Speaker Jon Burns Joins Speakers of Southeastern States in Calling on Congress for Forestry Relief

ATLANTA- On Monday, October 20, 2025, Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns (R-Newington) sent a letter to members of Georgia's Congressional Delegation requesting urgent relief for the U.S. forestry industry. The letter was co-signed by Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, Nathaniel Ledbetter, Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, Brian S. Evans, Speaker of the Florida House, Danny Perez and Speaker of the South Carolina House, Murrell Smith, Jr.

"For generations, the forestry industry has been the backbone of South Georgia's families and communities, supporting thousands of good-paying jobs for Georgians and generating billions in economic impact each year," said Speaker Burns. "Across the Southeast, this vital industry has been impacted by shifting markets, non-tariff barriers to trade and global economic uncertainty. We look forward to working alongside our federal partners to deliver immediate solutions that ensure the U.S. forestry industry remains viable for generations to come."

"I am proud to work with Senator Britt and my fellow speakers from five Southeastern states to address non-tariff trade barriers impacting our $36 billion forestry industry," said Speaker Ledbetter. "President Trump's America-first approach to international trade has greatly benefited Alabama's economy, and this issue presents another opportunity to protect jobs and drive growth in one of our state's most vital industries."

The full letter is available here.

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