Wendy Rodlette and Steve Henry. Photo credit: AF&PA
By Adam Clemens
E&I technician, USW, Rothschild Mill
In June, I was privileged to travel to Washington, D.C., with six other employees from several Domtar mills to participate in the annual Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC) Fly-In. We joined our fellow pulp and paper industry professionals from across the country to meet with lawmakers and discuss issues affecting our industry and the communities we serve.
During the fly-in, 85 PPRC members made more than 539 visits with members of Congress and administration officials. We discussed issues critical to the future of the forest products industry, including international trade, sustainable forest management, environmental policy, recycling, renewable biomass, water quality and manufacturing competitiveness.
Alongside my fellow PPRC participants, I helped share information, data and industry statistics demonstrating the significant impact the pulp and paper industry has on local communities, state economies and our nation. We also met with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for policies that support sustainable forest management, responsible environmental regulations and a strong, competitive pulp and paper industry.
This was my second time attending the fly-in, and I was grateful for the opportunity to engage directly with our nation’s leaders and congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. Beyond the legislative meetings, I enjoyed connecting with industry professionals from across the country, touring the U.S. Capitol, and visiting Washington’s historic monuments and memorials. The experience left me with a renewed sense of patriotism and a deeper appreciation for our nation’s history and democratic process.
Most of all, I felt a tremendous sense of pride and responsibility representing the employees of the Rothschild Mill, the Domtar community, and the pulp and paper manufacturing industry. The fly-in was a valuable reminder that our voices matter.
By sharing our experiences and advocating for policies that support our industry, we can help strengthen our communities, protect nearly one million American manufacturing jobs and the communities that depend on them, and build a strong future for the U.S. forest products industry.