SENATE RESOLUTION 208--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF JULY AS ``AMERICAN GROWN FLOWER MONTH''; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 80
(Senate - May 14, 2019)
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[Pages S2834-S2835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 208--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF JULY
AS ``AMERICAN GROWN FLOWER MONTH''
Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Ms. Harris, and Mr. Sullivan) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:
[[Page S2835]]
S. Res. 208
Whereas cut flower growers in the United States are hard-
working, dedicated individuals who bring beauty, economic
stimulus, and pride to their communities and the United
States;
Whereas the people of the United States have a long history
of using flowers and greens grown in the United States to
bring beauty to important events and express affection for
loved ones;
Whereas consumers spend almost $27,000,000,000 each year on
floral products, including cut flowers, garden plants,
bedding, and indoor plants;
Whereas, each year, nearly 30 percent of households in the
United States purchase fresh cut flowers and greens from more
than 16,000 florists and floral establishments;
Whereas the people of the United States increasingly want
to support domestically produced foods and agricultural
products and would prefer to buy locally grown flowers
whenever possible, yet a majority of domestic consumers do
not know where the flowers they purchase are grown;
Whereas, in response to increased demand, the ``Certified
American Grown Flowers'' logo was created in July 2014 in
order to educate and empower consumers to purchase flowers
from domestic producers;
Whereas, as of April 2017, millions of stems of
domestically grown flowers are now ``Certified American
Grown'';
Whereas domestic flower farmers produce thousands of
varieties of flowers across the United States, such as
peonies in Alaska, Gerbera daisies in California, lupines in
Maine, tulips in Washington, lilies in Oregon, and larkspur
in Texas;
Whereas the five flower varieties produced in the largest
quantities in the United States are tulips, Gerbera daisies,
lilies, gladiolas, and irises;
Whereas people in every State have access to domestically
grown flowers, yet only one in five flowers sold in the
United States is domestically grown;
Whereas the domestic cut flower industry creates almost
$42,000,000 in economic impact daily and supports hundreds of
growers, thousands of small businesses, and tens of thousands
of jobs in the United States;
Whereas more people in the United States are expressing
interest in growing flowers locally, which has resulted in an
increase of approximately 20 percent in the number of
domestic cut flower farms between 2007 and 2012;
Whereas most domestic cut flowers and greens are sold in
the United States within 24 to 48 hours after harvest and
last longer than flowers shipped longer distances;
Whereas flowers grown domestically enhance the ability of
the people of the United States to festively celebrate
weddings and births and honor those who have passed;
Whereas flower giving has been a holiday tradition in the
United States for generations;
Whereas flowers speak to the beauty of motherhood on
Mother's Day and to the spirit of love on Valentine's Day;
Whereas flowers are an essential part of other holidays
such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa;
Whereas flowers help commemorate the service and sacrifice
of members of the Armed Forces on Memorial Day and Veterans
Day; and
Whereas the Senate encourages the cultivation of flowers in
the United States by domestic flower farmers: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the designation of July as ``American Grown
Flower Month'';
(2) recognizes that purchasing flowers grown in the United
States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and
economy of the United States;
(3) recognizes that growing flowers and greens in the
United States is a vital part of the agricultural industry of
the United States;
(4) recognizes that cultivating flowers domestically
enhances the ability of the people of the United States to
festively celebrate holidays and special occasions; and
(5) urges all people of the United States to proactively
showcase flowers and greens grown in the United States in
order to show support for the flower farmers, processors, and
distributors in the United States as well as agriculture in
the United States overall.
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