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 commer-
cial, public, or private buildings. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2009 
Mr. ELLSWORTH (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. DICKS, Mr. RA-
HALL, 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 com-
mercial, 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 Pro-
gram 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 remov-
als 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 hard-
wood resources; 
Whereas United States hardwoods have been awarded the 
highest conservation crop rating available under the De-
partment of Agriculture Environmental Benefits Index; 
Whereas United States hardwoods are net absorbers of car-
bon and are widely recognized to be critical to reducing 
the United States carbon footprint; 
Whereas United States hardwoods are a valuable raw mate-
rial which, when utilized properly, provide an incentive 
for landowners to maintain their land in a forested condi-
tion 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 hard-
woods used in construction can often be restored and re-
used 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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•HRES 81 IH 
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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes that United States hardwoods 
are an abundant, sustainable, and legal resource 
under the United States rule of law; and 
(2) urges that United States hardwoods and 
products derived from United States hardwoods 
should be given full consideration in any program di-
rected at constructing environmentally preferable 
commercial, public, or private buildings. 
Æ 
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