Merkley Says Proposal Good For Rural Economies, Forest Health

Last week, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley announced he is co-sponsoring a bill he says will help timber communities.

“It preserves the opportunity for low-interest long-term loans, so that sawmill owners can invest in the next generation of equipment,” Merkley said.

It’s called the Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans and Longevity - or SAWMILL Act.  Merkley believes it’ll also help wildfire mitigation efforts.  

“If you’re going to thin the forest and provide saw logs, it’s much more economical to do so if you have a nearby sawmill.”

The SAWMILL Act has bipartisan support; it’s cosponsored by Montana Senator Tim Sheehy.  Click Here to learn more about the legislation.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com