Risch, King Introduce 
Future Logging Careers Act

Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Future Logging Careers Act. This legislation would level the playing field for the logging trade with other agricultural fields by allowing family members to learn about and get experience in the trade of logging from an earlier age so that they may carry on the family business.

“Family business is a way of life in the logging industry, as it is in the agricultural industries,”said Senator Risch. “By allowing young adults to begin helping their parents operate safe and modern machinery at an earlier age, we can bolster the entire logging industry. This bill would equip these young loggers with the knowledge and experience needed to carry on the family trade. Further, it would help to restore Idaho forests and all national forest lands into healthy, fire-tolerant forests while bringing much-needed natural resources into the marketplace.”

“Logging is more than a job in Maine. It’s an age-old tradition that’s often carried on from generation to generation in families – and I want to see that continue,” Senator King said.“There are a lot of young people across our state who are excited about working in Maine’s forests and who want to follow in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents by doing so. This legislation will help these aspiring loggers by allowing them to get out into the forest under the supervision of their parents, learn the trade, and keep it going – all of which will also grow Maine’s forest products industry and our economy.”

The bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 so that 16 and 17-year-olds would be allowed to work in mechanized logging operations under parental supervision.