[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL ABORETUM OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I was pleased this morning to honor 
the work of the Agricultural Research Service and the U.S. National 
Arboretum by planting a newly developed disease-resistant American elm 
on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Joining me was Dr. Floyd Horn, 
Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service; Larry Coughlin, 
President of the Friends of the National Arboretum and former 
Congressman from Pennsylvania; my good friend, fellow tree junkie, and 
liberally utilized advisor, Dr. Tom Elias, Director of the National 
Arboretum; and Dr. Denny Townsend, the scientist who has spent a 
lifetime studying and developing new trees for cities and towns and the 
person responsible for developing this new American elm.
  I also want to thank the Architect of the Capitol, Mr. William Ensign 
and the Landscape Architect in his office, Mr. Matthew Evans for their 
professional assistance in facilitating this event.
  The Dutch elm disease has ravaged our native American elms for over 
65 years and has largely eliminated these magnificent trees from cities 
and towns throughout the eastern and Midwestern United States. But now, 
with the help of Dr. Townsend, and the National Arboretum, we stand a 
great chance of seeing a return of the stately and valuable American 
elm.
  I am delighted to be the congressional sponsor of the tree planting 
ceremony to honor the many accomplishments of the National Arboretum 
and the ARS in their contributions to the city and town landscapes in 
the United States.
  The purpose of the ceremony was to recognize the National Arboretum 
of the Agricultural Research Service. Over 645 new and improved 
varieties of ornamental and floral plants have been developed and 
released. Truly a remarkable record. The Arboretum has given us 
hundreds of Glen Dale hybrid azaleas, several flowering pear trees, the 
very popular and widely grown hybrids and selections of crape myrtles 
and viburnums, a disease resistant sycamore suitable for city streets, 
new red maples, numerous hollies and magnolias, and now a series of new 
elms including Valley Forge and New Harmony.
  There is no question that the Arboretum has contributed greatly to 
the growth of the nursery and floral industries in the U.S. Their 
introductions, releases, and discoveries have helped to make the green 
industries the number one growth industry within Agriculture in 
America.
  I am especially proud of the new cooperative agreement recently 
entered into between the Arboretum and the University of Missouri. On 
February 7, 1996, a memorandum of understanding was signed to establish 
a U.S. National Arboretum Midwest Plant Research and Education Site at 
the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center in New Franklin, MO.
  The new program will provide significant research and educational 
opportunities for all of us in our mission to discover, develop, and 
disseminate knowledge for the stewardship and sustainable use of human 
and natural resources. With this in mind, our planting at MU will be 
arranged to enable visitors, such as homeowners, and nurserymen to make 
easy comparisons between selections for their use. This relationship 
with the Arboretum will provide practical benefits to many ordinary 
Americans, while providing the research community at Missouri access to 
numerous vegetative types that can be used for scientific study and 
educational purposes. In Missouri, we are very excited about this new 
relationship with the Arboretum.
  I offer a hearty congratulations to Dr. Horn, Dr. Elias, and Dr. 
Townsend. Our country is grateful for people like you and your work in 
developing new and better trees, shrubs and other flower plants for the 
benefit of our national landscape and our environment.

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