Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2024 / Presidential Documents 84455 

Proclamation 10843 of October 18, 2024 

National Forest Products Week, 2024 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Our forests are central to our country’s heritage, history, and economy. 

Forests support livelihoods across Tribal Nations, rural towns, and big cities—from foresters and loggers to mill workers and carpenters—while also 

sustaining the health of our environment and our communities. During 

National Forest Products Week, we recognize that conserving our bountiful 

forests is critical to sustaining our economy and ensuring that Americans 

can enjoy the wonder of our forests for generations to come. 

As a Nation, we rely on our forests for so much—from cleaning the air 

we breathe and the water we drink to providing the lumber and paper 

we use every day. But the existential threat of climate change endangers 

our forests, putting those jobs, livelihoods, and critical products at risk. 

After decades of fire suppression and ignoring climate change, wildfire 

seasons have become wildfire years, burning down communities, destroying 

forest ecosystems, and upending people’s lives. 

My first year in office, I launched the ‘‘America the Beautiful’’ initiative 

to conserve at least 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 

2030 through local, voluntary efforts across the country while empowering 

foresters and farmers to advance sustainable practices to keep working lands 

productive. These efforts will help strengthen our economy and pass on 

a healthier planet to our children and grandchildren. 

When I came into office, I was determined to conserve our forests while 

protecting the people who rely on them for jobs. My Bipartisan Infrastructure 

Law is creating jobs managing our forests, restoring ecosystems, and preventing catastrophic fires. It is investing in the removal of overgrown vegetation near homes and power lines, preparing evacuation routes in areas 

at risk of wildfires, removing invasive plant species from forests that can 

cause fire to spread, and planting native tree species that are more resilient 

to the changing climate. And my Inflation Reduction Act made the largest 

climate investment ever, putting people to work planting trees, sustainably 

managing our forests, and working on fire prevention. Together, these actions 

are producing new jobs that help us care for our forests and keep all 

of us safe from wildfires. 

At the same time, my Administration is working to support the American 

workers and rural communities producing our forest products. We have 

awarded millions of dollars in grants to American businesses that support 

forest conservation, expand the sustainable use of American wood products, 

and find innovative ways to use our wood waste materials, including to 

build strong and sustainable buildings. I also take pride in having raised 

the Federal firefighter minimum wage to $15 per hour—an important first 

step in ensuring the people who run into flames to keep all of us safe 

are paid what they deserve. 

Conserving our forests is good for our economy, the planet, and the soul 

of our Nation. This week, may we recommit to responsibly stewarding 

our forests and the abundant resources they provide so that we may all 

enjoy their benefits and beauty for years to come. 


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84456 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2024 / Presidential Documents 

To recognize the importance of the many products generated by our Nation’s 

forests, the Congress, by Public Law 86–753 (36 U.S.C. 123), as amended, 

has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each 

year as ‘‘National Forest Products Week’’ and has authorized and requested 

the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 20 through 

October 26, 2024, as National Forest Products Week. I call upon the people 

of the United States to join me in this observance and in recognizing all 

Americans who are responsible for the stewardship of our Nation’s beautiful 

forested landscapes. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day 

of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortyninth. 

[FR Doc. 2024–24761 

Filed 10–22–24; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


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