Congressional updates

The forest products industry is a vital part of our state’s economy and identity, particularly in rural communities. Two recent announcements of significant investments totaling more than $800 million at Sappi’s Somerset Mill in Skowhegan and at Louisiana-Pacific Houlton’s plant in New Limerick will strengthen local economies and support Maine’s dedicated and skilled loggers, haulers, and factory workers. In Skowhegan, Sappi will invest $418 million to convert Paper Machine No. 2 to diversify its specialty product line and double its production capacity. The project is expected to be completed in early 2025. Currently, the Somerset Mill supports approximately 800 jobs in Skowhegan and 1,300 jobs in Maine. Construction of the expansion is expected to support 1,000 contractor jobs across Maine.

In New Limerick, Louisiana-Pacific Houlton announced a $400 million capital investment to its plant by adding a second SmartSide line, doubling the production capacity and adding more than 100 jobs to the community. This announcement comes just two months after LP unveiled a $150 million renovation to the plant to begin production of the SmartSide line of products. Coming from a six-generation forest-products family, I am a strong supporter of this crucial industry. In 2016, I called on the U.S. Department of Sen. Susan Collins Commerce to establish the Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) to create strategies for job growth and economic development in Maine’s rural communities. The creation of the EDAT and subsequent federal funding established the FOR/Maine Initiative, an industry-led effort to grow Maine’s forest economy. As the industry embraces new opportunities, Sappi and LP are leading the way in making the necessary investments to evolve with the market and secure long-term success. These investments by Sappi and LP recognize that from the depths of our woods to the factory floor, the men and women of Maine’s forest products industry get the job done.

I'm a perpetual optimist. I think that it's almost always easier to solve a problem if you can look at the opportunities you have, rather than just focusing on the downsides. It's no secret that Maine's forest products industry has faced some real challenges over the last few years, but with some significant investments that have been announced this fall, I think we can be optimistic about the future of Maine's forest economy and rural communities. At the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Sappi North America just announced a $418 million investment this month to convert Paper Machine No. 2 to a new specialty board line and double production capacity. Construction of the expansion is expected to create 1,000 contractor jobs and will help Sappi continue to support their workers and the Skowhegan community. A bit further north, LP Houlton announced they're making a $400 million investment to increase the facility’s capacity by 340 million square feet of new siding a year. It's a huge expansion that is expected to create approximately new 100 jobs and

enough siding for 100,000 homes a year. This is in addition to the $150 million new facility I visited at LP Houlton earlier this summer. A key similarity between the investments at LP and Sappi: they're both for new lines of forest products that weren't produced or sold even just a few years ago. These new products and opportunities like crosslaminated timber will mean new markets, new jobs, and stronger communities across rural Maine. Another great example of our industry’s innovative spirit is from the University of Maine. Sen. Angus King Last month, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the University’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center unveiled the first 3Dprinted home made entirely from biobased Maine wood products. This incredible achievement is a first step towards mass producing affordable housing which will create new jobs and uses for Maine’s forest products. Now that’s a win-win. This doesn't mean that the road ahead for our forest economy is an easy one; but with these investments, the success of initiatives like the Forest Opportunity Roadmap, and the unbeatable work ethic of people like you across the industry, I'm confident that the future remains bright. Together, we’re going to continue creating new opportunities and solidifying the foundation of our heritage industries for generations to come.

The 117th Democratic Congress was arguably the most successful and transformative session for the American people in decades. As we put another year and another legislative session behind us and look ahead to 2023, it’s important to take stock of the historic progress we made to protect the environment, support Mainers and our forestry industry, and foster innovative, climate-smart practices. My colleagues and I delivered a long-overdue infrastructure bill that is funding critical conservation and revitalization efforts across the country. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) received $5.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to grow forest economies, combat climate change, and reduce wildfires. I was pleased to see the USFS recently invest $50 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help reduce wildfires and support healthy forests across the country. These funds will help enhance wildlife habitat, protect water quality, and keep our forests healthy. In my fall column I highlighted the significant forestry-related investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, including $5 billion in forestry programs to ensure our public and private forest lands have the tools they need to address destructive fire seasons, restore forest ecosystems, tackle impacts from climate change, and more. The federal forest programs the Inflation Reduction Act supports help create quality jobs and strengthen rural economies. As the most forested state in the nation, this legislation’s impact will be instrumental in helping Maine’s forestry sector be part of the nature-based climate solution. In addition to the recent investments from the USFS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced $30 million in federal funding through the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities program for a transformational pilot program to help Maine and other New England landowners sequester and store carbon. Not only will this

program reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it will also help the industry grow more and better-quality wood. Maine’s forestry industry has long embraced being sustainable, and this project expands on climate -smart practices and takes sustainability to a whole new level. Last month, I joined a congressional delegation to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27). Important progress on sustainable forest management and conservation was made at COP27 with the launch of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP), which aims to unite action by governments, businesses, and community leaders. FCLP will implement a plan endorsed by over 140 countries. including the United States, to halt forest loss and land degradation by 2030. By working together to reduce deforestation and implementing sustainable forest practices, the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global Rep. Chellie Pingree average temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre reached. -industrial levels can be In the 118th Congress, we must build upon these notable

successes. Every five years, Congress has an opportunity with the Farm Bill to better support our nation’s farmers and address the climate crisis. As co-chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Climate and Agriculture Task Force, I was pleased to release a report covering recommendations for a climate-friendly 2023 Farm Bill. The Forestry and Wildfire section outlines recommendations to assist with forest management and restoration, support the wood products industry, and strengthen forestry research. In the next Congress, as a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, I see the 2023 Farm Bill as an opportunity to build upon the conservation and climate successes of the Inflation Reduction Act to help equip farmers and foresters with the tools they need to respond to the climate crisis. By promoting good soil management practices, climate-smart forestry, establishing new climate-friendly markets, and reducing wildfire risk through investments in federal forestry programs, the Farm Bill can further Maine’s climate goals while supporting our rural forestry communities.

As you all know, this past year has not been an easy one for the forest products industry. From mill shutdowns to low enrollment numbers, 2022 has brought an array of difficulties. This industry and its workers have stood strong, but after another tough year I think it’s fair to ask what your elected representatives are working on to support your industry and your jobs. Here is some of what I’ve been working on for loggers, logging truckers, mill workers, and other forest products industry workers in 2022. Back in March, faced with data suggesting that over the next 10 years, 850 loggers and forest products workers are expected to reach retirement age, Northern Maine Community College (NMCC), the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, and I partnered to secure and announce dedicated funding for the Mechanized Logging Operations Training Program. Together, we secured $1 million in federal funding for the program, which will allow an overhaul of the facilities and programs that helps ensure our state is producing multi-skilled operators who can efficiently haul and run the equipment needed to harvest logs in our forests. In June, we announced that the United States Forest Service awarded almost $2 million in grant funding to both Robbins Lumber in Searsmont for an innovative value-based scanning program and Standard Biocarbon Corporation in Enfield for a biomass energy system. This is a grant the Maine congressional delegation and I went to bat for and I’m glad we were able to get it over the finish line.

I also worked with Senators Collins and King to bring $1 million in federal funding to Madison to support the new Forest Products Hub they’re building there. The funding we secured will help build a waste-to-energy biodigester to provide power to the facility and create more forest products jobs in the town. These are just a few examples of the investments in forest products invention happening in our district. And even more is happening in the private sector, as I saw firsthand at Pleasant River Lumber in Enfield for the Forest Resources Association’s Annual Meeting in September. Throughout the year, I talked with some of the loggers, land managers, and mill workers who make up our state’s forest products industry and in nearly every conversation, I heard about the progress being made in harvesting, management, and manufacturing. This industry is paving its own way for the future and I’ve been proud to support its members in any way I can. I stood with Maine forest Rep. Jared Golden products in 2022 and I look forward to doing the same in the new year. In the meantime, our team is looking to support Maine forest products however we can. If you think we could be of service to you, please shoot our logger support team an email at MELoggerSupportTeam@mail.house.gov. We should get back to you quickly. Even if your concerns are not forestry related, my team and I are here to help. Please let us know if we can help you solve problems you or your family is having with Medicare, Social Security, the VA, or other federal programs or agencies. You can reach my staff at: Lewiston: (207) 241-6767 Caribou: (207) 492-6009 Bangor: (207) 249-7400

108 Sewall St. P.O. Box 1036 Augusta, ME 04332