Wood Council Applauds Legislation To Address Housing Shortage

The timber and lumber industry is welcoming congressional passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, calling it a major step toward boosting home construction and demand for American wood products.

The American Wood Council says the legislation tackles the nation’s housing shortage by streamlining permitting, reducing regulatory barriers, and expanding support for manufactured and modular housing.

This Will Increase Demand For U.S. Wood Products

AWC President and CEO Jackson Morrill said the reforms will help unlock much-needed housing starts while supporting nearly 465,000 workers tied to the structural wood products industry.  The council says building more homes means greater demand for American-made lumber and engineered wood products, creating family-wage jobs in rural communities where forestry and wood manufacturing remain economic drivers.

“President Trump has championed making housing more affordable for American families, and we appreciate his prior endorsement of this legislation," Morrill said.  "We urge him to sign the Act into law quickly so his Administration can begin implementation and deliver real, meaningful relief to home builders, buyers, and renters across the country.” 

The American Wood Council said it looks forward to working with federal agencies and lawmakers to implement the measure and expand the nation’s housing supply.

Change Of Plans

Late Wednesday evening, President Trump announced he was not going to sign this housing legislation until Congress addressed election issues via the SAVE America Act.

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