[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 156 (Friday, October 23, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1526-E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL FOREST PRODUCTS WEEK

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                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 23, 2015

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
importance of the forest products industry as we celebrate National 
Forest Products Week. The forest products industry provides critical 
contributions to the economy of Georgia and the United States.
  In my home state of Georgia, forestry and logging activities employ 
over 8,600 people; wood products manufacturing facilities employ over 
16,800; and pulp and paper manufacturing facilities provide over 18,800 
jobs--amounting to a minimum of 44,200 jobs provided by the forest 
products industry in the State of Georgia alone. Furthermore, these 
industries contribute over $2 billion to annual payrolls in Georgia, 
which underscores the vitality of the forestry industry to the state's 
economy.
  In addition to the positive economic impact, the forest products 
industry has made important technological advances in building design 
to improve the energy efficiency, speed of construction, and 
environmental performance of buildings. Industry innovation has created 
new opportunities to expand the use of wood building materials in 
construction by providing more cost-savings, quicker construction 
times, and fewer impacts to the environment than alternative building 
materials.
  In fact, lumber is the only building material that naturally-impounds 
carbon, significantly reducing the overall carbon footprint of a 
construction project. Additionally, wood manufacturing requires far 
less energy and results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other 
common construction materials, as noted in a study by the U.S. Forest 
Service.
  As Americans continue to improve the energy efficiency of our 
buildings, it is essential that we encourage the use of wood in homes 
and buildings, particularly federal government buildings, where the 
efficiency savings gained from using forest products can be passed on 
to the taxpayers.
  Given the positive economic and environmental impact on Georgia and 
on the country as whole, I am pleased to honor the fine companies and 
employees of this industry during National Forest Products Week.

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