[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              VIRGINIA'S PAPER AND WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY

  (Mr. GRIFFITH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the paper and wood 
products industry in Virginia, which employs over 1,500 men and women 
in my district; and I wish to recognize the achievements of the 
industry in improving purchased energy efficiencies.
  Sustainability is inherent to the pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, and 
wood products manufacturing industry. These products are made from 
renewable and recyclable resources, and these companies have a good 
track record of managing natural resources in order to ensure that they 
can continue making useful products in the future.
  In 2011, the industry established the Better Practices, Better Planet 
2020 initiative, pursuing one of the most extensive sets of 
sustainability goals established for a U.S. manufacturing industry. 
This week, the American Forest and Paper Association is releasing their 
2016 report on the industry's performance.
  The industry has improved their purchased energy use per ton of 
production by 8.1 percent in 2014 compared to the 2005 baseline year, 
nearing the goal of at least a 10 percent improvement--and some pulp 
and paper mills are largely energy self-sufficient. In 2014, 15 percent 
of electricity needed to power manufacturing processes was self-
generated, in some cases supplying energy to the electric utility grid.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this industry on 
taking steps to improve environmental performance, continued economic 
progress, and support of our communities. I am proud of this industry's 
progress and their continued commitment to advance sustainability 
performance and the fact that they provide jobs throughout the United 
States.

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