Sen. Deb Fischer
A bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) to expedite federal disaster relief for agricultural producers and forest landowners became law without the president’s signature after the 10-day review period expired.
“Nebraska farmers and ranchers will directly benefit from this law, and I am proud to have gotten it across the finish line,” Sen. Fischer said on July 15. “I will be urging USDA to quickly issue new guidance to FSA [Farm Service Agency] so producers can begin receiving this improved assistance.”
The Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, S. 629, which Sen. Fischer sponsored in February 2025 with lead cosponsor U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), revises the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to expand eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and forest land owners impacted by natural disasters.
The bill also provides additional options to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures, and expands advance ECP payments to include the replacement, repair, or restoration of farmland or conservation structures requiring an immediate response.
Producers may receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for 75 percent of the cost of the replacement and 50 percent of the cost of the repair or restoration. Current law limits advance payments to 25 percent of the cost of the repair or replacement of fencing, according to the Congressional Record bill summary.
The U.S. Senate gave the measure unanimous consent in March and the U.S. House of Representatives approved it on June 23 with a vote of 368-19. The president received the bill on June 30 and it officially became law around July 13 following the expired review period.