Reps. Salinas, Thompson Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Lower Housing Costs and Support American Timber Industry

Portland, OR - Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) introduced the bipartisan Mass Timber Growth and Innovation Act, legislation to lower housing construction costs, strengthen American manufacturing, and create good-paying jobs in rural communities. The bill would provide tax incentives to expand domestic production of mass timber, an innovative wood building material that can help builders construct homes faster and at a lower cost.

As part of the bill rollout, Rep. Salinas visited Timberlab in Portland to tour their mass timber production facility and discuss the details of the bill.

"Every Oregon family deserves a home they can afford. Right now, Oregon needs to build nearly 500,000 new homes over the next 20 years to keep up with demand, but we simply aren't building enough, and the restricted supply leads to increased prices," said Rep. Salinas. "Mass timber can help us build faster and more affordably. Oregon has led the wood products industry for generations, and this bill provides the opportunity for Oregon workers lead what comes next. That means more homes for working families and more good jobs in the rural towns that helped build this state. I look forward to working with Rep. Thompson to get this done."

"The northern tier of Pennsylvania historically has been a leader in timber production, and this important industry has done its part to drive local economies for generations," said Rep. Thompson. "The Mass Timber Growth and Innovation Act will strengthen the forest products industry and fund future research, which will drive innovation and the future of timber usage,"

Mass timber products are made from layers of wood bonded or fastened together to create strong structural components, including large panels and beams. These materials are particularly well-suited for mid-rise housing projects, where traditional wood framing may not be practical and other construction materials may not be economical. Because mass timber components can be manufactured off-site and assembled quickly, they can reduce construction timelines and therefore costs.

Despite these advantages, manufacturers face significant barriers to expanding production. Building new facilities and purchasing specialized equipment require substantial upfront investments. Limited domestic manufacturing capacity has contributed to higher material prices, making it harder for builders to adopt mass timber construction.

The Mass Timber Growth and Innovation Act would:

• Help manufacturers build new plants. The bill offers a 10 percent tax credit for investments in mass timber manufacturing facilities, including machinery, equipment, and buildings. It does this by adding mass timber to the existing Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit.

• Reward research that brings costs down. This bill creates a 20 percent credit that covers every dollar a company spends on mass timber research, from new products to better production methods.

For Oregon, expanding mass timber manufacturing presents an opportunity to build on the state's timber and wood products industry while supporting economic growth in rural communities. Increased production could create new demand for American-grown wood, support family-wage manufacturing jobs, and help builders access more affordable construction materials.

"Americans want lower costs, and housing is their biggest bill," said Adam Kovacevich, CEO of Chamber of Progress. "Housing costs too much because building costs too much, but mass timber frames go up in weeks. The Mass Timber Growth and Innovation Act will help American factories make more of it so we can build more, build faster, and bring rents down."

The bill is endorsed by: American Wood Council, Chamber of Progress, Oregon Forest Industries Council, Washington Mass Timber Accelerator, and Weyerhaeuser.

The full text of the bill is available here.