WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 23, 2024) – The American Forest Foundation applauds Congress for passing and the Biden administration for signing a comprehensive disaster relief package that will keep the government open until March, extend the Farm Bill for a year, and provide monumental funding to support family forest owners. These funds will play a critical role in restoring landscapes, rebuilding livelihoods, and strengthening rural communities devastated by natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton.  

The Bill includes:  

• $100B emergency supplement spending to aid states affected by natural disasters. 

• $10B in economic assistance to farmers dealing with crop loss, government overregulation, and market forces outside of their control. 

• $30.78B, in assistance to farmers, ranchers, and producers to aid in loss by natural disasters in calendar years 2023 and 2024, with a $2M set aside for livestock producers.  

• $356M for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program 

• $828M for the Emergency Conservation Program 

• $362.5M for the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Program 

We are particularly grateful for the inclusion of $220 million in block grants to states and territories that can compensate producer and non-federal forest owners for timber, among other losses caused by drought, hurricanes, wildfires, or other extreme events in 2023 and 2024.  

“This support will help landowners get back on their feet and is a great display of the power of bipartisan collaboration and a shared commitment to rural resilience,” said Rita Hite, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. “It’s a testament to what can be achieved when we work together towards sustainable solutions for our forests and communities who are on the front lines of protecting the health and wellbeing of our nation’s woodlands in the face of a changing climate. While these much-needed resources are critical to supporting landowners, we also urge Congress to act on a 5-year Farm Bill that can provide long-term financial and technical resources for our family forest owners and rural communities.”  

These tools underscore the critical role forests play in mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and supporting rural economies.