[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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