Page 21 - Georgia Forestry - Winter 2018

Timber Innovation Act
Noted by the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition as a key tenet for improving markets for forest landowners, the Timber Innovation Act (S. 538 and H.R. 1380) was introduced to create government support for the use of wood, including cross- laminated timber (CLT), in the construction of mid- to high-rise structures.
The bill has received a significant amount of bipartisan support with 27 cosponsors in the House and 17 in the Senate. While primarily focused on creating and expanding the market for tall wood building construction, specific provisions include:
● Establishing a performance-driven research and development program
● Authorizing an annual Tall Wood Building Prize Competition
● Creating federal grants to support state, local, university and private sector education, outreach, research and development, including education and assistance for architects and builders
● Authorizing federal and state agencies to provide technical and education assistance
● Incentivizing the redevelopment of existing facilities located in poor communities
The American Wood Council (AWC) continues to advocate for full passage of the bill, as it is essential to increasing aware- ness of the importance of wood products, creating rural jobs and expanding markets for wood.
“Congress has a unique opportunity to encourage an emerg- ing technology for our nation’s construction industry,” AWC President and CEO Robert Glowinski said. “Use of mass timber provides a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil-fuel- dependent construction
materials for taller
buildings and can
potentially make a real
impact on the carbon
footprint of the
construction sector.
It also directly supports
jobs in areas of rural
America that have yet
to recover from the
recession.”
To learn more about the Timber Innovation Act and to stay engaged on the issue, visit www.timber innovation.org.
Robert Glowinski
AWC PRESIDENT AND CEO
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