Sens. Mitch McConnell and Mark R. Warner are pushing legislation to support the growth of white oak trees, saying a pending shortage threatens the ecosystem and Kentucky’s prized bourbon industry.

The White Oak Resilience Act of 2025 would direct federal resources and research toward producing and protecting white oak trees.

The trees are concentrated in Virginia but are critical to the barrels used to make bourbon in neighboring Kentucky.

“Kentucky bourbon is synonymous with the white oak tree, used to age our state’s signature spirit in its wooden barrels,” Mr. McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said. “This is commonsense conservation at its best.”

The senators said it takes 25 years for white oak trees to reach full maturity and there is a lack of seedlings right now, meaning the iconic tree could face extinction.

Beyond bourbon production, white oak is used in furniture and supports surrounding species in the wild.

The legislation requires government agencies to study the status of white oak populations and develop pilot projects to restore their growth.

“Virginia is home to one of the highest concentrations of white oak trees in the country, and they play an indispensable role in our ecology and our economy,” Mr. Warner, Virginia Democrat, said. “These trees have tremendous utility as both food for many species and material for the forestry industry, but without further action, we could face a severe shortage soon.”

Brown-Forman, an American-owned spirits company, commended the senators for highlighting the pending shortage of white oak trees.

“White oak barrels are more than just a container, they’re an important ingredient that provides all of the color and more than half the flavor to our whiskeys,” the company said. “We are committed to the conservation of the existing hardwood forests we rely on and have undertaken several initiatives to support sustainable forestry practices.”

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.