Representative Dan Newhouse introduced the Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity (SAWMILL) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation establishes requirements for the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program, directing the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to administer loan guarantees supporting sawmills and wood-processing facilities in rural areas, according to the official bill text.
“The SAWMILL Act gives timber mills the ability to grow their operations and support rural communities who stand to benefit even more from a strong, local timber industry,” said Representative Newhouse. “As we work in Congress on a wide range of policies to protect our forests, this legislation is a positive step we can take to make sure the federal government is making it easier for the industry to be successful here at home.”
The bill authorizes up to $220 million in total federal loan guarantees. The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior will jointly identify federal lands prioritized for ecological restoration and determine eligibility for facilities located within a 250-mile radius. Eligible applicants include individuals or entities operating sawmills or other wood-processing facilities in rural areas.
Representative Terri Sewell, who co-sponsored the bill, said, “Alabama’s rural landowners and forestry sector too often can’t access sawmills and other wood processing infrastructure which increase property values and advance the mission of forestry conservation. I am proud to join Rep. Newhouse in introducing the SAWMILL Act, which will bring critical infrastructure to rural communities, expand access to new markets for rural landowners, and encourage conservation of the environment.”
Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Tim Sheehy and Jeff Merkley. The House bill will next move to committee review before advancing for consideration by the full chamber.