On the recordJune 9, 2014
In central and northern Wisconsin, logging is an incredibly important industry for our community and for our economy. In Mosinee, Wisconsin, we have a very large paper mill. A vast majority of the wood that feeds that paper mill comes from northern Wisconsin. What happens is, the wood is harvested in northern Wisconsin and it comes down Highway 51, where the weight limit for trucks is 98,000 pounds. In Wausau, Wisconsin, Highway 51 turns into I-39. It is at that time that the weight limit goes from 98,000 pounds down to 80,000 pounds. At that point, those logging trucks are still 12 miles away from their destination, the paper mill. So what happens is our logging trucks go off the interstate and go onto our back roads--through our communities, through our neighborhoods, through downtown--where we have very tight-fitted areas and much narrower roads, all so they can make it to the paper mill. What my amendment would do, it would allow for a 12-mile extension so those trucks can come from our forests in northern Wisconsin and stay on the freeway that extra 12 miles to get to the paper mill. This amendment is an amendment that affects the safety of my community--my constituents--and it would have a small impact on our economy so those trucks have a straight route to the paper mill. With that, I would ask that my colleagues support my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order
