On Tuesday, February 26, 2013, ALC Past President Matt Jensen carried the loggers’ message to Washington. Matt testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulations, primarily about the differences that exist between Federal and State timber sale programs.
Matt not only represented the American Loggers Council, but also the voices of the nation’s professional timber harvesters throughout the country.
His testimony included the need for timber sale programs in which the forest products industry could rally around and make the needed investments to provide jobs and economic opportunities for rural Americans dependent on the forest industry.
Matt cited lack of management, forest health issues and no real concern for generating revenues as reasons why the federal government should consider placing the management of the federal forests into state trusts which have a much better track record of taking care of the forests and generating real value to the general public.
Matt was able to provide real time, on-the-ground information to the subcommittee on the implementation of a federal timber sale contract and the issues that logging businesses across the country have when working with a federal timber sale contract as compared to a State timber sale contract.
Members and leadership of the American Loggers Council intend on making themselves available for hearings in Washington as well as other parts of the country that are pertinent to the timber harvesting community and are already making plans for their Spring Fly-In and Board of Directors meeting to be held April 11-13 in our nation’s capitol.
To learn more about the positions that the American Loggers Council is taking on the nation’s loggers’ behalf, visit www.americanloggers.org and look on the advocacy page. You will also find contact information for your state representatives.
About the American Loggers Council:
The American Loggers Council is a non-profit 501(c)(6) corporation representing professional timber harvesters in 30 states across the US. For more information, visit their web site at www.americanloggers.org or contact their office at 409-625-0206.