August 4, 2020

Senator Ron Johnson Representative 328 Hart Senate Office Building 2252 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515

Senator Representative Jim Sensenbrenner 709 Hart Senate Office Building 2449 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515

Representative Representative 1408 Longworth House Office Building 1427 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Representative Representative Mike Gallagher 1421 Longworth House Office Building 1230 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Representative Representative Thomas Tiffany 1502 Longworth House Office Building 1714 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressional Delegation:

Our state and country are facing unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. There is no aspect of our lives that has gone unaffected by the downturn in the economy. Through all the turmoil and uncertainty we are all facing, businesses throughout Wisconsin are also battling to weather the storm, and we need to prioritize supporting our industries as they work to get back on their feet.

In Wisconsin, we are blessed with 17 million acres of forestlands that enable us to have a robust timber and paper products industry that nets over $31 billion in output each year. Forestry provides over 100,000 family supporting jobs across the state and is the top employer in seven counties. Statistics and dollars aside, Wisconsin’s timber producers, loggers, and paper mills all serve as responsible stewards of our natural resources and sustainably manage our forests to preserve this invaluable asset.

The timber industry has been hard hit by the current crisis as manufacturers have decreased consumption, leading to a ripple effect of reduction in wood fiber sourced, and triggering a significant disruption in the entire value supply chain.

Last week, HR 7690 and S.4233, otherwise known as the Logger Relief Package, were introduced in the House and the Senate. This package would provide for a grant program for contractors that harvested or delivered wood to mills, assisting them in continuing operations while their markets attempt to recover. These grants would be used for business operating expenses such as equipment loan payments, maintenance costs, consumables such as fuel and oil expenses, and required insurance payments. The package mirrors the relief already provided to other producers of agricultural commodities.

On behalf of Wisconsin’s timber harvesters, loggers, log truckers, lumber yards, pulp producers, and paper mills, we ask you to support the bipartisan Logger Relief Package and stand behind Wisconsin’s world-class timber industry.

Sincerely,

Rep. Mary Felzkowski Rep. Jeff Mursau 35th Assembly District 36th Assembly District

Rep. John Nygren Rep. Rob Swearingen 89th Assembly District 34th Assembly District

Rep. Jim Steineke Rep. Amanda Stuck 5th Assembly District 57th Assembly District

Rep. Nick Milroy Rep. Scott Krug 73rd Assembly District 72nd Assembly District

Rep. John Spiros Sen. Lena Taylor 86th Assembly District 4th Senate District

Rep. Timothy Ramthun Rep. Ron Tusler 59th Assembly District 3rd Assembly District

Rep. Gae Magnafici Sen. Rob Cowles 28th Assembly District 2nd Senate District

Rep. Gary Tauchen Sen. Patrick Testin 6th Assembly District 24th Senate District

Rep. Michael Schraa Rep. James Edming 53rd Assembly District 87th Assembly District

Sen. Jerry Petrowski Rep. Joan Ballweg 29th Senate District 41st Assembly District

Rep. Bob Kulp Rep. Beth Meyers 69th Assembly District 74th Assembly District

Rep. Ken Skowronski Rep. Rick Gundrum 82nd Assembly District 58th Assembly District

Rep. Katrina Shankland 71st Assembly District