Congressman Buddy Carter and Congresswoman Terri Sewell Reintroduce the Disaster Reforestation Act
WASHINGTON, DC — The Forest Landowners Association (FLA) applauds Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) for their swift reintroduction of the bipartisan Disaster Reforestation Act (DRA). As Congress considers a comprehensive tax package, FLA urges lawmakers to prioritize including this critical legislation to support forest landowners nationwide.
The Disaster Reforestation Act addresses a glaring inequity in the tax code, providing private forest landowners with the necessary tools to recover and reforest after catastrophic events. By enabling landowners to deduct the true value of destroyed timber, DRA ensures that working forests can remain forests—preserving their essential role in forest health, supporting rural economies, and maintaining biodiversity—rather than succumbing to conversion or further disasters.
“Congressman Carter and Congresswoman Sewell have demonstrated outstanding leadership by making the Disaster Reforestation Act a top priority in this legislative session,” said Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association. “Their commitment to private forest landowners and rural communities across the country is commendable. This bipartisan effort sends a strong signal that Congress recognizes the critical role working forests play in our nation’s environmental and economic health.”
The urgency of the DRA is underscored by the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters. From hurricanes and wildfires to pests and diseases, forest landowners face catastrophic losses without the same disaster recovery tools available to other agricultural producers. The DRA provides a common-sense solution, offering forest landowners a safety net to replant and rebuild their forests for future generations.
Support for the Disaster Reforestation Act continues to grow, with more than 70 state and national associations—representing agriculture, business, conservation, forestry, and wildlife interests—standing behind the bill. These organizations recognize that forests are essential infrastructure, contributing to clean air and water, carbon sequestration, and resilient ecosystems.
“Given the devastation wrought by recent natural disasters, we commend Congress for passing the disaster relief package in December, which provided much-needed support to affected communities,” said Craig Anderson, VP of Government Affairs for the Forest Landowners Association. “However, relying on ad hoc relief is not a sustainable solution. The Disaster Reforestation Act offers a permanent fix by correcting the tax code to ensure landowners can recover from catastrophic losses.
“This bill not only helps safeguard the economic and environmental benefits forests provide to all Americans but also includes important guardrails to protect taxpayer dollars. Landowners must complete reforestation within five years to qualify for the deduction, and failure to do so will result in the funds being clawed back by the federal government. These provisions ensure accountability while providing landowners with the tools they need to recover and reforest after disasters.”
The Forest Landowners Association remains steadfast in advocating for policies that support private forest landowners. We commend Congressman Carter and Congresswoman Sewell for their bipartisan leadership and call on Congress to act swiftly to ensure the Disaster Reforestation Act becomes law.
For more information on the Disaster Reforestation Act and FLA’s advocacy efforts, visit forestlandowners.com. Additionally, read Congressman Buddy Carter’s press release on the bill’s reintroduction here.
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About the Forest Landowners Association
The Forest Landowners Association represents private landowners who own and manage more than 450 million acres of working forests across the United States. Our mission is to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of private forests through advocacy, outreach, and education.