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Hardwood Federation Policy Survey 2025

Make your voice heard! Please complete this survey regarding our 2025 Hardwood Federation Priority Policies as they relate to your business so that we may best serve your interests in 2025. After reviewing below, please rank the issue on a scale of one star to five stars, with five being most important and one being least. In the comment boxes at the end of the survey, feel free to share any comments or additional information that will help us fight for sound federal policies that will grow your business.
1.BIOMASS: Fight for federal environment and energy policies that embrace the concept of carbon neutrality of biomass fuels. This includes recognition of biomass energy use and application of tax incentives for heat and power systems that operate on sawmill residuals. It also includes broad definitions of biomass in renewable energy programs to allow maximum use of forest and manufacturing secondary materials.
2.ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF WOOD PRODUCTS: Promote the environmental benefits of sustainable harvesting and the use of hardwood products. Work in this area includes:

· Leading efforts to reintroduce the Hardwood Products Access and Program Development Act, a hardwood industry-specific bill intended to grow demand for hardwood products by funding research that directly supports end-user information on the benefits of hardwoods.

· Advocating for recognition of the carbon sequestration benefits of hardwood products across federal agencies, Congress, and the private sector.

· Promoting innovative uses for wood and wood products via the Wood Innovation Grant Program and advocate for Forest Service based research related to the carbon storage benefits of hardwood products.

· Continued support for avenues to increase government purchases of U.S. structural and finished wood products for federal building and transportation projects.
3.EXPORT PROMOTION: Support policies and international trade agreements that increase access to international markets and export growth. This includes:

· Robust funding of the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program to support the American Hardwood Export Council’s efforts to grow U.S. hardwood exports.

· Reduction of burdensome tariffs and allocation of resources to the industry. Support international trade agreements that benefit the hardwood industry.

· Continued support of the Lacey Act funding of agency implementation to assure full compliance. Also, continue to advocate against Congressional actions that would weaken the Lacey Act.

· Work with forest products industry allies to monitor impacts of the EU’s final deforestation rules. Continue to educate federal trade officials about the negative impacts on the hardwood industry and identify ways to minimize additional red tape for hardwood exporters to EU markets.
4.FEDERAL FOREST MANAGEMENT: Engage Congress and the Administration to focus U.S. Forest Service (USFS) resources on advancing sound management and responsible fiscal policies which will restore federal forests to optimal levels of health and productivity. Advocate for better forest management, including increased timber harvest sales, pest and disease control, and fire mitigation funding. Advocate against regulatory definitions of mature and old growth forests that undermine forest management.
5.REGULATIONS: Monitor proposed federal regulations and provide comments reflecting U.S. hardwood industry perspectives. Current issues of concern on the Hardwood Federation radar include:

· Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new rule to expand the reach of the Clean Air Act (CAA), to include expansion of “non-attainment” areas with respect to air quality standards.

· Possible revisions to the Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards for industrial boilers (Boiler MACT).

· EPA efforts to expand the reach of the Clean Water Act (CWA), including implementation of a new “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule and related permitting requirements.

· New Department of Interior (DOI) rules impacting the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that could adversely impact hardwood harvesting operations.

· Expanded permitting requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a process that can already take more than four years to complete.
6.TAX REFORM: Advocate for tax measures that promote the growth of hardwood manufacturing and private forests. Preserve and make permanent provisions within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that support small and family-owned businesses and incentivize investment in hardwood operations.
7.TRADE – POTENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BARRIERS: Should the Trump Administration carry out proposals to impose blanket global tariffs on imports to the U.S., work to mitigate expected impacts of retaliatory measures from countries that serve as key markets for hardwood products, including China, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, and members of the European Union.
8.TRANSPORTATION: Urge the Administration and Congress to address critical land transportation issues such as truck weight reform, driver shortages, hours of operation, and young driver programs. Advocate for policies that will mitigate and eliminate supply chain bottlenecks hindering the distribution of hardwood products internationally, including implementation of shipping reform regulations.
9.WORKFORCE: Advocate for programs that promote workforce training, retention and development in a manner that addresses workforce shortages that hinder growth. Support workplace safety policies that minimize compliance burdens on industry.
10.Do you have any comments on the issues you selected above?
11.Please list any other federal legislative or regulatory issues that are of concern to you and your business.