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Hardwood Industry Makes Their Voice Heard On Tuesday, October 14, the Hardwood Federation transmitted a letter to Trump Administration officials making the case that U.S. hardwood companies should be included in any trade assistance programs addressing agriculture industries negatively impacted by trade and tariff policies. While the farming community, particularly those how harvest soybeans are the focus of significant attention as exports have slowed, it is important for decision makers at the highest level to understand that the hardwood industry, an important agricultural industry sector, is also suffering from uncertain global markets. The letter was sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutkin, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Over 430 hardwood mills, manufacturers, yards, logging companies, and suppliers signed on to the letter. Working with Monument Advocacy, a D.C. based consulting group hired by the Federation to increase our outreach capacity, the industry letter has resulted in significant attention from the press. You can see a sample of recent stories covering the letter here. And we are not done yet. Monument continues to share the letter with state and local press outlets and connect hardwood industry members with journalists as requested. If you have press contacts in your local area, feel free to share the letter and encourage coverage. Articles from home states are also being shared with Members of Congress. The federal government shutdown has closed the doors of many offices, but officials are still working in their home states. It’s a great time to share the letter with your representatives and senators. You can find office e-mail addresses at Contact.Gov. The Hardwood Federation continues to focus advocacy efforts on raising awareness of current challenges facing the industry and the need to structure trade agreements that support exports or provide bridge support to sustain hardwood operations until such deals can be achieved. Thank you to everyone that has supported the Hardwood Federation as we make every effort to address the challenges of today. |
The United Voice of the Hardwood Industry The Hardwood Federation brings together 30 associations dedicated to promoting and supporting the hardwood industry. We are the voice of the industry in Washington and we are proud to represent you. If you would like to make a tax deductible Corporate Contribution to the Hardwood Federation, please click the button below!
PAC Contributions are not eligible for on-line processing through this link. For additional information on how to support the Hardwood Federation PAC, please click here. ___________________________________________________ Washington Watch Welcome to the Second Session of the 119th Congress. The Senate is out this week while the House is here beginning Tuesday. The focus of House leadership will be on a package of Fiscal Year 2026 funding bills that they hope to pass before the chamber is scheduled to recess on Friday. Remember that the current Continuing Resolution funding the federal government expires January 30. As of late Monday, appropriators were trying to finalize bipartisan, bicameral text for the Department of Defense, Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Homeland Security bills. On committee action, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will meet on Wednesday to mark up about a dozen clean air bills that would largely provide relief to the regulated community. One bill, H.R. 6409, would preclude emissions emanating outside the U.S. from counting toward compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Another (H.R. 4218) would change the NAAQS compliance review cycle from 5 to 10 years. One of the other bills under consideration (H.R. 161) would change the definition of “modification” under the Clean Air Act’s New Source Review provisions so that a change at a facility would only trigger New Source Review if that modification results in increased emissions. U.S. House of Representatives
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