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House passes Emergency Conservation Program improvement bill to speed disaster aid to farmers
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Summary
The House passed HR 10111 to expand upfront payments and eligibility for the Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program, aiming to speed relief to farmers after wildfires, floods and hurricanes.
The House voted to pass HR 10111, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, to broaden advanced payments and raise cost‑share caps for disaster recovery programs that assist farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.
Representative Thompson, sponsor of the floor motion, said the bill would allow producers to receive larger advance payments for eligible emergency conservation and forest restoration work so they could begin repairs without waiting on reimbursements. “To help expedite funding to those in need and get work done on the ground more quickly, this legislation would broaden eligibility for advanced payments,” he said.
Supporters described recent storm and flooding damage — including major Kona low storms in Hawaii — and argued the changes will reduce delays and help producers begin rebuilding. Opponents raised no recorded objections on the floor during initial consideration; the motion to suspend the rules was made and a recorded vote later showed passage with a large bipartisan margin.
On the roll call conducted during the evening voting period, the ayes were recorded at 395 and the nays at 10, the chair announced, satisfying the two‑thirds threshold for suspensions of the rules. The measure increases advanced cost-share assistance for recovery and expands qualifying practices under ECP and EFRP, proponents said, and sponsors asked agencies to ensure prompt implementation and adequate staffing at USDA to get funds out quickly.
