IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 81 

Recognizing the importance and sustainability of the United States hardwoods 

industry and urging that United States hardwoods and the products 

derived from United States hardwoods be given full consideration in 

any program directed at constructing environmentally preferable commercial, public, or private buildings. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 22, 2009 

Mr. ELLSWORTH (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. DICKS, Mr. RAHALL, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana, Mr. ROSS, Mr. 

SHULER, and Mr. BRADY of Texas) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance and sustainability of the United 

States hardwoods industry and urging that United States 

hardwoods and the products derived from United States 

hardwoods be given full consideration in any program 

directed at constructing environmentally preferable commercial, public, or private buildings. 

Whereas hardwood trees grown in the United States are an 

abundant, sustainable, and legal resource, as documented 

by annually by the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program of the United States Forest Service; 

Whereas, despite development pressure and cropland needs, 

Department of Agriculture data shows that the inventory 


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•HRES 81 IH 

of United States hardwood has more than doubled over 

the past 50 years; 

Whereas the Department of Agriculture reports that annual 

United States hardwood growth exceeds hardwood removals by a significant margin of 1.9 to 1, and net annual 

growth has exceeded removals continuously since 1952; 

Whereas the World Bank ranks the United States in the top 

10 percent of all countries for government effectiveness, 

regulatory quality, and rule of law with respect to hardwood resources; 

Whereas United States hardwoods have been awarded the 

highest conservation crop rating available under the Department of Agriculture Environmental Benefits Index; 

Whereas United States hardwoods are net absorbers of carbon and are widely recognized to be critical to reducing 

the United States carbon footprint; 

Whereas United States hardwoods are a valuable raw material which, when utilized properly, provide an incentive 

for landowners to maintain their land in a forested condition rather than clearing the land for development or 

other alternative land use; 

Whereas United States hardwoods are a renewable resource 

and bio-based material; 

Whereas United States hardwoods are recyclable, and hardwoods used in construction can often be restored and reused in later construction; 

Whereas United States hardwoods are grown primarily in 

those States located along or east of the Mississippi River 

and in the Pacific Northwest, but, with a presence in 

every State, the hardwood industry is one of the major 


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sources of economic activity and sustenance in many 

rural communities; 

Whereas United States hardwoods are grown by thousands of 

small family landowners who may harvest trees only once 

or twice in a generation; and 

Whereas United States hardwoods and the products derived 

from United States hardwoods are prized throughout the 

world as a superior and long-lasting building material: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes that United States hardwoods 

3 are an abundant, sustainable, and legal resource 

4 under the United States rule of law; and 

5 (2) urges that United States hardwoods and 

6 products derived from United States hardwoods 

7 should be given full consideration in any program di8 rected at constructing environmentally preferable 

9 commercial, public, or private buildings. 

Æ 


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