Quick Updates from Your HF Team 

Fly-In Room Block EXTENDED to April 22! 

Make plans TODAY to join us in Washington, D.C. May 21-23, 2024.The Room Block at the Fly-In Host Hotel has been extended by a few short days until Monday, April 22.  If you plan to attend the Fly-In, don’t delay!!  Make your reservations today! The Hardwood Federation Team cannot guarantee room rates at the host hotel after the block closes.  Links to the reservation site will be sent in your Fly-In registration confirmation.  If you have questions, contact Dana at (dana.cole@hardwoodfederation.com) or Bryan at (bryan.brendle@hardwoodfederation.com).  Sign up for the Fly-In and reserve your room HERE! 

House Democrats Identify Farm Bill Red Lines

Even as House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson (R-PA) signals that he would like to roll out the farm bill before Memorial Day, House Democrat have outlined top line issues that could prolong a stalemate on what’s historically been a non-controversial piece of legislation.  Specifically, Ag Committee Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) has underscored his determination to allocate all IRA resources available for conservation projects and full IRA funding of rural electric projects, presumably to meet the Administration’s green energy goals.  The Democrat Ag leader also reaffirmed his party’s commitment to spare nutrition benefits from GOP cutbacks. The Federation will keep you posted on developments. 

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act

 On April 17, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-0R) and James Risch (R-ID) introduced the bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act, a bill to promote the use of mass timber in federal building and military construction projects, a significant market. The bill’s sponsors point out that the legislation will help create “jobs in rural and urban communities, reduce wildfire risk, increase forest resiliency, and shrink the carbon footprint of federal buildings.” A path forward for the bill is not known at this time.