July 9, 2025
Mr. Merkley (for himself and Mr. Sheehy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To establish requirements under which the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall carry out the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity Act
or the SAWMILL Act
.
Sec. 2. Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means an individual or entity that owns or operates a sawmill or other wood-processing facility located in a rural area (as defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))) of the United States.
(2) Eligible Federal land
The term eligible Federal land means any unit of Federal land, including Indian forest land or rangeland, that has been identified by the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, as high or very high priority for ecological restoration involving vegetation removal under subsection (b).
(3) Program
The term Program means the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program of the Department of Agriculture.
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b) Identification of eligible Federal land
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, shall—
(1)
review Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior; and
(2)
identify units of Federal land that, as determined by the Secretaries, are high or very high priority for ecological restoration involving vegetation removal.
(c) Loan guarantees
(1) In general
The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, shall provide loan guarantees under the Program to eligible entities seeking to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility located within a 250-mile radius of, a unit of eligible Federal land, if the presence of a sawmill or other wood-processing facility would, or does, substantially decrease the cost of conducting ecological restoration projects involving vegetation removal on the eligible Federal land, as determined by the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior.
(2) Conditions
A loan guarantee under the Program shall be provided in accordance with such conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary.
(3) Maximum amount
The Secretary may provide a total of not more than $220,000,000 in loan guarantees under the Program.