Crapo Sponsors Legislation Investing in Forests, Rural Communities by Supporting Wood Product Innovation

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-Oregon), John Duarte (R-California) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washington) in sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk and boost rural economies by supporting innovative timber products.

“Supporting Idaho’s timber industry grows rural economies, reduces wildfires and sustainably provides necessary resources for our state and country,” said Crapo.  “This legislation will fuel jobs and research good for both consumers and industry.”

“The Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act continues the important work started in the 2018 Farm Bill, and further promotes the use and development of wood products nationwide,” said Idaho Forest Group.  “Continuing to support the Wood Innovation Grant Program, along with investing in the future generation of wood product-friendly architects and engineers is critical for the success of manufacturers in Idaho, and across the country."

“We thank Senators Wyden (D-OR) and Crapo (R-ID) for spearheading the Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act and encourage the Senate to pass this important legislation,” said PotlatchDeltic.  “This bipartisan bill will leverage market-based solutions to support the many benefits provided by sustainably managed private working forests.  Improved forest data, programs and incentives to enhance the use of wood in the built environment, and integrating wood products into rural infrastructure strengthens our nation’s forest economy and supports the rural communities operating within them.”

“We commend Senators Wyden (D-OR) and Crapo (R-ID) for their leadership of the Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act, a bipartisan bill that will bolster our nation’s private working forests and the rural communities that depend on them for clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and jobs,” said the National Alliance of Forest Owners.  “This bill provides comprehensive support to the climate-smart forest supply chain through enhancing forest and wood product data, new education grants to train the next generation of engineers and architects in wood and mass timber construction, the expansion of the Wood Innovation Grant program, and the piloting of American-grown wood products’ integration into rural infrastructure. These provisions collectively advance climate action via market mechanisms and investments in rural communities. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with Senators Wyden and Crapo, and the entire Senate, to pass this essential legislation.”

The Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act would:

• Expand and strengthen the Wood Innovation Grant Program;

• Establish the Wood Building Accelerator Grant Program to fund programs that support the critical elements of designing and building with wood, including traditional wood products, mass timber and other advanced wood products;
• Establish the Rural Infrastructure and Building Pilot Program to fund pilot programs that demonstrate the use of innovative wood products in the construction and renovation of rural infrastructure and building projects, such as affordable, modular housing.

Bill text can be found here.

Crapo is a long-standing supporter of the timber industry.  This Congress, Crapo introduced the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLR) Reauthorization Act of 2023.  This legislation would reauthorize and expand the CFLR program, which helps fund collaborative and community-based forest management.  Crapo was a leader on the Timber Innovation Act, bipartisan legislation signed into law as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, which included provisions to accelerate research, development and construction of wood buildings in the United States.  Crapo was also an original co-sponsor of legislation to provide new opportunities for American forestry producers by allowing their products to qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s BioPreferred Program.