Forestry Workers Lobby Capitol Hill to Protect Manufacturing Jobs

The Pulp and Paperworkers' Resource Council (PPRC), a grassroots organization representing hourly employees, utilized their annual fly-in to press officials at the EPA and the Office of Management and Budget for more sustainable regulatory frameworks. PPRC Chairman Matt Hall emphasized that the industry seeks a balance between economic viability and environmental stewardship, particularly regarding carbon neutrality and biomass energy.

Central to the group’s agenda is the preservation of global competitiveness. The council advocates for the renewal of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and warns against expanding renewable fuel incentives that would divert woody biomass away from paper mills, effectively driving up costs. Furthermore, the workers challenged recent legislative efforts to mandate digital-only government communications, arguing that maintaining paper options remains vital for both industry health and public access. On environmental permitting, the delegation urged Congress to consider economic impacts before tightening standards under the Clean Air Act, citing the industry's significant progress in emissions reduction over the last two decades.