Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the tremendous impact forests have on our rural economies and natural environment nationwide. Next week is National Forest Products Week. In Arkansas, we know that growing and sustaining jobs in forest communities begins with ensuring that working forests continue to thrive. Most working forests--over 70 percent--are privately owned by families, small and large businesses, and an increasingly broad array of Americans who invest in forest ownership. When forest owners have confidence in their ability to manage and sell their timber productively, they will continue to grow and invest in forests and provide the foundation for the rest of the forest products supply chain. Federal policies have a significant impact on the long-term economic and environmental benefits we derive from these working forests and the livelihoods of those who own and manage them. The forest products industry represents a key economic driver for rural economies nationwide, totaling nearly $92.8 billion in GDP. In my home State of Arkansas, environmentally friendly forestry-related businesses support more than 62,000 jobs, with more than $2.4 billion in annual payroll. A strong marketplace for forest products helps keep rural America employed and U.S. forests robust. These healthy forests, in turn, provide crucial habitat for species, filter America's drinking water, sequester carbon, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities for the public.…”