WASHINGTON -- Senator Ron Wyden introduced the bipartisan Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007 on Aug. 1 in the U.S. Senate. According to the Environmental Investigation Agency, the bill unites a coalition rarely seen on forestry legislation and has been endorsed by some of the largest representatives of the U.S. timber industry, as well as national organized labor and conservation organizations.

“We salute Senator Wyden for bringing this broad coalition to a common stance on a common problem,” said Alexander von Bismarck of the Environmental Investigation Agency. “We particularly recognize the industry leadership shown by the American Forest and Paper Assn. and the Hardwood Federation, which have taken a courageous step towards stopping a destructive trade in stolen goods.”

The Combat Illegal Logging Act would amend a long-standing wildlife trafficking statute, the U.S. Lacey Act, to prohibit the import, sale or trade in illegally-harvested wood and wood products.