[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 117 (Friday, September 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            VERMONT FOLIAGE

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today on an issue of the utmost 
importance to Vermonters. I recently returned from a wonderful month in 
my home State of Vermont. I visited farms and downtowns, talked to 
teachers, parents, and business men and women from all over our State, 
and enjoyed the beautiful Vermont summer. However, as I and countless 
of Americans know, nothing compares to Vermont in all of its autumn 
glory. I would like to read the following proclamation, that I received 
when I was visiting the picturesque town of Stowe, VT:

                 Vermont Foliage Challenge Proclamation

       Inasmuch as Vermont is acknowledged throughout the known 
     universe to be the home of the most spectacular fall foliage.
       And inasmuch as certain ill informed media reports have 
     implied that Vermont's legendary foliage display this year 
     may be less spectacular than usual.
       And inasmuch as Vermont's fall foliage display is always 
     the best and brightest on this planet or any other.
       We, of the Green Mountain State, hereby issue a challenge, 
     open to all Senators, to wit:
       That as of twelve noon on October 1, 1999, the fall foliage 
     in Vermont will be the most colorful, most spectacular, and 
     most photogenic of any venue on Earth.
       And inasmuch as any challenge worth issuing deserves to be 
     honored with a prize, we of the Green Mountain State hereby 
     offer as proof of our challenge the quality of ten gallons of 
     last spring's Vermont's finest Grade A Fancy Maple Syrup from 
     Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm of Stowe, Vermont, to be collected 
     in Stowe.
       Respectfully tendered, the Stowe Area Association.

  I don't know about where you come from, but 10 gallons of Vermont 
Fancy Maple Syrup are worth their weight in gold! I would like to see 
anyone try and meet that challenge.
  From Bennington to Derby Line, from Fair Haven to St. Johnsbury, in 
the months of September and October Vermont's Green Mountains become a 
painter's palette of rich colors. Nothing refreshes the soul as we head 
into the cold winter months like the invigorating rush one gets from a 
visit to Vermont when she is decked out in prime foliage.
  The brisk autumn weather and the breathtaking beauty of nature's fall 
canvass are unparalled anywhere in the 50 States, or even anywhere in 
the world. Come see for yourself.
  Mr. President, before I came to the Chamber, I received word that my 
esteemed colleague from the State of New York, Senator Schumer, has 
risen to the Vermont Foliage Challenge. Senator Schumer has offered 10 
gallons of New York apple cider to our 10 gallons of Vermont Maple 
Syrup, stating that the foliage in the Empire State ``will outshine the 
challenging leaves found in Vermont during this and every October.'' 
Anybody who has looked at apple leaves in the fall and maple leaves in 
the fall realizes there is no way to compare them. I am sure he was not 
referring to that. I am delighted to hear that the challenge has been 
accepted, and I am looking forward to enjoying a nice, tall, cold glass 
of New York apple cider later in the fall. I would like to mention that 
10 gallons of maple syrup is not quite comparable to 10 gallons of 
apple cider, especially considering that it takes 40 gallons of sap to 
make 1 gallon of maple syrup. But this evens the odds, as it is about a 
million-to-one chance that Vermont will come out on the short end of 
the stick in this wager.
  Mr. President, Mr. Schumer, who I think probably has some insecurity 
in making this challenge, whisked off to New York and is unable to be 
here to give his statement. But to acknowledge his courage in accepting 
the challenge, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Schumer's statement 
be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
 Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today my esteemed colleague from 
Vermont stood in praise of the beauty of his fine State during the fall 
season. Nothing, he argued, could compare with the sight of the Green 
Mountain State's autumnal foliage. To that end, he reported a challenge 
issued by his fine constituents in Stowe; that on October 1 of this 
year, the changing leaves of Vermont would reign supreme.
  I represent a contender to this challenge whose autumn beauty is 
destined to win any comparison with its bright flying colors of yellow, 
red, and orange. I am proud to represent the State of New York in this 
Senate, the Empire State, whose foliage will outshine the changing 
leaves found in Vermont during this and every October.
  New York's fall splendor has been captured by a wide variety of 
artists, from the landscape painters of the Hudson River School to the 
soulful jazz of Vernon Duke's ``Autumn in New York.'' I point to such 
representations as proof of our superiority in this venue, and invite 
any skeptics to visit the Empire State themselves. They will enjoy the 
breathtaking grandeur of the Catskills, or happily succumb to the 
peaceful serenity of an autumn day's drive along Interstate 87 in the 
Adirondack Mountains. From our wineries to our apple orchards, nothing 
can compare to the glory of Upstate New York in the fall.
  In fact, speaking of apples, I recall that my esteemed Vermont 
colleague brought a prize to the table from which he issued his 
challenge. To the State possessing the finest foliage on the first of 
October, he said, would go 10 gallons of Vermont Fancy Maple Syrup. Mr. 
President, it is only appropriate that the Empire State bring its own 
prize to this competition. To that end, I hereby offer as proof of our 
greatness 10 gallons of New York's finest apple cider, gleaned from the 
25 million bushels produced by the Empire State every year. After all, 
while maple syrup is truly a product of Vermont's spring rejuvenation, 
apple cider is evidence of the glory of New York's fine fall.

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