WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 25, 2018) – Following is the statement that can be attributed to Tom Martin, president and CEO of the American Forest Foundation, in regards to the release of the 2018 Farm Bill & Legislative Principles by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Perdue:

 “Secretary Perdue has shown in the release of the 2018 Farm Bill & Legislative Principles that he is in tune to what’s happening in rural America, particularly in regards to our forests that support more than one million jobs across the U.S.”

“We applaud his leadership in pushing for strong conservation programs that will incentivize private forest stewardship and forest retention; as well as his focus on innovative investments in infrastructure, both our natural infrastructure such as our clean drinking watersheds, and economic infrastructure that will help support rural prosperity. These are both priorities of the American Forest Foundation and America’s family woodland owners, and we look forward to working with Secretary Perdue and Congress to implement these principles in the next Farm Bill.” 

About the American Forest Foundation

The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a forest conservation organization, works on the ground with families, partners and elected officials to promote stewardship and protect our nation’s forest heritage. A commitment to the next generation unites our nationwide network of forest owners working to keep our forests healthy and producing the clean water, wildlife habitat and sustainable wood supplies that all Americans count on from forests.