S. 2281: Rural Recovery Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Rural Recovery Act of 2025, aims to assist rural communities in recovering from disasters declared by the President. It establishes a program under the Department of Agriculture that provides technical assistance to eligible rural communities affected by such disasters.

Definitions

• Disaster: A major disaster as declared under the Stafford Act.
• Eligible rural community: A rural community that is either fully or partially covered by a disaster declaration.
• Rural community: Defined as any area with a population of less than 20,000, though the Secretary of Agriculture can modify this definition.

Program Establishment

The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with creating a program to provide technical assistance specifically to eligible rural communities affected by disasters.

Providers of Technical Assistance

• Technical assistance is to be provided by:
• State offices within the rural development mission area.
• Contracted entities (public bodies or nonprofit organizations) that work with these State offices.
• Priority will be given to certain eligible entities when entering into contracts.
• Providers must coordinate with state governments and local stakeholders to ensure equitable outreach to the affected rural communities.

Requirements of Technical Assistance

The technical assistance provided will include:

• Planning for disaster recovery, identifying potential solutions, and sources of funding.
• Helping communities prepare and submit applications for federal and state recovery assistance.
• Addressing issues with denied applications for assistance.
• Implementing received funding for disaster recovery from various agencies.

This assistance may also cover areas such as:

• Telecommunications
• Water infrastructure
• Housing
• Energy infrastructure
• Community facilities
• Business infrastructure
• Local government infrastructure

Eligibility Duration

• Communities can receive assistance for three years after the disaster declaration.
• The Secretary may extend this period for an additional three years on a case-by-case basis.
• More than one community affected by the same disaster can receive assistance simultaneously.

Funding

• Funding will be made available to state offices as soon as a disaster is declared, without requiring an application.
• Funds will be allocated based on a formula considering the population affected by the disaster, using recent census data.

Authorization of Appropriations

The bill authorizes the appropriation of $50 million each fiscal year for the implementation of this program.

Relevant Companies

• DUK (Duke Energy): Potentially impacted due to their involvement in energy infrastructure recovery and restoration in rural areas affected by disasters.
• PNW (Pinnacle West Capital): May be involved in providing energy utilities and recovery services in disaster-stricken rural areas.
• AWK (American Water Works): Likely to be influenced by increased demand for water infrastructure recovery services in rural communities after disasters.