1. Forest Resources Association
Looking Back at 2017, Current and Future Priorities
National Public Policy Committee

2. Past Public Policy Successes
H2B Relief
Tax Reform
Favorable Biomass Carbon Neutrality Language
Federal Forest Management Reform
Future Logging Careers Act(passed House)

3. TAX Reform Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Lower rates for C Corps and S Corps
Double the estate tax limitation
Expensing of new investments
Sec. 179 limits increased
Forestry incentives left intact

4. BIOMASS
POLICIES RELATING TO BIOMASS ENERGY SEC. 428
To support the key role that forests in the United States can play in addressing the energy needs of the United States, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary  of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall.
Establish clear and simple policies for the use of forest biomass as an energy solution, including policies that reflect the carbon-neutrality of forest bioenergy and recognize biomass as a renewable energy source.
Encourage private investment throughout the forest biomass supply chain, including in— (i) working forests;  (ii) harvesting operations;  (iii) forest improvement operations;  (iv) forest bioenergy production;  (v) wood products manufacturing; or  (vi) paper manufacturing; (C) encourage forest management to improve forest health; and(D) recognize State initiatives to produce and use forest biomass.

5. Endangered Species Act
Regulatory
Endangered Species Act
Reforming the ESA
State of Litigation
Tracking Future Concerns- Tri-Colored Bat
Waters of the United States (WOTUS)

6. Present Legislative Priorities
Truck Weight Reform- The Right to Haul Act
Under Right to Haul, truckers operating at a state’s maximum weight limit on state roads would be able to carry that same weight over short distances on that state’s portion of the interstate.
Independent Contractor Status Update-
H.R Harmonization of Coverage Act of 2017: Harmonizing the definition of “employee” would eliminate uncertainty in small business planning and access to credit.
The Agriculture Guestworker Act (“AG Act”) Creating H2C Visa Program

7. Guestworkers- H-2A, H-2B, H-2C
Current Status
Advocacy Efforts
H-2A
Process
Benefits
Logging- H-2A
Reforestation- H-2B
All Forest Related Activities- H-2C

8. Future Legislative Outlook
Infrastructure
Truck Weight Reform
Rural development
Farm Bill
Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017 H.R sponsored by Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4), the only forester in congress. This bill includes the Future Logging Careers Act.
Timber Innovation Act H.R sponsored by Suzan DelBene (D-WA-1). Promotes tall wood buildings and the use of cross-laminated timber.
Community Wood Energy Program—Potential solution for sawmill residuals challenges
Research and development program for advancing tall wood building construction.
Authorize the Tall Wood Building Prize Competition.
Create federal grants to support education, outreach, research and development that will accelerate the use of wood in tall buildings.

9. Key Leadership Positions in the House
Committee Chairs
Agriculture Mike Conaway (R-TX) Last Term
Appropriations Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) Retiring
Budget Diane Black (R-TN chair) Retiring
Energy and Commerce Greg Walden (R-OR)
Financial Services Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) Retiring
Judiciary Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) Retiring
Natural Resources Rob Bishop (R-UT)
Small Business Steve Chabot (R-OH)
Transportation and Infrastructure Bill Shuster (R-PA) Retiring
Ways and Means Kevin Brady (R-TX)

10. Reaching Members of Congress
You continue to be our industry’s most effective representatives.

11. What can you do?
Watch for Issue Updates and Grassroots Alerts asking you to contact your member of Congress on priority policy issues. It’s important your legislator knows the policies important to you.
FRA’s tools are readily available, so that when you respond to our alerts it will connect you to your legislator.
Every other year we host a Capitol Hill fly-in during the Fall Board Meeting.

13. Questions?