WASHINGTON – American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman today issued the following statement regarding Reps. Reid Ribble and Mike Michaud’s introduction of H.R. 612, The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act.
“Safe and efficient transportation of our industry’s products is vital to our customers, and we commend Reps. Ribble and Michaud for their leadership on this very important issue.
“Federal legislation standardizing truck weight limits on interstate highways will allow shippers to transport the same amount of product in fewer loads, decreasing fuel consumption, and will decrease large truck traffic on rural roads. Safety provisions also require the addition of a sixth axle to maintain safe braking capacity and stopping distance.
“H.R. 612 is a well-developed and much-needed piece of legislation that will benefit not only manufacturers, but also the general public, and we urge Congress to pass the bill without delay.”
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The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4.5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $190 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.