Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 by Rep. Julia Letlow
The House passed it. The Senate has to pass it before it can reach the President.
This bill revises the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to expand eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and owners of forest land impacted by natural disasters. The bill also provides additional options to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures.
The bill expands advance ECP payments to include payments for the rehabilitation of farmland or to repair or replace a farmland or conservation structure. Producers may receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for 75% of the cost of the replacement or rehabilitation and 50% of the cost of the repair. Current law limits advanced cost-sharing payments to 25% of the cost of the repair or replacement of fencing.
The bill also expands eligibility for payments under ECP to include emergency measures to address damages caused by a wildfire that is not caused naturally (including a wildfire that is caused by the federal government), if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes.
Under EFRP, the bill allows owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by a natural disaster to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for up to 75% of the cost of the emergency measures. Recipients must use the funds within 180 days after the funds are disbursed. Currently, advance payments are not available under the program.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service.
- Apr 15, 2026Received in the Senate.
- Apr 14, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Apr 14, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 10 (Roll no. 109). (text: CR H2844)
- Apr 14, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 10 (Roll no. 109). (text: CR H2844)
- Apr 14, 2026Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2874)
- Apr 14, 2026At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- Apr 14, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1011.
- Apr 14, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2844-2846)
- Apr 14, 2026Mr. Thompson (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Mar 7, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- Feb 5, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Feb 5, 2025Introduced in House