Representative Frank D. Lucas has urged members of the House of Representatives to support legislation designed to strengthen federal disaster recovery programmes for landowners, arguing that increasing natural disasters have exposed the need for faster and more effective conservation assistance.
Speaking on the House floor in Washington, DC, the Oklahoma congressman called on colleagues to vote in favour of S.629, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, saying the measure would improve financial support for landowners recovering from wildfires, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters.
Lucas said the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) remain essential tools for helping landowners restore damaged property following severe weather events and natural disasters.
Addressing the House, he said:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S.629, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, introduced by Senator Fischer of Nebraska.”
The congressman noted that the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters have made the two federal conservation programmes more important than ever.
“The Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program are two critical cost-share programs available to landowners following a natural disaster. Given the natural disasters we’ve witnessed, including wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding, these programs have remained critically important.”
Lucas highlighted the growing threat posed by wildfires, particularly as fire experts anticipate another demanding fire season. He pointed to the scale of wildfire activity already recorded this year, noting that millions of acres have burned across tens of thousands of separate fires.
“Wildfires continue to present significant challenges, especially in the West, due to their increasing intensity and the extensive number of acres burned each year. Forest managers and wildfire experts have been predicting that 2026 will be a particularly challenging fire year. So far this year, we have already witnessed approximately 2.7 million acres burned in over 34,000 fires, and it is only June.”
He also observed that destructive wildfires are increasingly affecting areas beyond the western United States, with the Great Plains experiencing significant outbreaks in recent months.
“Recently, devastating wildfires have occurred on the plains of Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, instead of just being confined to the forests and mountains of the West. This year, we saw approximately 300,000 acres burn after multiple wildfires ignited in Oklahoma and Kansas this past February.”
In addition to wildfire damage, Lucas pointed to the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which created substantial recovery needs across several southeastern states. He said the scale of destruction demonstrated why timely federal assistance remains critical for affected landowners.
“In addition, due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we have observed significant needs for emergency assistance resulting from the devastation in southeastern states, including the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Natural disasters have inflicted great damage on private property across the country at no fault of the landowners.”
Under the current framework, the Emergency Conservation Program provides technical expertise and financial assistance to restore agricultural land damaged by floods, hurricanes, wildfires and droughts. Meanwhile, the Emergency Forest Restoration Program offers financial assistance to non-industrial private forestland owners seeking to recover from similar natural disasters.
Lucas explained the role of both programmes during his remarks.
“Under ECP, landowners can receive both technical and financial assistance for repairs and restoration of land adversely affected by natural disasters, including floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts. Additionally, EFRP provides financial assistance to non-industrial private forestland owners to support recovery efforts following similar natural disasters.”
According to Lucas, although both programmes are widely relied upon, participants have reported challenges including delayed payments and insufficient upfront funding to begin urgent restoration work. The proposed legislation seeks to address those concerns by allowing advance payments of up to 75% of total project costs, clarifying eligibility requirements for cost-share payments and extending the timeframe for using ECP funding.
He said:
“While these programs are critical, participants have reported ongoing issues with payment delays and insufficient upfront assistance to cover the costs of urgent conservation needs. To address this issue, S.629 allows for advanced payments of up to 75% of the total project cost for both programs, clarifies eligibility for cost-share payments, and allows for a longer period for the use of ECP payments.”
Lucas concluded his remarks by encouraging fellow lawmakers to support the legislation, saying it would help improve disaster recovery efforts for landowners facing the growing impact of natural disasters.
“I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to vote favorably.”
