EVENTS

White House picture

DC Fly-In March 31 - April 3, 2025

The pendulum is swinging! The new Administration and Congress have ushered in a whirlwind of activity, with a strong emphasis on timber. The most substantial and comprehensive bill “Fix our Forests Act” has passed the House with strong bipartisan support and is expected to be introduced in the Senate in the next couple of weeks. This Bill addresses a lot of issues and challenges that the timber and forest products industries have been pursuing. The Executive Order addressing Alaska’s natural resources specifically mentions timber as well. The discussions regarding the California wildfires is focusing on forest management. The Future Logging Careers Act will be introduced in the House and Senate soon with bipartisan sponsorship. The Logger Relief Act is being prepared for introduction and sponsorship support.

The timing is right for advancing the timber industry agenda. In anticipation of this opportunity the American Loggers Council preemptively invested in and developed the “Road Map To Recovery” as a resource to guide Congress and the Administration and outlines the priority Issues and Actions to support the American timber and forest products industries. This resource was a collaborative effort by the membership of the American Loggers Council and went through multiple iterations and is an example of collectively networking and communicating to provide a uniform focus and message. Copies will be available in DC, but members are welcome to expand upon these talking points with their own “one pagers”. A PDF copy is available, click here.

Additionally, to enhance the effort, the American Loggers Council is cost-sharing lobbying services with the American Biomass Energy Association (a member and sponsor) to multiply the messaging and presence in Congress and with the Administration. This 6 month investment provides another value to our members and will contribute to advancing our agenda and legislative / policy success.

The American Loggers Council has been engaged with the Trump Transition Team and has provided input regarding potential appointments, particularly regarding the USDA / U.S. Forest Service leadership. We are pleased to announce that the Undersecretary of Natural Resources and Environment (which oversees the US Forest Service), Michael Boren has been nominated as well as the Deputy Undersecretary, Kristen Sleeper and the Chief of Staff, Tom Schultz have been appointed. This leadership team represents a strong knowledge of public forest management needs complimented by a perspective on the role that the private business (logging and forest products) provides in accomplishing forest management goals and objectives.

All of these developments and efforts have laid the groundwork for the American Loggers Council 2025 DC Fly-In scheduled for March 31 – April 3.

A room block has been secured at the Capitol Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20036, Phone: 202-393-1000. When making reservations use this link https://book.passkey.com/go/alc25  the rate is $359/night. For reservations made by phone mention to the hotel code SRP:91D.

The location of the Hilton Capitol is central to much of the work that will be done, but those attending are welcome to secure lodging at other sites.

We have secured another room block at the Holiday Inn Capitol for March 31-April 3. Room Rate is $289.00 for single and double occupancy. Rate does not inclue the D.C. sales tax, currently at 15.95%.

You make your reservation directly on line by clicking on the weblink here. A major credit card information is needed at time of reservation. Individual cancellation policy is 72 hours prior to date of arrival to avoid one night's room plus tax cancellation charge on credit card provided. Please call 1-800 HOLIDAY (465-4329) and reference your confirmation number.

Please obtain a cancellation number when cancelling a reservation. Deadline date to make reservation is February 28, 2025. Reservation requests received after the deadline date will be subject to availability and prevailing rate.

 
The agenda is falling into place. As of this moment the agenda will be as follows:
 

Monday, March 31st 

Arrival Day; No events scheduled

Tuesday, April 1st

8:30am - 9:30am     Breakfast, Briefing and Breakfast Speaker at the Capitol Visitors Center (Not far from the Hilton and puts us in the Capital building beteewn the House and Senate Offices)

9:30am - 12:00pm    Hill Visits

12:00pm - 1:00pm     Lunch at the Capitol Visitors Center Meeting Room along with a Luncheon Speaker

1:00pm - 5:00pm      Hill Visits

Wednesday, April 2nd

7:00am - 8:00am      Breakfast at the Capitol Hilton

8:00am - 4:00pm      Hill Visits

5:30pm - 7:00pm       Congressional Reception at the USDA Headquarters, Whitton Building. Invitations will be sent the week of March 3rd to each state to forward on to their respective Congressional offices.

Congressional Leadership Awards will be presented.

Dignitary Addresses.

Thursday, April 3rd

7:00am - 8:00am      Breakfast at the Capitol Hilton

9:00am - 12:00pm     Board of Directors Meeting will be held at 250 Massachussetts Ave. NW, second floor conference room

Note: There are some potential requests pending, ie - the White House that may require adjustments to the agenda.

Members are encouraged to setup Congressional and Agency meetings on the 1st and 2nd of April, as well as before and after if they choose.

Again, we are proud to cohost this event with our partners at the American Biomass Energy Association.

This Fly-In represents the last best opportunity for the timber industry to advance the agenda that we have been pursuing for years. Please plan on attending and lending your voice to the effort.

There is not a registration fee for members to attend, but we will need a head count. Please email [email protected] to let us know if you will be attending.

Respectfully,

Scott Dane
Executive Director, American Loggers Council
1455 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004
[email protected]
www.americanloggerscouncil.com
(202) 627-6961

Save the Date: 2025 Annual Meeting

September 16-19

Lafayette, LA