Crapo Backs Bicameral Legislation to Support Family-Run Timber Industry

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) to reintroduce the Future Logging Careers Act to support America’s family-run timber industry.

“Family businesses are the way of life in many agricultural communities and logging is no exception,” said Crapo.  “Giving our young people the ability to participate in family-led training bolsters the logging industry and brings much-needed natural resources into the marketplace.  The Future Logging Careers Act would offer today’s young adults a chance to be tomorrow’s industry leaders while also restoring health and resiliency to our forests.”

This legislation would allow teenage members of logging families to gain critical, hands-on experience in the trade so they may carry on the family business.  The Future Logging Careers Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work in certain mechanized logging operations under parental supervision.  Similar exemptions already exist for farming families.

Additional co-sponsors of the legislation include U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

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