Representatives Jim Leach (R-IA) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) introduced the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act (NFPRA) on July 26, 2005 to ban commercial logging in National Forests and fund critical forest restoration work and community protection from fire. This comprehensive legislative solution has widespread congressional support. Over 200 scientists, and more than 300 grassroots forest protection groups.

The NFPRA bill would:

• End the wasteful federal timber sales program, which costs the taxpayer more than $1 billion annually but provides less than 2 percent of our annual consumption of wood-based products;
• Redirect these subsidies to the restoration of forests, streams and wildlife habitat damaged by destructive logging practices;
• Fund retraining for displaced timber workers and help affected communities diversify and strengthen their economies;
• Fund research into alternative materials to wood-based products.