Timber Innovation Act of 2017

To clarify research and development for wood products, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Timber Innovation Act of 2017 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Innovative wood product The term innovative wood product (2) Mass timber The term mass timber (A) cross-laminated timber; (B) nail laminated timber; (C) glue laminated timber; (D) laminated strand lumber; and (E) laminated veneer lumber. (3) Secretary The term Secretary (4) Tall wood building The term tall wood building (A) constructed with mass timber; and (B) more than 85 feet in height. 3. Clarification of research and development program for wood building construction (a) In general The Secretary shall conduct performance-driven research and development, education, and technical assistance for the purpose of facilitating the use of innovative wood products in wood building construction in the United States. (b) Activities In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) after receipt of input and guidance from, and collaboration with, the wood products industry, conservation organizations, and institutions of higher education, conduct research and development, education, and technical assistance at the Forest Products Laboratory or through the State and Private Forestry deputy area that meets measurable performance goals for the achievement of the priorities described in subsection (c); and (2) after coordination and collaboration with the wood products industry and conservation organizations, make competitive grants to institutions of higher education to conduct research and development, education, and technical assistance that meets measurable performance goals for the achievement of the priorities described in subsection (c). (c) Priorities The research and development, education, and technical assistance conducted under subsection (a) shall give priority to— (1) ways to improve the commercialization of innovative wood products; (2) analyzing the safety of tall wood building materials; (3) calculations by the Forest Products Laboratory of the life cycle environmental footprint, from extraction of raw materials through the manufacturing process, of tall wood building construction; (4) analyzing methods to reduce the life cycle environmental footprint of tall wood building construction; (5) analyzing the potential implications of the use of innovative wood products in building construction on wildlife; and (6) one or more other research areas identified by the Secretary, in consultation with conservation organizations, institutions of higher education, and the wood products industry. (d) Timeframe To the maximum extent practicable, the measurable performance goals for the research and development, education, and technical assistance conducted under subsection (a) shall be achievable within a 5-year timeframe. 4. Tall wood building competition Subject to availability of appropriations, not less frequently than once during each fiscal year for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary shall carry out a competition for a tall wood building design, or other innovative wood product demonstration, in accordance with section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3719 5. Wood innovation grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) an individual; (B) a public or private entity (including a center of excellence that consists of one or more partnerships between forestry, engineering, architecture, or business schools at one or more institutions of higher education); or (C) a State, local, or tribal government. (2) Secretary The term Secretary (b) Grants authorized The Secretary, in carrying out the wood innovation grant program of the Secretary described in the notice of the Secretary entitled Request for Proposals: 2016 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity (c) Incentivizing use of existing milling capacity In selecting among proposals of eligible entities under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to proposals that include the use or retrofitting (or both) of existing sawmill facilities located in counties in which the average annual unemployment rate exceeded the national average unemployment rate by more than 1 percent in the previous calendar year. (d) Matching requirement As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection (b), an eligible entity shall provide funds equal to the amount the eligible entity receives under the grant, to be derived from non-Federal sources.

Summary: Timber Innovation Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), acting through the Research and Development and the State and Private Forestry deputy areas of the Forest Service, to conduct performance-driven research and development, education, and technical assistance to facilitate the use of innovative wood products in wood building construction in the United States. Such activities shall give priority to: (1) improving the commercialization of such products, (2) analyzing the safety of tall wood building materials, (3) calculating and reducing the life cycle environmental footprint of tall wood building construction, and (4) analyzing the potential implications of the use of innovative wood products in building construction on wildlife. "Tall wood building" means a building designed to be over 85 feet high and constructed with large panelized wood construction, including cross-laminated timber, nail laminated timber, glue laminated timber, laminated strand lumber, and laminated veneer lumber. USDA shall carry out an annual competition for FY2017-FY2021 for a tall wood building design, or other innovative wood product demonstration, in accordance with the requirements for prize competitions carried out under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980. The Forest Service, in carrying out a wood innovation grant program, may make grants to advance the use of innovative wood products, with priority to grant proposals that include the use or retrofitting of existing sawmill facilities in counties where the average annual unemployment rate exceeded the national average by more than 1% in the previous year.