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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.



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Washington Watch

Welcome to the First Session of the 119th Congress.

Both the House and Senate are in session this week, looking to wrap up year-end business before Members of Congress break for the holidays.

Up this week in the House is the 3,100-page National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA. This comprehensive measure is reauthorized annually and provides direction and funding for our country’s military readiness and capabilities. Recall last year at this time, the Federation was fighting off an attempt by then-Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) to attach an amendment to the FY 2025 NDAA bill to prevent forest management activities on a national forest in his state. Thankfully, we are not confronted with that challenge this year. However, the Federation team will be monitoring action closely for amendments that may impact our sector. The Senate will take up the NDAA bill later this month.

Also poised for House floor consideration in the next ten days is a capital formation package of bills, as well as permitting reform—namely the SPEED Act. This legislation, sponsored by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), would expedite and streamline permitting reviews under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).

U.S. House of Representatives

  • The House is in Session.

U.S. Senate

  • The Senate is in Session.

Cheat Sheet

December 11, 2025

Hardwood Federation Seeking Relief Funds From Administration:  As we noted earlier this week, the Trump Administration announced on Monday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $12 billion available in one time bridge payments to the US agriculture sector in response to trade market disruptions and increased production costs. Row crop farmers will benefit from up to $11 billion of the allocation through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program. The remaining $1 billion will be reserved for specialty crops and commodities not covered in the FBA Program.

The Hardwood Federation is putting all our efforts into making sure the Administration realizes that part of the $1 billion remaining should be used to support the US Hardwood industry.  This morning the Federation and Kentucky hardwood companies provided briefing materials to the Office of Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) who is meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick tomorrow to personally advocate for hardwood relief dollars. The Secretary is close to the President and other decision makers in the White House.  We are also working closely with House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson and his team to provide data and facts about impacts on the industry to other influential White House staff. 

The Federation and the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) were also contacted by leadership at the US Forest Service and asked to provide an overview of the state of the industry as the US Department of Agriculture is clearly recognizing that the challenges facing US hardwood interests, and indeed the entire forest products sector, are rapidly becoming overwhelming. The joint statement developed by the Federation and NHLA (with significant input from the American Hardwood Export Council) focused on the longtime impacts of trade disputes with China, competition from look-a-like products, and rising milling capacity in Vietnam and China.  Softwood, pellet, paper, landowner, and logger associations were also asked for comments.

The Harwood story is definitely being heard by both Congress and the Administration.  Now is not the time to slow our efforts.  The Federation will continue to work through our DC contacts to communicate the serious stresses facing the industry.  And we cannot emphasize enough how much hearing from hardwood companies directly matters to Members of Congress.  Make contact now, ask them to tell the White House that the hardwood industry must be included in relief programs.  The more noise we make, the better our chances of success.  Look for further updates and calls to action next week.

Bill Introduced To Make Permanent the Timber Production Loan Guarantees:  Just before the Thanksgiving break, Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity (SAWMILL) Act. The measure would permanently reauthorize the existing Timber Production Expansion Loan Guaranteeprogram or TPEP. This program offers low-interest, long-term loans for timber and wood processing companies that processes ecosystem restoration byproducts from USDA Forest Service National Forest System lands. Eligible facilities must be within 250 miles of  high or high priority forests areas as identified by USDA, timber processed must contribute to ecological restoration projects, and a significant amount of raw materials must come from federal or Tribal lands. The USDA Fact Sheet has additional criteria for the current program.  Companion legislation is pending in the Senate (S. 2221) sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).

Thoughts on the Cheat Sheet? Let us know at Hardwood.Federation@hardwoodfederation.com! 

 



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