Earlier this year, the Timber Innovation Act (S. 2892/H.R. 5628) was introduced, authorizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to place ‘mass timber’ as the material of choice for all tall building structures exceeding 85 ft. or above. The bill advocates the acceleration of research and development (R&D), education, marketing, technical assistance, training and promotion of engineered, cross-laminated timber (CLT's). The bill will give the wood industry a market share advantage above all others in tall building structures.

 

The Timber Innovation Act unfairly authorizes the USDA to:

• Provide federal funding to place CLT’s as the material of choice in tall building market;

• Fund a Tall Wood Building Prize Competition at the USDA;

• Funds grants to state, local and private sectors for education, R&D, promotion and marketing; and

• Funds technical assistance programs for architects and building designers in mass timber applications in tall building structures 85 ft. and above.

Congress shouldn’t pick winners and losers at the taxpayer’s expense. It should promote fair competition in the marketplace which will drive innovation while reducing consumer costs for all material selection in the built environment. The wood industry already benefits from the federal softwood lumber check off program, which makes the authorization of new programs duplicative.