    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Page H844]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                   RELIEF FOR VIRGINIA'S FARMERS AND LOGGERS

      (Mr. McGUIRE asked and was given permission to address the House for
    1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
      Mr. McGUIRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an important
    milestone in my congressional career. Last week, I introduced my first
    bill as a Member of this body. I introduced the Agricultural and
    Forestry Hauling Efficiency Act.
      For me, this is a safety concern. On the one hand, this bill helps
    farmers and loggers feed and fuel this country by helping them move
    product across the Commonwealth of Virginia directly from their farms
    to their processors, but the bill also increases transportation safety.
      Agriculture and logging are two of the largest industries in the
    Commonwealth of Virginia, combining for over $120 billion in annual
    economic impact. However, unlike many other States, currently Virginia
    loggers primarily use rural roadways to transport product because of
    weight limitations on interstate highways.
      My bill increases the maximum weight allowance from 80,000 pounds to
    90,000 pounds on interstate highways in Virginia for trucks hauling
    certain agricultural and forest products. This will ensure a safer and
    more efficient transportation system while reducing congestion and
    fatalities on secondary roads.

      I am proud that the first bill that I introduced in Congress is very
    important not only for my district but for the rest of the
    Commonwealth.
      I thank Congressman  Rob Wittman for supporting this legislation, and
    I thank the associations that advocated for this bill.

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