| Letter from the Executive Director Rob Hughes Good policy creates opportunity without sacrificing what already works. That is why the recent introduction of the bipartisan Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate deserves attention from the forestry community: press release. The legislation would modernize the Renewable Fuel Standard by expanding the definition of eligible woody biomass, opening the door for additional renewable fuel markets while supporting better forest management and wildfire resilience. The bills were introduced with strong bipartisan support from members representing both timber-producing and wildfire-prone states, giving the effort meaningful momentum as it begins moving through Congress. As with any proposal affecting forest products, Texas Forestry Association will continue to evaluate the legislation through the lens of our diverse membership. Texas is fortunate to have a strong forest products industry that already creates value from our pulpwood resource. Our pulp and paper mills, panel manufacturers, and other forest products facilities remain essential partners in maintaining healthy markets for many family forest owners, supporting thousands of rural jobs, and sustaining working forests. Any new policy should complement these long-standing markets, not compete with or undermine them. Where this legislation offers promise is in creating value for woody material that often has little or no existing market. Across parts of Texas, landowners and forest managers are increasingly faced with low-value small-diameter timber, harvest residuals, thinning material, storm debris, and other woody biomass that is expensive to remove and difficult to market. Creating additional demand for those materials can improve forest management, encourage timely thinning, reduce hazardous fuel loads where appropriate, and provide another revenue stream that helps keep forests as forests. For Texas, this conversation is about expanding the toolbox rather than replacing existing tools. Healthy, competitive markets have always been one of the best incentives for sustainable forest management. When more products can be responsibly manufactured from our renewable forest resources, landowners are better able to invest in reforestation, mills gain access to a more stable supply chain, and rural communities benefit from continued economic activity. As Congress considers this legislation, TFA will continue working with our federal partners, congressional delegation, and national forestry organizations to ensure any final policy recognizes the unique strengths of the Texas forest sector. Our goal remains straightforward: protect the markets that have served Texas well while encouraging responsible innovation that creates new opportunities for materials that currently have few productive uses. Working forests succeed when every part of the forest has value. If this legislation can responsibly expand markets without disrupting the industries that already sustain our forest economy, it has the potential to strengthen both the health of our forests and the vitality of our rural communities for generations to come. — Rob | 
