Oct. 18, 2016
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate have adopted resolutions (
House Resolution 1065 and Senate Resolution 454) sponsored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) and Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Warren/Butler/Clarion/Forest/Venango) declaring Oct. 16-22 as National Forest Products Week in Pennsylvania.
“With the majority of the Allegheny National Forest located in my legislative district, I could not be more honored to join with Senator Hutchinson in sponsoring these resolutions,” said Rapp, who is a member of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and the legislative Timber Caucus. “The purpose of National Forest Products Week is to help raise awareness of the importance and heritage of the Commonwealth’s hardwood forests and to commend the forest products industry for its long-standing history of care and commitment to the responsible and sustainable use of one of our most renewable natural resources.”
According to the resolutions, the first paper mill in the United States was founded in Pennsylvania in 1690. Today, more than 10 percent of the Commonwealth’s manufacturing work force is involved in the forest products industry, employing no less than 60,000 Pennsylvanians.
“From the perspective of economic impact and family-sustaining jobs, there are presently more than 3,000 separate businesses involved in Pennsylvania’s forest products industry with a presence in each of our 67 counties,” added Hutchinson. “Yet even with the seemingly limitless list of everyday uses for Pennsylvania-produced forest products and more than three centuries of dynamic growth, thanks to the industry’s responsible stewardship and the implementation of sustainable practices, there are more forests in the Commonwealth today than 25 years ago.”
Representative Kathy Rapp
65th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Senator Scott Hutchinson
21st District
Senate of Pennsylvania
Media Contact: Ty McCauslin
717.772.9979