Securing wood products a better position within the LEED green building rating system and achieving full funding for enforcement and implementation of the Lacey Act were two hot topics during the Hardwood Federation's annual Congressional Fly-In on Sept. 19-20 in Washington, D.C.
The Hardwood Federation, the wood products industry's Congressional lobbying group, fostered 50 meetings with lawmakers during the two-day event, including a reception and dinner with Republicans and a breakfast event for Democrats; 40 wood products industry representatives participated in the events.
The Federation believes full funding for the Lacey Act is the only way it can be effective at helping slow illegal logging, which depresses wood prices, and at protecting U.S. jobs. During the Fly-In, the Federation thanked lawmakers for helping defeat bills in both the Senate that it says would have reduced the Lacey Act's effectiveness.
While meeting with lawmakers, Federation members discussed green building standards like the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program that, while well-intentioned, often unintentionally exclude wood or create an anti-wood bias. This has led the Federation to lobby for the inclusion of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in standards.
Other topics discussed during the Fly-In included regulatory relief, tax policy and trade initiatives. "It's important we hear the hardwood industry when they come to Washington, hear their unique perspective," said Rep Nick Rahall, D-W.Va. "We may not recognize the repercussions to the hardwood industry of the things we're doing here, so we need to hear from them."
Next year's Fly-In is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 17-18.
