Hardwood Floors December 2024/January 2025

By Dana Lee Cole

In addition to party leadership changes, important moves on key committees of interest to the Hardwood Federation will also occur. In January, Senator John Boozman (R-AR) will take the helm of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. The current committee chair, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), is retiring which will allow Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to move up as the ranking member on this committee. Both Boozman and Klobuchar have been strong supporters of the hardwood forest product sector. Not only have they been avid proponents of the Wood Innovation and Community Wood Grant programs, but also supportive of export promotion programs that we rely on which are authorized and funded as part of the Farm Bill. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will also be under new leadership with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) moving from ranking member to chairman. Senator Capito has also been an enduring champion of the hardwood industry and appreciative of the jobs our sector supports in her home state. The panel she will chair has the lead on EPA-related issues (air, water, and waste) as well as transportation and supply chain issues like truck weight reform.

In the House, there about 18 races that have yet to be called, but as of this writing, republicans had 214 and democrats 203 seats in the 435 member lower chamber. At press time, most pundits believe the republicans will prevail and enter 2025 with a very slim majority in the House.

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