STATE SEN. TOM Tiffany, right, is presented with the Wisconsin Paper Council’s 2019 Legislator of the Year award by WPC President Scott Suder.

MADISON — Calling him a “tireless advocate for the papermaking industry,” the Wisconsin Paper Council has named state Sen. Tom Tiffany as the organization’s 2019 Legislator of the Year.

The Minocqua Republican was presented the award at the trade association’s 69th annual meeting at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

The WPC each year selects two legislators, one from each house and each political party, to receive these awards.

“Tom is incredibly knowledgeable on our issues and is a strong ally that we can always depend on to fight for our industry,” said Adam Webster, mill manager for PCA Tomahawk and a WPC board of directors member. “He is dedicated, effective, extremely hard-working, and respected on both sides of the aisle.”

Tiffany represents the 12th Senate District in Wisconsin, which includes both Florence and Marinette counties, as well as part of or all of seven other counties.

As a member of the Joint Committee on Finance, Tiffany has led the charge to fight for increased funding for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Paper Science and Engineering program. He also has worked to promote sound forestry management practices, reasonable vehicle weight limits for raw timber and paper products and fair and equitable rail service for paper mills.

He has fought back as well against regulations and mandates that would adversely affect the 35,000 men and women who work as papermakers in Wisconsin.

In addition, Tiffany is chairman of the newly formed bipartisan Wisconsin Paper Caucus, a bicameral group that works to develop common-sense policy solutions that help sustain and promote the papermaking manufacturing sectors throughout Wisconsin.

“Papermaking helps drive our economy here in Wisconsin and this industry is incredibly important to all of our communities. Your

commitment to sustainability is truly remarkable and I commend you for your leadership as responsible environmental stewards,” Tiffany said. “It is also great to see this organization being much more active at the State Capitol and out in front of the public and the media.”

Wisconsin leads all states in papermaking.

The Wisconsin Paper Council is a trade association that advocates for the papermaking industry before regulatory bodies and state and federal legislatures.

WPC also works to educate the public and the media about the social, environmental and economic importance of paper, pulp, forestry and printing production in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest.