Yesterday, NLBMDA submitted comments to the House Agriculture Committee for a hearing on the wood products industry’s economic outlook following the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing, which took place in the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, focused on the wood product industry’s supply chain interruptions, labor shortages and transportation challenges.
NLBMDA highlighted its support for several legislative solutions that would provide greater certainty and stability to the wood product supply chain including improved forest management and wildfire prevention, renewal of the Softwood Lumber Agreement with Canada and workforce development initiatives.
These comments are in line with NLBMDA-approved policy recommendations that will strengthen the wood product supply chain moving forward and provide much needed relief to small businesses as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Below you will find a summary of NLBMDA’s comments.
Summary of NLBMDA Comments:
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Forest Management and Wildfire Prevention. Pass H.R. 4302, the Active Forest Management, Wildfire Prevention and Community Protection Act, which would take proactive and meaningful steps to improve the health of our nation’s forests.
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Softwood Lumber Agreement. Advocate for the renewal of a Softwood Lumber Agreement with Canada.
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Oppose Extension of COVID-19 Supplemental Unemployment Benefits: While LBM dealers support reasonable policies to aid workers in times of economic need, NLBMDA opposes any further extension of the COVID-19 supplemental unemployment insurance program which has been in place since the start of the pandemic.
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Pass the Future Logging Careers Act (H.R. 2727/S. 1262). Would help facilitate adequate successional planning for many multi-generational family-owned businesses common in the forest products supply chain.
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Pass the DRIVE Safe Act (H.R. 1745/S. 659). Would establish an apprenticeship program that would allow for the legal operation of a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce by CDL holders under the age of 21.
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Pass the Safe Routes Act (H.R. 2213). Would allow logging trucks that meet state-determined legal requirements to travel up to 150 air miles on the Federal Interstate Highway System.
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Pass the Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act (H.R. 1341). Would require the Department of Transportation to establish an advisory board charged with identifying barriers to entry for women in the trucking industry and help identify and establish training and mentorship programs for women.
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Vocational Schools and Apprenticeships. Support technical and vocational schools and apprenticeship efforts in order to address the workforce skills gap.
For any further questions, please contact Director of Government Affairs Kevin McKenney at [email protected].
