Hardwood Industry Makes Their Voice Heard

On Tuesday, October 14, the Hardwood Federation transmitted a letter to Trump Administration officials making the case that U.S. hardwood companies should be included in any trade assistance programs addressing agriculture industries negatively impacted by trade and tariff policies. While the farming community, particularly those how harvest soybeans are the focus of significant attention as exports have slowed, it is important for decision makers at the highest level to understand that the hardwood industry, an important agricultural industry sector, is also suffering from uncertain global markets.  The letter was sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutkin, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Over 430 hardwood mills, manufacturers, yards, logging companies, and suppliers signed on to the letter.

Working with Monument Advocacy, a D.C. based consulting group hired by the Federation to increase our outreach capacity, the industry letter has resulted in significant attention from the press.  You can see a sample of recent stories covering the letter here. And we are not done yet.  Monument continues to share the letter with state and local press outlets and connect hardwood industry members with journalists as requested. If you have press contacts in your local area, feel free to share the letter and encourage coverage.

Articles from home states are also being shared with Members of Congress.  The federal government shutdown has closed the doors of many offices, but officials are still working in their home states.  It’s a great time to share the letter with your representatives and senators.  You can find office e-mail addresses at Contact.Gov.

The Hardwood Federation continues to focus advocacy efforts on raising awareness of current challenges facing the industry and the need to structure trade agreements that support exports or provide bridge support to sustain hardwood operations until such deals can be achieved. Thank you to everyone that has supported the Hardwood Federation as we make every effort to address the challenges of today.



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Washington Watch

Welcome to the Second Session of the 119th Congress.

The House is out of session this week, while the Senate is here and working to head off another federal government funding lapse. The current Continuing Resolution runs out January 30. The upper chamber will try to pass a 6-bill package that includes funding for the Departments of Defense, Health and State and accounts for about 75 percent of federal discretionary spending.

The only notable hearing this week is in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday. The panel will receive testimony on “The Federal Environmental Review and Permitting Processes, Part II.”

U.S. House of Representatives

  • The House is in Recess.

U.S. Senate

  • The Senate is in Session.


Cheat Sheet

January 22, 2026

Administration Turns Attention to Housing: President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) earlier this week that would discourage large institutional investors from purchasing single family homes that would otherwise be bought by individuals or families We understand that a follow-up EO is in the works that would attempt to address housing supply and affordability  and should come out any day now. We will provide an update once that Order has been issued.

Clean Air Regulatory Reform: On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee to mark up about a dozen clean air bills that would largely provide relief to the regulated community. One bill, H.R. 6409, would preclude emissions emanating outside the U.S. from counting toward compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Another (H.R. 4218) would change the NAAQS compliance review cycle from 5 to 10 years. One of the other bills under consideration (H.R. 161) would change the definition of “modification” under the Clean Air Act’s New Source Review provisions so that a change at a facility would only trigger New Source Review if that modification results in increased emissions. All of the bills under consideration were moved out of committee and the next stop is the House floor. The Federation will continue to monitor progress.

Still No Court Decision on Tariffs: Although widely anticipated, the Supreme Court has still not issued a decisions on President Trump’s sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).  The next possible “decision day” is not until the end of February.  The wait continues. The Federation will share news as it becomes available.


Thoughts on the Cheat Sheet? Let us know at Hardwood.Federation@hardwoodfederation.com

 





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