FLA Applauds the introduction of the Strong American Wood (SAW) Act
The Forest Landowners Association applauds Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) for introducing H.R. 10906, the Strong American Wood Act, comprehensive legislation aimed at strengthening the U.S. forest products sector, expanding domestic markets for forest products and biomass, addressing unfair trade practices, and improving tools for forest landowners to recover from natural disasters.
Read more about the Strong American Wood Act.
“Forest landowners need strong markets, fair competition, and the tools to recover when natural disasters damage their forests,” said Scott Jones, CEO of FLA. “The Strong American Wood Act takes a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges by expanding markets for domestic forest products, supporting new and emerging uses for wood and biomass, addressing unfair trade practices, and improving incentives for reforestation. These policies can help keep working forests healthy, productive, and resilient while supporting the businesses and communities that depend on them.”
Key Provisions of the Strong American Wood Act
The legislation includes a range of provisions designed to strengthen domestic forest products markets, improve disaster recovery, and address barriers facing the forestry sector.
Improving reforestation and disaster recovery. The bill would increase the Section 194 reforestation deduction from $10,000 to $30,000, with inflation adjustments, and establish a new deduction for qualifying reforestation expenditures following natural disasters. The disaster-related deduction could reach $500,000 per qualified timber property.
Fixing the Renewable Fuel Standard’s renewable biomass definition. The bill would amend the Clean Air Act’s definition of renewable biomass under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to include materials generated through forest products and wood products manufacturing. Eligible materials would include wood and paper residuals, sawdust, wood chips, shavings, bark, and trimmings, alongside other qualifying feedstocks identified in the legislation. The bill also addresses eligible trees, slash, and storm debris from specified lands. Updating the definition could expand opportunities to use domestic forest materials and residuals in renewable fuel production.
Expanding support for biomass and clean transportation fuels. The bill would establish a zero-emissions rate under Section 45Z for qualifying transportation fuel derived from biomass, subject to the provision’s terms, and reinstate investment and production tax credits for certain open- and closed-loop biomass facilities. Additional provisions support mass timber buildings, biochar, woody biomass research, and the use of domestically sourced timber in housing.
Addressing unfair trade practices and international barriers. The bill includes a provision for a Commerce Department investigation under Section 232 into imports of paper and wood products from China and their effects on domestic supply chains. It also addresses European Union rules affecting forestry products, including the EU Deforestation Regulation, and includes provisions related to tariffs on machinery used by mills.
Strengthening domestic procurement. The legislation includes domestic procurement preferences for forest products and federal building components, along with a proposed Hardwood, Softwood, Pulp, and Paper Buy America Act.
Reducing barriers to domestic manufacturing. Other provisions address regulatory challenges, supply-chain issues, mill machinery tariffs, and studies related to domestic forest products production.
Building on FLA’s Support for the Save America’s Family Forests Act
The Strong American Wood Act includes key reforestation provisions reflected in the Save America’s Family Forests Act (SAFFA), H.R. 8538 and S. 4442. Led by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and bipartisan colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee, SAFFA would increase the Section 194 reforestation deduction and establish enhanced tax treatment for reforestation following qualified natural disasters.
FLA has also helped elevate these priorities through broader collaboration across the forestry and conservation communities. SAFFA was recently included in a coalition letter urging Congress to act on critical support for private forest landowners before year-end, alongside 11 national conservation, forestry, and landowner associations. The letter highlights practical, landowner-centric solutions to improve disaster recovery and strengthen the long-term resilience of America’s working forests.
“SAFFA represents an important step toward helping forest landowners recover from natural disasters and reinvest in their forests,” said Craig Anderson, Vice President of Government Affairs at FLA. “By pairing reforestation incentives with efforts to expand markets, address unfair trade, and reduce barriers facing domestic forest products businesses, the Strong American Wood Act recognizes that recovery and long-term forest health depend on a strong, competitive forest products sector.”
FLA has worked with Congressman Westerman’s office and national partners to advance practical solutions that support family forestry businesses, timber producers, and private forest landowners. The association will continue working with Congress and federal agencies to advance policies that strengthen disaster recovery, expand market opportunities, protect private property rights, and provide tax certainty.
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