Hardwood Floors October/November 2017

Biomass

e heating systems can be whole home units or commercial heating systems. We are also supportive of the Community Wood Energy Program (CWEP), which provides grants to projects that install wood heating systems in hospitals, schools, community centers, and entire towns. Although CWEP is authorized by the Farm Bill, it has remained unfunded. We are working to change that and are asking for a funding level of $50 million annually to be approved. Export Promotion Funding e Hardwood Federation is a longtime proponent of full funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Markets Development Program (FMD), both administered by USDA as authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill. ese programs provide essential resources to support the development of foreign markets for U.S. hardwood and hardwood products. e American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) receives funding from both programs allowing it to provide vital services to the hardwood industry in the form of hardwood export promotion activities around the globe. is fall, we are working to ensure that full or increased funding for these programs is included in the 2018 reauthorization of the Farm Bill.

Although President Trump signed legislation that recognizes the carbon neutral and renewable nature of forest-based biomass fuels, there is still work to be done to ensure that this language remains in perpetuity. e law enacted earlier this year that included the necessary language expired in September, and the Hardwood Federation and our allies are working with our supporters in Congress and the administration to move forward new language that will eliminate any chance of our victory lapsing. ese and other topics were discussion points for the annual Hardwood Federation Fly-In held in September. Fly-In participants did the important job of laying the groundwork for us to continue our work on behalf of the entire industry. We appreciate their support and the support of our great member associations, including the National Wood Flooring Association. Dana Cole is Executive Director at the Hardwood Federation, a Washington D.C.–based hardwood industry trade association that represents thousands of hardwood businesses in every state in the U.S. and acts as the industry’s advocacy voice on Capitol Hill. She can be reached at dana.cole@hardwoodfederation.com.

WOOD MOISTURE METER LINE

CONCRETE MOISTURE TEST

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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