{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fulcher.house.gov/2021/04/14/id-70305241-65d9-4587-9aec-eaca35c5edfc/", "Idaho Delegation Urges USDA to Distribute Timber Hauling Relief", "2021-04-14", "2021", "2021-04", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Russ Fulcher", "F000469", "fulcher.house.gov", "fulcher", "https://fulcher.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Contact:\n\nAlexah Rogge\n\n202-225-6611\n\nalexah.rogge@mail.house.gov\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and U.S. Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson (all R-Idaho) want quick action on assistance to the timber industry. The Idaho congressional delegation sent a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack urging him to quickly distribute $200 million in funding for the timber industry that was included in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act passed in December.\n\n\u201cIdaho\u2019s forest sector is responsible for thousands of jobs, including loggers and timber haulers whose careers sustain many of Idaho\u2019s rural communities,\u201d the letter read in part. \u201cWhile many of Idaho\u2019s agricultural producers have received business-saving relief from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, our timber producers continue to suffer.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack:\n\nWe are writing you today regarding the $200 million included in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act to provide relief to timber harvesting and hauling businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we urge you to move swiftly to disburse these funds as Congress intended, to provide necessary relief for one of Idaho\u2019s top industries.\n\nOn March 24, 2021, you announced the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative, which includes assistance to timber harvesting and hauling operations. While we were pleased to see this announcement, we are concerned with the slow rollout and urge you to distribute this Congressionally directed relief as soon as possible.\n\nIdaho\u2019s forest sector is responsible for thousands of jobs, including loggers and timber haulers whose careers sustain many of Idaho\u2019s rural communities. While many of Idaho\u2019s agricultural producers have received business-saving relief from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, our timber producers continue to suffer.\n\nIt has been over three months since Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act with wide bipartisan support. Idaho\u2019s timber harvesters, haulers and the rural communities they support cannot afford to wait any longer. Therefore, we urge you to act swiftly and efficiently to ensure Idaho\u2019s timber industry receives the necessary financial assistance as directed by Congress.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:42:19Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fulcher.house.gov/2021/04/14/id-70305241-65d9-4587-9aec-eaca35c5edfc/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9738989174365997, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}