Jeff Flake: “Nobody here is questioning the need for research. Every industry does it. Every industry has to do it to survive because…”

“Nobody here is questioning the need for research. Every industry does it. Every industry has to do it to survive because of competition. What I question here is why the taxpayer is spending $6 million every year on this same earmark for a $60 billion industry. This money goes to universities all over the country, so does research money from paper companies that are in the department next door. There is research being funded. This is a pittance compared to the other research dollars that are being spent. Thank goodness, private industry knows that they have to do it. But why does a taxpayer have to be on the hook again and again and again year after year after year for this same earmark for wood utilization?”