Summary
Once again, Domtar employees participated in the Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council annual Fly-In event in Washington, D.C. The event allows industry representatives to participate in industry advocacy at the federal level. This year’s participants addressed issues such as:
International Trade
Responsible forest management
Upcoming legislation
Paper-based communications
The industry’s environmental, social and economic impacts
Recycling
Consumer choice
As part of our ongoing industry advocacy efforts, several Domtar employees recently participated in the annual Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC) Fly-In in Washington, D.C. They joined industry colleagues from across the country to engage directly with members of Congress and their staff on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the U.S. pulp and paper industry.
The week-long Fly-In, held in June, provides a valuable opportunity for employees to share firsthand perspectives on how federal policies affect manufacturing operations, sustainable forestry, rural communities and family-supporting jobs. Through a series of meetings on Capitol Hill, participants highlighted the industry's commitment to environmental stewardship, economic growth and maintaining the global competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing.
"The PPRC Fly-In is an important reminder that our employees are among the industry's best advocates,” says Steve Henry, president, Domtar USA, and CEO, Paper and Packaging Business Unit. “They bring real-world experience and credibility to conversations with policymakers, helping them understand how their decisions affect manufacturing, sustainable forestry, jobs and communities across the country. I'm proud of the way our team represented Domtar and our industry on Capitol Hill."
In addition to Steve Henry, several other Domtar employees joined this important industry advocacy event:
- Seth Kursman, vice president, U.S. Public Affairs and Global External Communications
- Jennifer Beard, quality lab technician, USW, Local 1327 – Production President, Ashdown Mill
- Wendy Bodette, stock prep engineer, USW, Nekoosa Mill
- Adam Clemens, E&I technician, USW, Rothschild Mill
- Darrek Johnson, FL assistant crew leader, USW, Johnsonburg Mill
- Joe Jordan, hourly safety representative, IUOE 415, Plymouth Mill
- Eric Pulliam, journeyman mechanic/E-I, Hawesville Mill
Key Topics for This Year’s Event
Among the topics discussed was international trade, including:
- Support for renewal of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
- Preserving access to specialized manufacturing equipment
- Simplifying the European Deforestation Regulation
- Ensuring that non-market economies such as China are held accountable for trade practices that can disadvantage American manufacturers
Participants also emphasized the importance of responsible forest management and support for legislation such as the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471). Well-managed forests are essential to reducing wildfire risk, enhancing carbon sequestration, supporting biodiversity and providing the renewable fiber resources that serve as the foundation of the pulp and paper industry. As part of our industry advocacy, we also discussed concerns with expanding renewable fuel incentives in ways that could increase competition for wood fiber, raising costs for manufacturers and threatening domestic production and jobs.
In conversations about paper-based communications, employees reinforced the importance of preserving consumer choice. The industry supports policies that allow citizens to receive government information and services in either paper or digital formats and expressed concerns that "digital-by-default" mandates could reduce accessibility for many individuals while negatively impacting a vital domestic manufacturing sector.
Environmental policy was another major focus of our industry advocacy this year. Attendees highlighted the industry's significant progress in enhancing air quality, noting decades of investments in cleaner technologies and operational improvements. They encouraged policymakers to consider environmental, social and economic impacts when developing future regulations to ensure mills remain competitive while continuing to deliver environmental gains.
The group also discussed the industry's strong recycling record, emphasizing that paper remains one of the most successfully recycled materials in the United States. Participants voiced concerns regarding the Recycled Materials Attribution Act (H.R. 7502), noting that a one-size-fits-all approach to recycling policy could create unintended consequences and public confusion.
Several meetings centered on the industry's role as a leading producer of carbon-neutral bioenergy. Employees highlighted how paper and wood mills maximize use of renewable resources by converting manufacturing residuals into energy, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels while supporting local economies. They encouraged policymakers to provide regulatory certainty regarding carbon neutrality and recognize bioenergy's contributions in future legislation and tax policy.
Additional discussions addressed:
- Support for the beneficial use of paper mill residuals in agricultural and forestry applications
- The importance of practical water quality regulations that recognize the industry's long-standing investments in wastewater treatment and environmental performance.
Domtar Employees Embrace Industry Advocacy
Throughout the Fly-In, Domtar employees served as knowledgeable advocates for the industry, sharing their expertise and reinforcing the importance of policies that support sustainable forestry, manufacturing competitiveness, environmental stewardship and economic opportunity.
“I enjoyed the feeling of belonging to a community, as individuals from other mills across the country shared their experiences, struggles and success stories related to the pulp and paper industry,” said Adam Clemens (Rothschild, Wisconsin) of his second time participating in a fly-in. “I felt a sense of pride and responsibility in representing employees of the Rothschild Mill, the Domtar community and our entire industry.”
Wendy Bodette (Hawesville, Kentucky), who attended for the first time, said the experience was educational and impactful. “I believe we made a big difference with face-to-face meetings on issues that impact our industry. I felt honored to represent Domtar. I will be sharing the issues with my union sisters and brothers along with management.”
Eric Pulliam (Hawesville, Kentucky), who has attended four fly-ins, said he feels very fortunate to represent Domtar and the industry. “I enjoy talking to lawmakers about how important these jobs are to our communities. I look forward to it every year because I get to hear how passionate other people are about the industry. We all work at different locations, but we all have the same goal.”
PPRC Gives a Voice to Industry Workers
The PPRC was founded to give mill employees a stronger voice in public policy. It continues to play an important role in connecting policymakers with the people whose work sustains local communities, supports renewable manufacturing and advances responsible forest-based products.
Domtar’s participation reflects the company’s commitment to industry advocacy and ensuring employee perspectives remain part of the conversation as decisions are made that affect the future of the pulp and paper industry. The PPRC represents members of the USW, IAM, IBEW, AWPPW, IUOE, CPU, and Forest Products Industry Workers. For more information and to view PPRC Position Summary papers from 2026, please visit www.thepprc.org.
