U.S. Forest Industry Workers Meet with Members of Congress

 

American workers employed in the U.S. forest products industry visited Washington, D.C., this week to meet with members of Congress and administration officials. Their goal was to educate officials on the impacts of legislative and regulatory decisions on the environment as well as the families and communities that depend on forest products manufacturing for their livelihood.

The Pulp & Paperworkers' Resource Council (PPRC) is a grassroots organization of hourly employees in the forest products industry who educate on issues that affect American manufacturing jobs in their industry. During their three days of meetings, 73 PPRC members made 544 legislative and administration visits, including the office of the vice president.

"Communities around the country need the types of good-paying jobs that forest products manufacturing provides, whether it's making paper, building products, bath tissue or boxes--products Americans use every day," said David Wise, PPRC chairman. "The PPRC believes that our elected and government officials need to protect the environment while at the same time support the global competitiveness of the U.S. forest products industry. Overly burdensome regulations and legislation ultimately hurt the U.S. workers we represent, our families, friends, and neighbors that live in our communities."

PPRC members from across the U.S. discussed several issues, including:

• Regulatory reform. The regulatory system is a drag on our economy, job creation, and the ability of the U.S. industry to compete globally. The PPRC seeks a more balanced and economical approach that does more good than harm, is based on sound science, and is transparent and accountable to the public. 
• The carbon neutrality of biomass and manufacturing byproducts. The carbon neutrality of biomass harvested from sustainably managed forests has been recognized repeatedly by agencies and institutions around the world. Forest products industry manufacturers use biomass residuals to power their facilities, reducing fossil fuel use and providing significant carbon reduction benefits to the environment. The PPRC urges policymakers to formally recognize the industry's use of biomass for energy as carbon neutral. 
• Endangered species. Forest products industry employees support Endangered Species Act (ESA) reform. The ESA needs to be modernized and updated after 30 years. 
• Fish consumption (human health water quality criteria [HHWQC]). At a national and state level, the EPA has been imposing policies based on unrealistic assumptions that will make HHWQC more stringent, resulting in more waters being listed as impaired and creating extremely costly, unattainable permit limits for manufacturers. 
• Preserving paper options for consumers. The PPRC supports policies that recognize paper-based communications are critically important for millions of Americans. The move to digitize all forms of communication creates a disadvantage for American households without internet access and the 45% of seniors who do not own a computer. Increasingly, citizens are being denied the option to receive federal services and communications in paper format. 

In addition, PPRC members thanked senators and members of Congress who have joined the Paper and Packaging Caucus, while requesting others join the Caucus.  

The U.S. forest products industry employs about 900,000 people—many in small, rural communities. It ranks among the top 10 manufacturers in 45 states and represents 4% of U.S. manufacturing GDP. The PPRC is dedicated to conserving the environment while taking into account the economic stability of American manufacturing workers and their mills' surrounding communities.