Page 18 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - First Quarter 2023

LEGISLATIVE/ASSOCIATION NEWS
2022 MID-TERM
ELECTION
WRAP-UP
The 2022 mid-term elections drew a mix of projections from well-respected Republican and Democratic political analysts. After election results were finalized, North
Carolina elected Ted Budd to replace Senator Richard Burr in the U.S. Senate.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina, which include Deborah
Ross (NC-02), Gregg Murphy (NC-03), Virginia Fox (NC-05), Kathy Manning
(NC-06), David Rouzer (NC-07), Dan Bishop (NC-08), Richard
Hudson (NC-09), Patrick McHenry (NC-10), and
Alma Adams (NC-12), returned to D.C. to
serve another term in Congress.
Several members of the General Assembly became first-term members of Congress this year, including Don Davis (NC-01), Valerie Foushee (NC-04),
Chuck Edwards (NC-11), Wiley Nickel (NC-13),
and Jeff Jackson (NC-14). These new members joined other members of the NC delegation when the 118th United States Congress convened January 3, 2023. The NCFA will be closely monitoring Congress in 2023 as members from both chambers work on the Farm Bill. In past Farm Bills, the Forestry Title has created, repealed, or reauthorized several forestry research, assistance, and federal land management programs.
At the state level, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and NC House Speaker Tim Moore have been elected to serve another term in their leadership roles for the 2023-2024 legislative session. Minority leaders Senator Dan Blue and Representative Robert Rieves were reelected by their peers. The 2023 long session welcomed 27 new House members and 11 new Senate members.
So what will the 2022 midterm elections mean for forestry in NC? As in any other election year,
the NCFA will continue our work to ensure healthy, productive, and sustainable forests in our state
by educating members of the NC Congressional delegation and the NC General Assembly on the importance of a sensible tax structure and regulatory environment. These two are crucial factors in helping our members continue to provide clean air and water, abundant wildlife habitat, and good-paying jobs to North Carolinians. ■
16 ncforestry.org / FIRST QUARTER 2023