S. 629: Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

119th Congress · Sponsored from Nebraska · Passed a chamber

What this bill does

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 This bill revises the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to expand eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and owners of forest land impacted by natural disasters. The bill also provides additional options to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures.The bill 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% of the cost of the replacement and 50% of the cost of the repair or restoration. Current law limits advance payments to 25% of the cost of the repair or replacement of fencing.Under EFRP, the bill allows owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by a natural disaster to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for up to 75% of the cost of the emergency measures. Currently, advance payments are not available under the program.ECP and EFRP recipients must use the funds within 180 days after the funds are disbursed. This provides additional time to ECP recipients who currently must use the funds within 60 days.The bill also expands eligibility for payments under the programs to include emergency measures to address damages caused by (1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes; and (2) a wildfire that is caused by the federal government.

Key facts

• Status Passed a chamber
• Introduced 2025-02-19
• Policy area Agriculture and Food
• Cosponsors 2
• Latest action Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Sponsor

Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

Lead sponsor · Nebraska

R

Who funds the sponsor?

Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] introduced S. 629. On Voterly you can see their top campaign donors from public Federal Election Commission records — individuals, PACs, and industry groups (follow the money) — and compare that with how they vote.

See Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]'s donors & voting record →

Campaign donations show who helps fund the sponsor's election; they are not the same as who drafted or lobbied for the bill text. Lobbying disclosures are separate public records.

Take a position & compare alignment

Agree or disagree with S. 629? Go to the homepage to record your view and compare your stance with how your representatives vote. See Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]'s profile to vote on their bills and check your alignment % with the sponsor.

Read the official text on Congress.gov →