Chopping Down Burdensome Regulations

Whether you're driving around Green Bay or headed up north, odds are you've probably seen a logging truck somewhere along the way. That should come as no surprise: forestry is critical to Northeast Wisconsin's economy. But just like any industry, these businesses are subject to a whole host of regulations, which in some cases increase costs, harm our environment, and make local roads more dangerous. Congressman Gallagher saw the insanity of these regulations firsthand during his ride-along with members of the logging industry and discussed his experience -- and solution -- below.

The Problem

Logging trucks are prohibited from driving on the federal interstate. This is an issue for a few reasons. For starters, these trucks have to take longer routes, which leads to wear and tear on local roads, puts more emissions into our environment, and increases the number of accidents they're involved in.

The Consequences

By forcing logging trucks to use state and local roads to reach their destinations, we force them to encounter school zones, cross walks, intersections, and sharp curves, all of which heighten the risk these trucks pose while getting from point A to point B.

The Solution

Congressman Gallagher introduced the bipartisan Safe Routes Act of 2023, which would allow logging trucks that meet specific state requirements to travel up to 150 miles on the federal interstate. This would reduce accidents involving logging trucks on local roads, decrease the emissions these trucks put into our environment, and ensure loggers in Northeast Wisconsin can take the safest, most efficient route from point A to point B. As Congressman Gallagher says, it's a "win-win-win."

The Next Steps

Congressman Gallagher plans to share his experience from this ride-along with his colleagues in D.C. to raise awareness about the Safe Routes Act. Stay tuned!

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