on anti-dumping and countervailing duties makes funding unpredictable.
- Potential for fraudulent claims, despite measures to prevent them.
- The proration clause could reduce payments if appropriated funds are insufficient.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the General Welfare Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) by providing financial assistance to businesses facing economic hardship. It also aligns with Congress's power to regulate commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) through the use of anti-dumping and countervailing duties. The bill delegates authority to the Secretary of Agriculture, which is a common practice and generally permissible under the Constitution.
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).