BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) announced today that they have introduced the Future Logging Careers Act, legislation that 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.

“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.”

“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.”

Under current law, 16- and 17-year-olds are forbidden from work in logging, with limited exceptions for apprentices and student-learners for whom the logging is incidental to their training and takes place only intermittently. This restriction contrasts with the more permissive rules for agriculture, under which minors age 16 or older – and minors of any age who are employed by a parent on a farm owned or operated by the parent – are allowed to perform certain work.

The Future Logging Careers Act 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, similar to such exemptions for ranching and farming.

“Logging is inextricably tied to the history of Maine,” said Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC).  “Without logging, there would be no forest products industry in Maine or anywhere throughout the United States. To ensure the sustainability of the industry, hands on experience is vital to train the next generation of loggers.  The Future Logging Careers Act will ensure that family based logging businesses in Maine, including many that have been in the business for generations, can sustain themselves for the long term. Senator King should be applauded for his leadership on this issue because without common-sense legislation like this, the future of this industry will continue to be at risk.”

In addition to the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, the legislation is supported by the American Loggers Council.

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