[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 542 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 542

Expressing support for the designation of July 2021 as ``American Grown 
                      Flower and Foliage Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2021

   Mr. Carbajal (for himself, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Herrera 
     Beutler, Mr. Newhouse, and Mr. Young) submitted the following 
     resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of July 2021 as ``American Grown 
                      Flower and Foliage Month''.

Whereas cut flower and foliage 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 
        foliage grown in the United States to bring beauty to important events 
        and express affection for loved ones;
Whereas consumers spend over $35,000,000,000 each year on floral products, 
        including cut flowers, garden plants, bedding, and indoor plants;
Whereas each year, an increasing number of households in the United States 
        purchase fresh cut flowers and foliage from more than 16,000 florists 
        and floral establishments;
Whereas the annual per capita spending on floral products by consumers in the 
        United States is almost $108;
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 and foliage whenever possible, yet a 
        majority of domestic consumers do not know where the flowers and foliage 
        they purchase are grown;
Whereas in response to increased demand, the ``Certified American Grown'' logo 
        was created in July 2014 in order to educate and empower consumers to 
        purchase flowers and foliage from domestic producers;
Whereas millions of stems of domestically grown flowers and foliage are now 
        ``Certified American Grown'';
Whereas domestic flower and foliage farmers produce thousands of varieties of 
        flowers and foliage across the United States, such as peonies in Alaska, 
        Gerbera daisies in California, lupines in Maine, tulips in Washington, 
        lilies in Oregon, larkspur in Texas, and leatherleaf in Florida;
Whereas the top flower and foliage varieties with the highest production in the 
        United States are tulips, Gerbera daisies, lilies, gladiolas, roses, and 
        leatherleaf;
Whereas people in every State have access to domestically grown flowers and 
        foliage, yet only 20 percent of flowers and foliage sold in the United 
        States is domestically grown;
Whereas the domestic cut flower and foliage industry--

    (1) creates a substantial economic impact daily; and

    (2) supports hundreds of growers, thousands of small businesses, and 
tens of thousands of jobs in the United States;

Whereas most domestic cut flowers and foliage are sold in the United States 
        within 24 to 48 hours after harvest and last longer than flowers shipped 
        longer distances;
Whereas flowers and foliage 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 and foliage giving has been a holiday tradition in the United 
        States for generations;
Whereas flowers and foliage speak to the beauty of motherhood on Mother's Day 
        and to the spirit of love on Valentine's Day;
Whereas flowers and foliage are an essential part of other holidays such as 
        Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa;
Whereas flowers and foliage 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 and foliage in the 
        United States by domestic flower and foliage farmers: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``American Grown Flower and 
        Foliage Month'';
            (2) recognizes that purchasing flowers and foliage grown in 
        the United States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs, 
        and economy of the United States;
            (3) recognizes that growing flowers and foliage in the 
        United States is a vital part of the agricultural industry of 
        the United States;
            (4) recognizes that cultivating flowers and foliage 
        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 foliage grown in the United States in 
        order to show support for--
                    (A) the flower and foliage farmers, processors, and 
                distributors in the United States; and
                    (B) the agricultural industry of the United States 
                overall.
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