Members of the US Congress from Washington and Alabama have backed a bill that will allow a large number of wood-processing mills across the country to convert and modernise their equipment in order to meet demand for timber.
A representative from Washington, a Republican from the Pacific Northwest coast, and Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Alabama, have introduced a new bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives, giving the US timber industry the opportunity to convert its equipment and reduce the risk of forest fires.
The bill, named the “Supporting America's Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity”, or “SAWMILL”, was also introduced in the US Senate. It was submitted by Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, and Tim Sheehy, a Republican from Montana. Its aim is to release federal funds to support the restructuring and modernisation of mills. It will also make it possible to process hazardous chemical products.
Washington State's timber industry serves the entire region. The sector offers very well-paid jobs, foresters help reduce the risk of forest fires and guarantee responsible forest management. The SAWMILL Act gives wood-processing mills the opportunity to expand their operations and support rural communities, which stand to benefit considerably from the presence of a strong local timber and forestry industry.
T. Sewell pointed out that Alabama's forest owners often struggle to work with sawmills and to access processing infrastructure. This in turn limits property values and conservation efforts. “I am proud to be introducing the SAWMILL Act together with Republicans, which will provide rural residents with infrastructure that matters to them, expand landowners' access to new markets and also promote environmental protection.” The new bill will provide the US Department of Agriculture with funds so that US timber companies can “be equipped with the tools they need”, as well as prepare for the coming forest fire season.
The SAWMILL Act supports a loan guarantee programme
The new law will boost the US Department of Agriculture's Timber Production Expansion Loan Guarantee Program, TPEP, which offers low-interest long-term loans to logging and timber companies so that they can invest in new machinery and equipment. Special support will be provided to timber producers that process hazardous fuels. The initiative is backed by American Wood Council, American Forests and The Lumber Manufactory (TLM).
“Our country's sawmills and wood-processing companies employ nearly half a million Americans, and individual mills are the main economic driver in their communities,” stresses American Wood Council president and chief executive Jackson Morrill. “When a sawmill closes, the whole community suffers, and some of them sadly never recover from such a blow.”
Rebecca Turner, head of policy and partnerships at American Forests, called the bill “a win-win solution that saves taxpayers' money, promotes healthy forest development and helps rural communities thrive”. TLM chief executive Michael Grasso, meanwhile, said the law is “an essential tool for rebuilding our country's sawmill and wood-processing infrastructure, while supporting sustainable forest management, forest fire mitigation and stimulating economic opportunity.” The new law aligns with the goals set out in the executive order issued by US President D. Trump in early 2025 on immediately and substantially increasing timber production volumes in the United States.