Bill · S. 2221· Senate(119-S-2221)
SAWMILL Act
- Introduced
- 7/9/2025
- Last activity
- 7/9/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Jeff Merkley
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 3
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program. The program is managed by the Secretary of Agriculture in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior. It provides loan guarantees to eligible entities that own or operate sawmills or wood-processing facilities in rural areas. These entities must be located within a 250-mile radius of specific Federal lands identified for ecological restoration. The goal is to support facilities that help decrease the cost of vegetation removal on those lands. The total amount for these loan guarantees is capped at $220,000,000.
Yes· 3 of 12
Would business owners be better off under this?+7
The bill offers financial assistance and loan guarantees specifically for those operating wood-processing facilities.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill specifically targets rural areas for industrial expansion and facility improvement.
Does this invest in rural communities?+6
The program provides infrastructure support for wood-processing facilities in rural areas.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Support for Rural Industry: Eligible entities, which include individuals or entities operating sawmills or wood-processing facilities in rural areas, can access loan guarantees to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve their facilities (Section 2(a)(1), Section 2(c)(1)).
-
Cost Reduction for Ecological Projects: The program aims to provide support to facilities that substantially decrease the cost of conducting ecological restoration projects involving vegetation removal on eligible Federal land (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Financial Caps: The Secretary's ability to provide loan guarantees is limited to a total of not more than $220,000,000 (Section 2(c)(3)).
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Conditional Assistance: Loan guarantees are provided subject to such conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary (Section 2(c)(2)).
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 Business Owners+7Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Farmers+3Good For Union Workers+3Good For Native Americans+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+6Improves Environmental Protections+5Improves Public Land Management+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+6Increases Job Creation+5Improves Economic Growth+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2
- 6/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/29/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi