Bill > S904

This bill aims to improve disaster assistance programs for agricultural producers, particularly those dealing with drought and livestock-related challenges. It makes several key changes to existing agricultural assistance laws, including expanding eligibility for emergency conservation and forest restoration programs to include federal land permit holders and lessees of state or local government lands. The bill streamlines application processes for emergency measures during drought emergencies by waiving certain environmental review requirements and allowing the Natural Resources Conservation Service to conduct reviews. It modifies the Livestock Forage Disaster Program to provide more flexible assistance, allowing producers to receive payments for shorter drought periods. The bill also enhances emergency assistance for livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish by adding drought to covered conditions and creating a more nuanced approach to calculating honey bee colony losses. Additionally, the legislation establishes an interagency working group to improve the United States Drought Monitor by developing more consistent and accurate data collection methods, and requires the Farm Service Agency and Forest Service to align their drought response activities through a formal memorandum of understanding.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/904/all-info