[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5680-H5681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING NATIONAL FOREST PRODUCTS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize this 
week as National Forest Products Week.
  In Pennsylvania, forest products have long been an essential industry 
by producing logs, lumber, furniture, paper, and more. These are 
products and materials that Americans nationwide use each and every 
day.
  The forest products industry employs roughly 64,000 Pennsylvanians 
and generates $36 billion in total economic impact statewide.
  I am proud to represent Pennsylvania's only national forest, the 
Allegheny National Forest. This incredible forest, established in 1923, 
spans more than half a million acres in the northern portion of my 
district, across Forest, Elk, McKean, and Warren Counties.
  Whether it is forestry, energy production, timber harvesting, or an 
abundance of outdoor activities, Allegheny National Forest has it all.
  For generations, the ANF has brought economic prosperity to our 
region, and it is essential that we are able to contribute to the 
longevity and

[[Page H5681]]

sustainability of the Allegheny National Forest.
  In my role as Republican leader on the House Agriculture Committee, I 
am dedicated to putting forth policies that promote natural solutions 
to keep our forests healthy for generations to come.
  These policies include working closely with the Forest Service, a 
division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to manage our forests, 
foster healthier lands, and allow this economic engine to thrive.
  By supporting the Forest Service and encouraging active stewardship, 
we can support healthy forests and rural communities for generations to 
come.
  Currently, we have two bills focused on improving our forest 
management: the RESTORE Act from Doug LaMalfa from California and the 
FIRE Act from Dusty Johnson from South Dakota. These bills aim to 
improve and expedite forest management and restoration projects for 
healthier and more resilient forests.
  Of course, we cannot talk about forest products without discussing 
the environmental benefits of a well-managed forest and forest 
productivity. We know the best solutions are natural solutions, not 
burdensome regulations or carbon taxes, but active innovation.
  Landowners and foresters are among the strongest environmental 
advocates in our country. I recognize their efforts and continue to 
promote forest health by empowering the original stewards of our land.
  According to the Forest Service, forests are sequestering 14 percent 
of all U.S. carbon emissions. That number could nearly double with 
policies that increase forest management, forest health, and forest 
production.
  Active management, including timbering, holds the greatest potential 
for sequestering carbon and storing it indefinitely in forest products.
  To help encourage new markets for forest products and forest health, 
I was proud to help lead the Timber Innovation Act. This bipartisan 
legislation, which was included in the 2018 farm bill, directly 
supports the development of cross-laminated timber and tall wood 
building construction.
  Mr. Speaker, Forest Products Week is more than forestry or timber 
harvesting. It is a time to focus on the great resources our forests 
provide. From a natural habitat for wildlife, to an abundance of 
outdoor recreational activities, to carbon sequestration, to a strong 
rural economy, our forests, big and small, must continue to be utilized 
for our needs today and for our future generations.

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