On the recordOctober 22, 2015
I wish to recognize the important role of the forest products industry as we celebrate National Forest Products Week. Montana's forests are a treasured part of our State's heritage which many of us hold so dear--not only are Montana's forests where we hunt, fish, explore, and live, but our forest products industry provides thousands of jobs for Montana families and a boost to our State's economy. Sadly, many forest products jobs in Montana have been lost this year in large part due to an insufficient supply of logs from Federal lands. I'm fighting for commonsense reforms to restore active management across Montana so we can get more Montanans back to work, improve forest health, increase access to public lands, and provide much-needed sustainable revenues to our forested counties. These reforms must give the Forest Service the tools and resources it needs to increase responsible timber harvests and protect their work from obstructionist tactics that continue to encumber a substantial portion of the timber volume from Montana's national forests. Congress should enact these reforms swiftly. Further, as we seek to improve the performance of our buildings, we should encourage the use of wood in the construction of Federal and other commercial buildings. Montana is home to approximately 5 engineered and panel products facilities and 12 sawmills, millwork, and treatment facilities that employ several thousand people across the State.…
