[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 411 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 411

  Recognizing the importance and sustainability of the United States 
  hardwoods industry and urging that United States hardwoods and the 
      products derived from United States hardwoods be given full 
consideration in any program to promote construction of environmentally 
          preferable commercial, public, or private buildings.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             February 9 (legislative day, February 8), 2010

 Mrs. Lincoln (for herself and Mr. Chambliss) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the importance and sustainability of the United States 
  hardwoods industry and urging that United States hardwoods and the 
      products derived from United States hardwoods be given full 
consideration in any program to promote construction of environmentally 
          preferable commercial, public, or private buildings.

Whereas 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;
Whereas, 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;
Whereas 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;
Whereas the World Bank ranks the United States in the top 10 percent of all 
        countries for government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and rule of 
        law with respect to hardwood resources;
Whereas United States hardwoods have been awarded the highest conservation crop 
        rating available under the Department of Agriculture Environmental 
        Benefits Index;
Whereas United States hardwoods are net absorbers of carbon and are widely 
        recognized to be critical to reducing the United States carbon 
        footprint;
Whereas United States hardwoods are a valuable raw material that, when used 
        properly, provide an incentive for landowners to maintain their land in 
        a forested condition rather than clearing the land for development or 
        other alternative land use;
Whereas United States hardwoods are a renewable resource and bio-based material;
Whereas United States hardwoods are recyclable, and hardwoods used in 
        construction can often be restored and reused in later construction;
Whereas United States hardwoods are grown primarily in those States located 
        along or east of the Mississippi River and in the Pacific Northwest, 
        but, with a presence in every State, the hardwood industry is 1 of the 
        major sources of economic activity and sustenance in many rural 
        communities;
Whereas United States hardwoods are grown by thousands of small family 
        landowners who may harvest trees only once or twice in a generation; and
Whereas United States hardwoods and the products derived from United States 
        hardwoods are prized throughout the world as a superior and long-lasting 
        building material: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that United States hardwoods are an 
        abundant, sustainable, and legal resource under United States 
        law; and
            (2) urges that United States hardwoods and products derived 
        from United States hardwoods should be given full consideration 
        in any program to promote construction of environmentally 
        preferable commercial, public, or private buildings.
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