August 2, 2012

This legislation, which passed the House today, reauthorizes disaster assistance programs including Livestock Indemnity Payments (LIP), Livestock Forage Disaster Programs (LFP), and Emergency Assistance for Livestock (ELAP). Assistance will be provided retroactively for losses incurred from October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2013 as a result of disaster, adverse weather, or other environmental circumstances. It will also reimburse eligible ranchers for livestock losses due to attack by animals, like wolves, reintroduced by the federal government. These programs were part of the 2008 Farm Bill, but expired in 2011, requiring them to be reauthorized by Congress. The bill now heads to the Senate to be considered.