the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated this week as National Forest Products Week to recognize the important contribution of forest products to our economy and environment. This week means a great deal to industries and employees in the State of Idaho and citizens nationally. In Idaho alone, forestry, logging, wood products, and pulp and paper production support more than 10,600 jobs, contribute over $430 million to the local economy through wages, and produce a value of shipments of over $2.6 billion. The industry continues to grow and is taking on new and innovative projects like the development of tall wood buildings. Over the past several years, a number of tall wood projects have been completed around the world, demonstrating successful applications of next generation lumber and mass timber technologies. Today, the concept is gaining traction in the U.S.--with more architects opting for a sustainable solution for attaining safe, cost-effective, and high- performing tall buildings in urban dense settings. Years of research and real-life experience have proven that wood buildings can withstand the effects of major wind and seismic events. These structures, when properly designed and constructed, protect lives and preserve building function. Wood buildings are durable and can be designed to last a lifetime. For example, a mass timber system was used in the 1974 rebuild of the nine-story Butler Square Building in Minneapolis.…
On the recordOctober 22, 2015
Share
More from Mike Crapo
May 29, 2026
Idahoans were unfairly left out of the RECA program for far too long. I was proud we finally secured coverage for victims in the program’s reauthorization signed into law last year.
Mar 3, 2026
There is no debate that Jeffrey Epstein's crimes of sexual abuses and other crimes are appalling. And the investigation there is, ongoing, must focus on bringing those who participated to justice. The Justice Department already has been…
Jun 28, 2025
This bill prevents an over-$4 trillion tax hike and makes the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent.
Jul 31, 2026
This product reflects years of bipartisan efforts to translate stories of casework frustrations into tangible fixes designed to make the IRS work more efficiently for the American people.





