Skip to main content

AF&PA Applauds Governor Newsom for California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act Veto

CONTACT: Tim Ebner 
comm@afandpa.org
 

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement in response to California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoing the California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act (AB 416):

“The American Forest & Paper Association applauds Governor Newsom’s decision to veto AB 416. This misguided legislation ignored robust sustainable forest management certification programs already in place in both the U.S. and Canada, would have adversely impacted housing costs, and undermined California’s efforts to increase the use of renewable and recyclable materials. While we welcome efforts to recognize the important role that sustainable forest management plays in advancing a vision for a more sustainable future, AB 416 would have failed in achieving this goal.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030