Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1040159
Policy at Play Glenn Thompson, Champion of Forest Products in Pennsylvania By Patrick Atagi, Vice President of Advocacy & External Affairs 10 PalletCentral • September-October 2018 palletcentral.com CAPITOL HILL CORNER A while back when U.S. Representative Glenn "GT" Thompson, a Pennsylvania republican, toured Penn Pallet in St. Marys, PA, he said, "I like forest products." He definitely walks the talk and is a huge supporter of the forest industry, and in particular NWPCA. It's a small phrase that carries a huge sign of support that Thompson has for all things agriculture and forestry, and in turn, the wood pallet industry. Thompson is a nearly 10-year veteran of representing Pennsylvania's 5th District in the U.S. Congress. Come November he will face Democrat Susan Boser in the first ever election for the state's new 15th District which came about earlier this year – with the redrawing of the state's congressional map. "The 15th will comprise 10 counties from the current 5th District," Thompson said. "The difference will be the loss of six counties and the addition of all or part of four counties, shifting more to the southwestern portion of the state." The redrawn map in the state includes 18 districts, each with more than 700,000 constituents. Thompson added that he will "represent about 280,000 new constituents and I have been working hard to meet as many of them as possible." The new district will still include much of the Alleghany National Forest, which is in four counties, and St. Marys where Penn Pallet, Inc. is headquartered, which Thompson said makes him happy. "Glenn Thompson is a great supporter of the timber industry, which in turn has a direct effect on the pallet industry," said Penn Pallet's Jesse Cunningham, business development specialist. "He is a supporter of increasing the available workforce for the lumber industry in Pennsylvania. GT is also fighting to apply the appropriate funding necessary to support additional harvesting of state-owned and managed property, which will only increase the supply of hardwood to support our needs." Penn Pallet was founded in 1976 by Dan and John Cunningham and operates in St. Marys and Woodland, PA. The company has 135 employees and services new hardwood products through North America and recycled wood pallets within a 200-mile radius of the company. Asked whether the wood pallet businesses in Pennsylvania saw Thompson as a friend to the industry, Ben Remmey, strategic project manager at Remmey – The Pallet Company said, "Yes, definitely. The forest products industry as a whole faces many challengers and Glenn Thompson is the advocate we need because he comes from a rural area and is willing to voice the opinions of our constituents." Remmey's company is a third-generation family business headquartered in Lehighton, PA with an operation also in Beaver Springs, PA. The company sells about 14,000 pallets per day, primarily in the mid-Atlantic region, and purchases hardwoods from more than 40 sawmills of which the majority are in Pennsylvania, according to Remmey. "There are more than 60,000 workers employed by the forest products industry in Pennsylvania, which makes up more than 10% of the manufacturing workforce," Remmey added. "Congressman Thompson's district includes the majority of the Alleghany National Forest where many sawmill and pallet operations are located, and he understands the significant contribution that our industry provides to the state." During the 115th Congress, Thompson has served on the House Committee on Agriculture, The House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Committee on Natural Resources, all of which give him a unique perspective to highlight his expertise and knowledge on the issues facing rural communities, their businesses, and families. iStockphoto.com/Tanarch