A resolution recognizing the importance and sustainability of the United States hardwoods industry and urging that United States hardwoods and the products derived from United States hardwoods be given full consideration in any program to promote construction of environmentally preferable commercial, public, or private buildings.

Mr. President, I am pleased to introduced a resolution with my colleague, Mr. Chambliss of Georgia, recognizing hardwood trees as an abundant, sustainable and renewable resource. Specifically, the resolution states that the U.S. Senate

Recognizes that United States hardwoods are an abundant,

sustainable, and legal resource under United States law; and

urges that United States hardwoods and products derived from

United States hardwoods should be given full consideration in

any program to promote construction of environmentally

preferable commercial, public, or private buildings.

Hardwoods are found throughout the U.S., but they are a major component of forests from New England, through the Lake States, and the South-Central and Southeastern states. Hardwood inventories are expected to increase by 27 percent over the next 40 years, according to the Forest Service. Most of these forests are owned and managed by families who make substantial investments in these lands, sometimes without the expectation of timber income in their lifetimes. This resolution recognizes the environmental qualities of hardwood lumber, as well as the generational commitment of America's family forest landowners who grow and nurture this valuable resource.

The Arkansas timber industry has suffered badly during the recession. This resolution will provide new markets for our State's hardwood growers, many of whom are small family landowners who may harvest trees only once or twice in a generation. With more than 60 hardwood facilities in Arkansas, the industry is an important piece of our economy. Hardwood is valued world-wide as a superior and long-lasting building material and I am proud to encourage their use.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar resolution, H. Res. 81, on September 15, 2009, by voice vote. It enjoyed widespread, bipartisan support and had more than 50 cosponsors. I urge my colleagues join us in supporting U.S. hardwoods, the hardwood industry and an abundant and renewable resource.

Mr. President, I am submitting a resolution today recognizing that hardwood trees are an abundant and sustainable resource in the United States, and that the products derived from hardwood trees should be given full consideration in programs promoting the construction of environmentally friendly buildings, including commercial, public or private buildings. This resolution will hopefully demonstrate Congress's support for the hardwood industry and that these hardwood materials, a USA product, are sustainable building materials. I invite and encourage all of my colleagues to cosponsor this bipartisan resolution.

The Nation's forests are a bountiful resource. Not only do they provide forest products and related jobs, but they also are prized for their scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, and maintaining clean air and water.

Today, about one-third of the Nation's landscape is forested. The majority of this forestland, about 57 percent, is privately owned. In my home State of Georgia, 24 million acres, about 67 percent of the land, is covered by forests. These forests have a direct economic impact of nearly $13 billion per year. About one-third of Georgia's forests are hardwoods, which supports the nearly 300 hardwood facilities in the State. Most of these are small, family owned businesses, just as they are in the rest of the country. Unfortunately, in Georgia and the rest of the country, this industry has been in decline for more than a decade as paper and wood mills have closed and 158,000 jobs, many in rural areas, have been lost.

I hope that with this resolution my colleagues and the Nation remember the numerous benefits of forests and hardwoods. They are a sustainable and renewable resource and should be recognized for the environmental benefits they provide.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Agriculture Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 411, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, there be no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.