Relief for Virginia's Farmers and Loggers

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGUIRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an important milestone in my congressional career. Last week, I introduced my first bill as a Member of this body. I introduced the Agricultural and Forestry Hauling Efficiency Act.

For me, this is a safety concern. On the one hand, this bill helps farmers and loggers feed and fuel this country by helping them move product across the Commonwealth of Virginia directly from their farms to their processors, but the bill also increases transportation safety.

Agriculture and logging are two of the largest industries in the Commonwealth of Virginia, combining for over $120 billion in annual economic impact. However, unlike many other States, currently Virginia loggers primarily use rural roadways to transport product because of weight limitations on interstate highways.

My bill increases the maximum weight allowance from 80,000 pounds to 90,000 pounds on interstate highways in Virginia for trucks hauling certain agricultural and forest products. This will ensure a safer and more efficient transportation system while reducing congestion and fatalities on secondary roads.

I am proud that the first bill that I introduced in Congress is very important not only for my district but for the rest of the Commonwealth.

I thank Congressman Rob Wittman for supporting this legislation, and I thank the associations that advocated for this bill.

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