S.904 - Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025 aims to enhance disaster assistance programs administered by the Department of Agriculture. It focuses on improving the Emergency Conservation Program, the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. The bill also addresses emergency assistance for livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish, and it establishes a Drought Monitor Interagency Working Group to improve drought data and response coordination.
Expected Effects
The act is likely to result in more accessible and streamlined disaster assistance for agricultural producers, particularly livestock and honey bee farmers. It will also improve the accuracy and reliability of drought monitoring, leading to better-informed policy decisions and resource allocation. The changes aim to reduce the bureaucratic burden on producers seeking aid during disasters.
Potential Benefits
- Expands eligibility for emergency conservation programs to include producers with permits on federal land or leases from state/local governments.
- Streamlines the application process for emergency measures by waiving the public comment period during drought emergencies and accepting NRCS reviews.
- Improves the Livestock Forage Disaster Program by allowing assistance for shorter drought periods (4 consecutive weeks instead of 8).
- Enhances emergency assistance for honey bee producers, including adjustments to mortality rate calculations and data collection standards.
- Establishes an interagency working group to improve the accuracy and reliability of the United States Drought Monitor.
Potential Disadvantages
- The streamlining of application processes, such as waiving public comment periods, could potentially lead to less thorough environmental reviews.
- Increased access to disaster assistance programs may strain federal resources if not managed effectively.
- The act's focus on specific sectors (livestock, honey bees) may not address the needs of all agricultural producers equally.
- The reliance on the Secretary's determination of drought emergencies could be subject to political influence or inconsistent application.
- The creation of a new interagency working group could add bureaucratic layers and may not lead to significant improvements in drought monitoring.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the General Welfare Clause (Preamble) by aiming to support agricultural producers during disasters, thus promoting the well-being of the nation's food supply and rural communities. The delegation of authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to implement these programs is consistent with Congress's power to enact laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers (Article I, Section 8). The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).