AWC, NAFO, SLMA Joint Statement on Introduction of the 2018 Farm Bill in the Senate

The American Wood Council, the National Alliance of Forest Owners and the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association responded in a joint statement to the introduction of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the farm bill.

“We applaud the Committee for introducing the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, a bipartisan bill, that supports many important policies and key programs that encourage American innovation and support our nation’s private forest owners and forest products industry.  The inclusion of the wood innovation grant program (WIG) and research provision of the Timber Innovation Act (S. 538) recognizes that research and development of mass timber products is within the U.S. Forest Service’s mandate “to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations,”  while bringing much-needed jobs to rural America.  WIGs represent a critical bridge between research and private sector development, providing financial and technical support for projects to get off the ground.  We look forward to working with Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow and the rest of the Committee to get a bipartisan farm bill across the finish line with continued support of our nation’s private forests and wood products manufacturing.”