King, Golden introduce bipartisan, bicameral bill to develop future workforce in Maine’s forest products industry
WASHINGTON — Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today reintroduced the Future Logging Careers Act, which would develop the next generation of Maine’s forest products workforce by allowing young Mainers to safely train in their family’s logging business. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) are original cosponsors of the bill.
“For centuries, logging has been synonymous with the success of Maine — creating good jobs, supporting proud, hard-working families and boosting local rural economies,” Senator King said. “As we prepare for the next generation of Maine loggers, we should provide opportunities for young people to explore this exciting field in a safe and supervised way. The bipartisan Future Logging Careers Act would give aspiring, young loggers the option to jumpstart their career, get valuable hands-on experience, and begin critical training by logging with their parents or grandparents. I’m proud to join my colleagues in working to expand good job opportunities and further build upon our state’s rich forest heritage.”
“Maine’s working forests are a distinct part of our identity, thanks to the passionate work of generations today and past,” CongressmanGolden said. “To carry on that proud tradition, young Mainers need the personal investment that comes only from experiencing something with your own two hands — an opportunity that this bipartisan legislation would finally create.”
Maine’s 16.3 million acres of contiguous, privately-owned working forest is the largest such in the United States. Its forest products industry — which includes both logging and downstream manufacturing, such as pulp and paper production — generates $8.5 billion in annual economic activity and employs more than 30,000 people according to the most recently available data.
However, the industry faces questions about its future because of its older workforce. Within the next ten years, an estimated 20-40 percent of forest product workers will reach retirement age — a trend that requires experienced young Mainers who can step into those roles.
The Future Careers in Logging Act will jumpstart that professional development and protect small businesses long-term by allowing 16-year-olds to work in their family’s logging business under parental supervision — something already possible on farms but illegal in the logging industry. It would also ensure that use of the most dangerous equipment, such as manual chainsaws, is still prohibited until the age of 18.
“Maine’s logging industry is an integral part of our economy and continues to be the primary economic driver of many rural communities throughout our state. The industry relies on mechanized equipment, and it can take a year or more of training before an operator is able to operate these machines. To alleviate the worker shortage, provide good jobs, and keep the forest products industry strong, it is essential that the next generation be prepared for the logging profession,” Senator Collins said. “This bipartisan legislation would help parents who own logging businesses to pass down their skills to their children and teach them how to safely harvest timber.”
“As the most forested state in the nation, the logging industry has long been key to generations of rural Maine families. Maine has a history of family-run, small logging operations that rely on their children and grandchildren to keep their businesses alive,” Congresswoman Pingree said. “We must allow young people across Maine to safely learn the craft from their family members as they prepare for good paying jobs in the forest products industry. The Future Logging Careers Act will encourage young Mainers to begin their careers in a heritage Maine industry and help grow the workforce as many loggers reach retirement age.”
“The logging and forest trucking industry has a proud history in Maine and the rest of the Northeast but faces an uncertain future without common-sense Congressional action on issues like this one” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) said.“Small family businesses that have been passed down from generation to generation are the bedrock of this industry, providing jobs and opportunity to thousands of citizens while contributing to rural economies. The Future Logging Careers Act will ensure that these businesses can sustain themselves for the long term and we commend Representative Golden and Senator King for their leadership and persistence in reintroducing this legislation and continuing to fight for the industry.”
“The timber industry is traditionally a multi-generational business where the skills and knowledge are passed on from one generation to the next. This succession process is critical to ensuring that the timber industry infrastructure remains viable to support public and private healthy forest management, rural jobs, wildfire mitigation, and U.S. made forest products,” Scott Dane, Executive Director of the American Loggers Council said. “The Future Logging Careers Act will afford the timber industry sector of the agricultural economy the same opportunities and benefits currently extended to the family farm. Workforce development is critical to maintaining the resources necessary to provide the forest management services required to meet the U.S. sustainable healthy forests objectives for today and the future. The American Loggers Council appreciates the bipartisan/bicameral sponsorship of Senator Risch (ID) and Senator King (ME), and Representative Golden (ME) and Representative Thompson (PA), of the Future Logging Careers Act and their continued support of the American timber industry.”
The group has led the Future Logging Careers Act in each of the last three Congresses. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) also helped introduce the legislation.
Full text of the bill can be found here.
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