U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Cindy Hyde-Smith Introduce Emergency Pine Beetle Response Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and several of her Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2025. The bill seeks to help private landowners, timber cutting and hauling businesses, and local municipalities respond to forest-related disasters, including pine beetle outbreaks that ravage our forests.

"Pine beetle infestations devastate forests to the tune of millions of dollars in economic losses, particularly in states like Alabama. Outbreaks spread fast and have a direct impact on those whose livelihoods depend on healthy pine forests for timber production. I am proud to support this important legislation that strengthens existing federal programs and helps Alabama landowners respond when facing this disaster," Senator Britt said.

The Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2025 would strengthen existing federal programs and give the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tools to combat ongoing pine beetle infestations. It would introduce a cost-share mechanism to help landowners, loggers, haulers, and tree removal services implement expensive disaster mitigation techniques.

It would also authorize the USDA to issue grants to states and municipalities for infested tree removal and related activities, as well as administer program assistance following national disaster designations and pine beetle infestations.

"The end of drought conditions didn't end the pine beetle infestation or lessen costs to combat them. There is a real need to tailor USDA disaster programs to truly help states like Mississippi where most of its forests are privately owned or within city limits. Most of these folks do not have the upfront money to carry out timely or thorough eradication work," Senator Hyde-Smith said. "The Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act addresses these issues effectively."

This legislation will apply not only to drought, but to other natural disasters that increase the likelihood for outbreaks such as wildfires, hurricanes or excessive winds, floods, or other events within 12 months prior. Read the full text of the bill here.

The Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2025 is cosponsored by Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.).

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