Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my bipartisan amendment to the Fix Our Forests Act, a terrific piece of bipartisan legislation, and I compliment both Chairman Westerman and the gentleman from California (Mr. Peters) for their leadership on this. My amendment would, if enacted, secure the future of the American white oak, which is one of the most important tree species in the Eastern United States. It occupies 104 million acres in this country and is vital for biodiversity, wildlife, and our economy. American white oak is used in almost every forest product, including furniture, flooring, cabinetry, barrels for aging wine, American whiskey and, yes, Kentucky bourbon, which is America's native spirit by the definition passed by Congress, and which must be aged in new charred white oak barrels. Kentucky's Sixth District is home to some of the world's most renowned distilleries. The industry as a whole produces over $9 billion and more than 23,000 jobs for the Commonwealth annually. Additionally, Kentucky distillers exported over $500 million worth of products abroad in 2022. The problem is that while there is ample mature white oak now, there will not be in the future unless immediate and widespread action is taken. Young stands of white oak simply don't exist in the amount needed to support wildlife and sustainable forestry and do not exist for the future of the bourbon industry.…”