SAWMILL FOCUS Long-lasting Relationships & Education Assist Industry Efforts By Dana Lee Cole RTA members are well aware of the Hard- members of Congress in the 2019-2020 Business Committee wood Federation’s efforts in Washington to cycle you will find some very powerful • Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA, enact federal laws, regulations and policies and hardwood industry helpful representa- 5), incoming ranking member of the that support the U.S. hardwood industry… tives and senators. We have used the PAC House Energy and Commerce Committee and to defend against policies that hurt us. to educate and support them over the years, • Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ, 6), chair of RTA staff, leadership and members con- as they have supported us. Having friends the House Energy and Commerce Com- tinue to be great supporters of these efforts, of the industry in high positions goes a long mittee certainly, in terms of financial support, but way. A sampling of some of the members of • Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA, 1), House also in terms of the outreach to Congress you Congress we have supported is below: minority whip engage in to educate policy makers. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), chair or The Hardwood Federation Political Ac- ranking member of the Senate Agriculture • Rep. David Scott (D-GA, 13), incoming tion Committee (HFPAC) is one of the most Committee chair of the House Agriculture Commit- important tools in our efforts to make our • Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), tee voices heard. The HFPAC is financed by potential chair or ranking member of the • Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA, 7), chair personal contributions—not company dol- Senate Environment and Public Works of the House Agriculture Conservation lars—from hardwood industry leaders. The (EPW) Committee. and Forestry Subcommittee Federation uses this money to contribute to • Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), potential • Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS, 2), chair of the campaign funds of senators and con- chair or ranking member of the Senate the House Homeland Security Committee gressmen, on both sides of the aisle, who Energy and Natural Resources Committee • Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-PA, 15), incom- support the industry. Our goal is to make • Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), outgoing ing ranking member of the House sure that those who understand our busi- chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Agriculture Committee nesses, the impact we have on local commu- Resources (ENR) Committee • Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR, 4), nities, and the environmental benefits of our • Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), potential incoming ranking member of the House products stay in positions to help, promote chair or ranking member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and defend us at the federal level. Agriculture Committee • Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY, 3), chair of HFPAC dollars open doors to be sure, but the House Budget Committee more importantly, they help us establish and • Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC, 6), House maintain long-term relationships with mem- Majority Whip This is an impressive, robust bipartisan bers of Congress and their staff. Washington • Rep. James Comer (R-KY, 1), incoming group that certainly wields a good deal of is a town built on relationships, and the more ranking member of the House Oversight clout on committees of importance to the tools you have to build strong foundations, and Government Reform Committee Hardwood industry. the more successful you will be. • Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT, 3), incom- So, overall, it was a good year for the Although funding in 2020 was lower than ing chair of the House Appropriations Hardwood Federation PAC (HFPAC). How- in past years, the Federation carefully dis- Committee ever, it is important to remember that it is not just about picking winners avoiding losers; tributed available funding to bolster the cam- • Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR, 4), chair of rather, it is much more about establishing paign chests of more than 100 candidates. the House Transportation and Infrastruc- long-lasting relationships and educating We are pleased to report that the monies ture Committee members across the political spectrum. were well spent and that most of those cam- • Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC, 5), ranking paigns we contributed to were successful. A big thank you to those of you who member of the House Education and have supported the HFPAC over the years. In the 2019-2020 election cycle, HFPAC Labor Committee supported 12 senators and 96 House mem- You are vital to our efforts on Capitol Hill. • Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO, 6), ranking bers. The Federation doesn’t look at party; It is very satisfying to see our supported member of the Transportation and Infra- rather, we take into consideration how well members retain their seats in Congress and structure Committee candidates understand the hardwood indus- remain in our corner. We look forward to try, how they have supported the hardwood • Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD, 5), House working with them—and you—in 2021.  majority leader industry in their state and in federal policy Dana Lee Cole, initiatives, and what House and Senate Com- • Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK, 3), ranking dana.cole@ hardwoodfederation. mittees they sit on…and how those Com- member of the House Science, Space, com, is executive director of the mittees impact hardwood related legislative and Technology Committee Hardwood Federation, which serves as the voice of 28 associations measures. • Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO, 3), dedicated to promoting and Especially of note in the list of supported ranking member of the House Small supporting the hardwood industry.

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