Building relationships with federal, state, and local government representatives and their staff enables us to engage on issues that are important to our business and to influence policy through education and advocacy.
PotlatchDeltic’s business can be impacted by international and U.S. federal, state, and local public policy. Our Public Affairs team works with management to actively engage in the political process through public policy and legislative advocacy on issues that have the potential to impact our Company and the industries in which we operate.
We regularly meet with national, state, and local elected officials and their staff. We often work together with industry associations or coalitions in these efforts to highlight issues of importance. Our involvement can range from writing letters in support of, or opposition to, proposed legislation, educating legislators and their staff on an issue, or participating in rulemaking regarding proposed regulatory changes. We are committed to conducting these activities in an accountable and transparent manner.
Political contributions are one of the important ways we engage in the political process, and we take steps to comply with all laws and regulations regarding contributions. Contributions to the campaigns of United States federal elected officials are funded through the nonpartisan PotlatchDeltic Corporation Political Action Committee (PotlatchDeltic PAC), which is compliant with all applicable laws and is regulated by the United States Federal Election Commission (FEC).
PotlatchDeltic PAC disbursements are made to candidates based on several factors that include: whether the candidates are running in states or districts where we have employees, assets, or business interests; whether the candidates are in a leadership position in areas that directly affect our business; and whether the candidates have indicated their support for issues of importance to us. Our PotlatchDeltic PAC charter establishes our PAC guidelines. The PotlatchDeltic PAC Steering Committee oversees the contribution plan and monitors that the candidates receiving contributions continue to meet our PAC disbursement criteria.
At times, PotlatchDeltic makes corporate contributions to the campaigns of U.S. state and local candidates in states where such contributions are permitted. In addition, corporate contributions are made to several state association PACs for state and local campaign contributions. We typically do not make payments to influence ballot issues, unless the issues are directly tied to the Company’s core values and business interests.
In 2023, our total contributions to association PACs for federal contributions was $5,000. Our federal PAC contributions were $36,000 with 14% to Senators’ and 86% to Congressional Representatives’ campaigns. Nearly 72% of contributions were to representatives within our footprint. Contributions and disbursements were publicly disclosed as required by law and can be viewed on the FEC campaign finance database.
In 2023, PotlatchDeltic directly contributed $76,650 towards state and local contributions and to state industry association PACs in Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, and Washington.
In 2023, we engaged on several topics including softwood lumber trade, visas for H2-B workers, wildlife, and climate-related opportunities. We also continue to work towards solutions on issues related to wildfire, tax matters, and carbon neutrality of biomass, and continue to oppose legislation that could have a negative impact on the forest products or real estate industries.
PotlatchDeltic works within several national or state industry associations to direct lobbying outreach and participates in several coalitions and advisory boards. The topics we have been engaged in vary from state issues to broader national matters. Some issues are resolved in a short timeframe while others can evolve over many years. Some of these associations may have interactions with federal or state government officials. Federal trade associations establish the percentage of their membership dues that is attributable to lobbying activity. In 2023, the total amount of trade association membership dues paid by PotlatchDeltic that was attributable to lobbying activity was nearly $227,040.
The wildfire crisis has become all too evident in recent years. Decades of fire exclusion, combined with reduced management on federal lands, has led to a dangerous accumulation of natural fuels that create ladders which enable fires to reach the crowns of trees. A drier weather cycle in some regions has further exacerbated fire conditions.
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