Bill · S. 2183· Senate(119-S-2183)
Community Wood Facilities Assistance Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 6/26/2025
- Last activity
- 6/26/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Jeanne Shaheen
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Community Wood Facilities Assistance Act of 2025," aims to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. It focuses on improving assistance to community wood facilities by updating specific grant program language. The legislation changes how biomass is defined and modifies various grant program requirements and limits. It also adjusts the scope of what can be funded, such as construction and retrofitting for forest products manufacturing. Additionally, the bill amends the Wood Innovations Grant Program to expand forest products manufacturing.
Yes· 3 of 9
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill specifically targets assistance for community wood facilities, which benefits rural forest-dependent economies.
Does this invest in rural communities?+6
The bill provides increased grant funding specifically aimed at community wood facilities, which supports rural economic development.
Would business owners be better off under this?+5
The bill expands opportunities for forest products manufacturing businesses to receive grants.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Funding for Facilities: The bill increases the funding amount for the grant program from $25,000,000 for fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 (Section 2, subsection (9)).
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Expanded Manufacturing Support: The changes allow for the "construction, use, or retrofitting of forest products manufacturing" rather than just existing sawmills (Section 2, subsection (7) and Section 3, subsection (2)(B)).
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Higher Energy Thresholds: The bill increases the threshold for thermal energy from 5 megawatts to 15 megawatts (Section 2, subsection (8)(A)).
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Increased Matching Percentages: The bill increases a specific percentage requirement from 25 percent to 50 percent (Section 2, subsection (8)(B)).
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Expanded Program Goals: The bill adds "market competitiveness" as a consideration alongside cost effectiveness (Section 2, subsection (6)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Changes to Biomass Definition: The bill shifts the focus from "woody biomass" to "primarily forest biomass, including processing or manufacturing" (Section 2, subsection (2)(A)).
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New Grant Limitations: The bill sets a limit where grants may not exceed $5,000,000 (Section 2, subsection (5)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Business Owners+5Good For Farmers+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+5Increases Job Creation+5Improves Economic Growth+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+6Increases Renewable Energy Investment+3Improves Public Land Management+2
- 6/26/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona