US HB7195

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance payments to forest product harvesting and hauling businesses impacted by significant market disruptions, with initial payments up to $20,000 and subsequent payments based on 30% of revenue losses

State Governors or the Chief of the Forest Service may petition for a market disruption declaration, with the Secretary required to respond within 14 days

Eligible entities must derive at least 75% of gross revenue from forest product harvesting or hauling and have earned at least $35,000 in federal taxable income from unrefined forest products in the preceding year

Market disruptions include facility closures representing 20% or more processing capacity loss, foreign trade barriers reducing exports by 50%, stumpage price decreases of 50% or more, or loss of market access for 20% of a region

Funding comes from anti-dumping and countervailing duties collected on Canadian softwood lumber imports, with payments available for up to 5 years following a market disruption declaration