Disaster Reforestation Act
Legislation to Ensure Forest Landowners Recover After a Natural Disaster
The Disaster Reforestation Act is a critical first step toward providing a safety net for landowners by amending the tax code to allow them to deduct the value of their timber lost to natural disasters. This permanent solution would offer much-needed assurance to landowners, equipping them with the financial tools necessary to recover and restore their forests.
Why Is This Needed?
No Federal Funding
Forest landowners receive NO guaranteed federal funding from disaster relief funding NOR are they provided tax relief from the loss of their timber crop based on the current tax code.
No Annual Income
Most producers impacted by natural disasters have an annual income from their crop. Landowners growing timber for market must wait 25 to 40 years before their crop is ready to sell to the market.
Long Growing Season
During this time, the landowners must pay expenses and taxes annually without crop income while they wait for their timber to mature to market, usually 25 years for softwood and 40 plus years for hardwoods.
How Can You Help?
- Contact your Members of Congress Urge them to support and cosponsor the legislation.
- Reach out to your Network
- Encourage state and national associations to prioritize the Disaster Reforestation Act in their policy priorities and raise awareness of this policy solution with associates.
- Reach out to your Network
- Support FLA’s Advocacy Tools
- Join one of our state-engagement teams and contribute to FLA’s PAC so we can enhance the tools we need to elevate your challenges and commonsense solutions to lawmakers at every level.
The Forest Landowners Association is here to assist with the following:
- Drafting talking points
- We can help you articulate your message effectively.
- Providing resources through our toolkit
- Arranging meetings
- We can help facilitate discussions with key stakeholders and legislators.
Who Supports the Disaster Reforestation Act?
Sponsors
House of Representatives
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA)
Cosponsors
House of Representatives
Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA)
Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL)
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA)
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA)
Rep. David Trone (D-MD)
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)
Rep. Williams Timmons (R-SC)
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL)
Rep. David Scott (D-GA)
Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR)
Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA),
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR),
Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)
Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA)
Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN)
Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL)
Rep. Marie Glusenkamp-Perez (D-WA)
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY)
Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH)
Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS)
Rep. Don Davis (D-NC)
Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC)
Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS)
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Senate
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
Senate
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Angus King (I-ME)
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Supporting Organizations
More than 60 national and state organizations have signed on to support the passage of the Disaster Reforestation Act. Access a Full List of Supporting Organizations. National organizations are showcased below.