Bipartisan bill would open bio-based incentives to forest products (E&E News)

From E&E News:

"Wood, pulp and paper products would be eligible for federal bio-based incentives under bipartisan legislation introduced yesterday in the House and Senate.

"Supporters of the "Forest Products Fairness Act" say it would create opportunities for wood products and level the playing field between products in the United States and those imported from overseas -- such as Chinese bamboo -- that already qualify for the bio-based label.

""I applaud Sens. Pryor and Blunt and Reps. Thompson and Schrader for continuing their efforts to include paper, wood, and pulp products in the USDA's BioPreferred program," American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Donna Harman said. "These products have been arbitrarily excluded from participating in the voluntary labeling and federal purchasing program and should be recognized for their inherent 'biobased' properties."

"Thompson, who introduced similar legislation last Congress in the House, yesterday said he believed that the United States was not taking "full advantage" of its timber industry.

"It amazes me that we would be discriminating against U.S. forest products," Thompson said..."