Congress recognizes sustainably harvested, U.S. wood with new legislation

Pittsburgh—Recent passage of Senate Resolution 411 and House Resolution 81, has granted Congress’ recognition, stamp of approval and full endorsement of the U.S. hardwood industry and hardwood products.

While both resolutions can be reviewed in their entirety at govtrack.us, the following are a few highlights from Senate Resolution 411:

• Hardwood trees grown in the United States are an abundant, sustainable and legal resource, as documented annually by the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program of the Forest Service;
• Despite development pressure and cropland needs, Department of Agriculture data show that the inventory of United States hardwood has more than doubled over the past 50 years;
• The Department of Agriculture reports that annual United States hardwood growth exceeds hardwood removals by a significant margin of 1.9 to 1, and net annual growth has exceeded removals continuously since 1952;
• The World Bank ranks the United States in the top 10% of all countries for government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and rule of law with respect to hardwood resources;
• United States hardwoods are net absorbers of carbon and are widely recognized to be critical to reducing the United States carbon footprint;
• United States hardwoods are a renewable resource and bio-based material;
• United States hardwoods are recyclable and hardwoods used in construction can often be restored and reused in later construction;
• United States hardwoods and the products derived from United States hardwoods are prized throughout the world as a superior and long-lasting building material.

With this, the Senate;

(1)  recognizes that U.S. hardwoods are an abundant, sustainable and legal resource under United States law; and

(2) and urges that U.S. hardwoods and products derived should be given full consideration in any program to promote construction of environmentally preferable commercial, public, or private buildings.

This milestone legislation puts to rest concerns regarding U.S. hardwoods. It not recognizes hardwoods to be ever renewing, abundant, and sustainable and that products made from U.S. hardwoods are environmentally preferable.

Visit hardwoodcouncil.com to learn more.