[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 41 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 41

  Recognizing the contributions of the Christmas tree industry to the 
   United States economy and urging the Secretary of Agriculture to 
    establish programs to raise awareness of the importance of the 
                        Christmas tree industry.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 29, 2006

  Mrs. Dole introduced the following joint resolution; which was read 
  twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
                                Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the contributions of the Christmas tree industry to the 
   United States economy and urging the Secretary of Agriculture to 
    establish programs to raise awareness of the importance of the 
                        Christmas tree industry.

Whereas Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since 
        the 1850s;
Whereas, by 1900, one in five American families decorated a tree during the 
        Christmas season, while, by 1930, a decorated Christmas tree had become 
        a nearly universal part of the American Christmas celebration;
Whereas 32.8 million households in the United States purchased a live-cut 
        Christmas tree in 2005;
Whereas the placement and decoration of live-cut Christmas trees in town squares 
        across the country have become an American tradition;
Whereas, for generations, American families have traveled hundreds and even 
        thousands of miles to celebrate the Christmas season together around a 
        live-cut Christmas tree;
Whereas 36 million live-cut Christmas trees are produced each year, and 98 
        percent of these trees are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree 
        farms;
Whereas North Carolina, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, 
        New York, Minnesota, Virginia, California, and Ohio are the top 
        producers of live-cut Christmas tree, but Christmas trees are grown in 
        all 50 States;
Whereas there are more than 21,000 growers of Christmas trees in the United 
        States, and approximately 100,000 people are employed in the live-cut 
        Christmas tree industry;
Whereas many Christmas tree growers grow trees on a part-time basis to 
        supplement their other farm and non-farm income;
Whereas growing Christmas trees provides wildlife habitat;
Whereas more than a half million acres of land were planted in Christmas trees 
        in 2005;
Whereas 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted in 2006, and, on average, 
        over 1,500 Christmas trees can be planted per acre; and
Whereas the retail value of all Christmas trees harvested in 2005 was $1.4 
        billion: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the important contributions of the live-cut 
        Christmas tree industry, Christmas tree growers, and persons 
        employed in the live-cut Christmas tree industry to the United 
        States economy; and
            (2) urges the Secretary of Agriculture to establish 
        programs to raise awareness of the importance of the live-cut 
        Christmas tree industry.
                                 <all>