Hardwood Federation 9/17/18 Update

Informational Update

The Hardwood Federation’s annual Fly-In to Washington D.C. was held last week and a record number of hardwood executives participated.  More than 80 leaders of the U.S. hardwood industry came to D.C. to meet with Members of Congress and the Administration about federal issues impacting their companies, employees and local communities.  Thank you to all that were able to make the trip…your efforts on behalf of the industry are appreciated!
 
It total, hardwood executives attended over 120 meetings on the Hill, including three with top level Trump Administration officials including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and senior staff and advisors of U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Vice President Mike Pence.   Hardwood Federation Fly-In participants shared their concerns about the current trade dispute with China and the serious negative impacts the retaliatory tariffs imposed by the Chinese are having on many U.S. hardwood companies; sawmills in particularly are seeing steep declines in orders and shipments.  The importance of reauthorizing the Farm Bill by the end of September was also a priority issue for the Fly-In.  The Farm Bills includes strong federal forest management reform efforts, essential program funding for hardwood export promotion and much needed support for tall wood building research.  Comments regarding the current trade situation and its impact on U.S. hardwoods were shared with each office we visited as was a fact sheet on the benefits of the Farm Bill on the industry.  Both are attached for your information.
 
You can read more about the Fly-In and the issues discussed in our upcoming e-newsletter.
 
Dana Lee Cole
Executive Director
The Hardwood Federation
1101 K Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC  20005
Phone:  (202) 463-2705