Trees keep our region’s economy humming
As congressman for the Fourth District of Arkansas, I represent a diverse group of constituents and industries. But perhaps none has a larger economic impact than forestry.
I should know.
As a professional forester, I worked on many forestry-related projects across this district in the years before taking office and have seen the industry’s impacts firsthand. That is why I have spent much of my time in my first term fighting for Arkansas’ forestry economy.
In Southwest Arkansas, one of the largest employers is the Domtar Mill in Ashdown, which supports more than 900 jobs in the region. I started 2016 by testifying before the International Trade Commission on the topic of unfair trade practices and its impact on businesses like Domtar. In my testimony, I credited Domtar for doing what it could to lessen the impact of unfair trade and dumping of foreign forestry products on our shores, but noted the negative impacts continue to be felt at Domtar, across the industry and across Arkansas.
In addition to taking the fight for Southwest Arkansas workers to the International Trade Commission, I also highlighted our region’s forestry economy and brought that message to the rest of our country.
The Seed to Sawmill Tour with Sen. John Boozman in September showed the nation working forests and the robust economy they drive across southern and western Arkansas.
We noted how the direct economic impact of forestry in local communities amounts to more than $1.38 billion in annual payroll across Arkansas and adds $3.2 billion in total value to the state’s economy, according to the Arkansas Forestry Association.
When you factor in the benefits to support businesses like machine shops and local diners, the Arkansas Forest Resources Association estimates an indirect impact of an additional 18,256 jobs with an additional economic impact of $3.3 billion. Combined, the economic impact of forestry is more than $6 billion dollars and will only continue to grow as new uses are found for timber. It is a positive message I’ve taken from the forests and saw mills of Southwest Arkansas to the halls of Congress.
But as we all know, there is no forestry economy without healthy forests. That is why I will reintroduce the Resilient Federal Forests Act later this year. This legislation initially passed the House of Representatives in July 2015, but failed to receive a vote on passage in the Senate.
This year, I expect the bill to not only pass the House, but also pass the Senate with bipartisan support and be signed by the president. This bill has many benefits—stopping the practice of fire-borrowing, preventing wildfires through active management and quick reforestation after a wildfire event, speeding habitat improvement and maximizing existing funding sources.
Another benefit important to local counties and schools in our region would be modernization of the Secure Rural Schools & Community Self-Determination Act (SRS). My bill would reauthorize the SRS while making much-needed updates to the law and returning the county share of forest receipts for long-term stewardship projects.
Progress has been made in the forestry industry in Southwest Arkansas and I will continue my efforts for more progress this year and in the years ahead.
About Congressman Bruce Westerman
A lifelong resident of Garland County, Congressman Bruce Westerman was elected the 20th representative of the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas in 2014. He serves on the Committee on the Budget, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Natural Resources, where he is the Vice Chair of the Federal Lands Subcommittee. Westerman also serves on the Majority Whip Team under the leadership of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
Westerman is a former board member of the Fountain Lake School District and serves as a deacon at Walnut Valley Baptist Church. He lives in Hot Springs with his wife Sharon and their four children.