AF & PA pleased with currency prospects.

AF & PA PLEASED WITH CURRENCY PROSPECTS. American Forest and Paper Assoc. (AF & PA), Washington DC, USA released a statement made following China's announcement it would adopt a more flexible exchange rate system. "We welcome the Chinese government's decision to allow the yuan to float more freely against international currencies," said AF & PA President and CEO W. Henson Moore. "However, I hope this managed float against a narrow basket of currencies is just the first step in a larger effort that will result in the value of the yuan being completely determined by market forces."

IN OTHER AF & PA NEWS:

* The "2005 AF & PA Community Survey" shows that 86% of Americans--254 million people--have access to curbside or drop-off recycling programs. AF & PA and its member companies are encouraged by the increase in grades of paper being recovered in existing recycling programs. The industry has set a goal to recover 55% of the paper consumed in the U.S. by 2012.

* Moore praised the U.S. House of Representatives for its passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R. 22). "This legislation will bring urgently needed modernization and increased efficiencies to the United States Postal Service (USPS)."