Bill Overview
Title: Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2022
Description: This bill revises the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program to provide agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by natural disasters the option to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures. 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.
Sponsors: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Target Audience
Population: Agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forestland impacted by natural disasters
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program primarily target agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forestland.
- The programs are designed to assist those impacted by natural disasters, including events like wildfires.
- The bill expands eligibility to those affected by wildfires that spread due to natural causes or those caused by the federal government.
- Globally, there are millions of agricultural producers and private forestland owners, especially in regions prone to natural disasters such as North and South America, Australia, parts of Asia, and Europe.
- The bill allows for advance cost-sharing payments, providing immediate financial assistance to those eligible.
Reasoning
- The Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2022 targets a population primarily consisting of agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forestland affected by natural disasters. In the U.S., there are approximately 2 million farms, which likely corresponds to a significant number of private forestland owners. This includes those significantly impacted by wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and other such disasters.
- The bill allows for advance cost-sharing payments, which could provide financial relief and reduce stress for those affected. However, the policy's impact might vary based on the severity of impact from natural disasters, and personal circumstances such as financial stability and access to other resources.
- Simulated interviews selected include individuals significantly affected by these disasters, those with minimal impact but eligible for the program, and some who are not impacted at all to represent diversity in experiences. Additionally, we consider the potential budget distribution across different regions and disaster types.
Simulated Interviews
Farmer (California)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Wildfires have severely affected my farm. Access to advance payments would help stabilize my financial situation.
- Currently, it's challenging to implement necessary repairs promptly due to lack of upfront funds.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Nonindustrial private forest owner (Florida)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hurricanes cause significant damage to my forest land almost annually. The advance payments from this program could help rapidly address damage issues.
- I'm worried about how the policy handles repeated disaster impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Ranch owner (Texas)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy targets wildfire issues more than drought, which is my main concern.
- While it's good for others, it doesn't address my immediate problems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Small-scale organic farmer (Oregon)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy is crucial for those affected by disasters, but it doesn't apply to my current situation.
- Having the option of advance payments could provide peace of mind.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Forest Landowner (Montana)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fire damage severely impacted my land, mostly due to federal land fire policies.
- Advance payments could help me restore the land quicker after a fire.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Farmer (Alabama)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The flooding destroys crops annually, and I'm hopeful this act can provide immediate funds to mitigate such damage.
- While it's beneficial, long-term solutions are still needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Fruit orchard owner (Colorado)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Impacts seem less for fruit orchards from wildfires directly.
- The policy could be useful if wildfire risks increase in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Community-supported agriculture (CSA) farmer (Washington)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While not directly impacted much by fires, flood damage affects our logistics and crop yield.
- Having advance payments could bolster resilience for future impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Ranch owner (Arizona)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy doesn't directly benefit me much as wildfires aren't the biggest threat here.
- I see benefits for others but lack of relevance to my situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Farmer (Nebraska)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Severe weather causes significant crop loss annually, and I am optimistic about the policy helping offset some financial burdens.
- Immediate financial assistance could stabilize operations temporarily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Year 2: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Year 3: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Year 5: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Administration needs to effectively manage advance payments to prevent misuse.
- Eligibility expansion will require robust and clear criteria to handle increased program demand.
- Coordination with federal firefighting agencies to streamline claim processes and ensure accountability.