[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2594-S2595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. LANDRIEU:
  S.J. Res. 8. A joint resolution designating 2002 as the ``Year of the 
Rose''; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to bring to the attention 
of the Senate, the continuing beauty and appeal that flowers bring to 
our nation. Americans have always loved the flowers which God has 
chosen to decorate our land. In particular, we hold the rose dear as 
symbols of life, love, devotion, beauty, and eternity. For the love of 
man and woman, for the love of mankind and God as well as for the love 
of country, Americans who would speak the language of the heart do so 
with a rose.
  We see evidence of this everywhere. The study of fossils reveals that 
the rose has existed in America for ages. We have always cultivated 
roses in our gardens. Our first President, George Washington bred roses 
and a variety he named after his mother is still grown today. The White 
House itself boasts of a beautiful Rose Garden. We find roses in our 
art, music, and literature. We decorate our celebrations and parades 
with roses. Most of all, we present roses to those we love, and we 
lavish them on our altars, our civil shrines, and the final resting 
places of our honored dead. In 1986, in recognition of the high esteem 
roses are held, President Ronald Reagan and the Congress of the United 
States proclaimed the rose as the National Floral Emblem of the United 
States of America.
  This proclamation was as a result of the handiwork and dedication of 
the American Rose Society. The American Rose Society is the premier 
organization dedicated exclusively to the cultivation of roses. Since 
1892, the American Rose Society has strived to enhance the enjoyment 
and promotion of roses to gardeners of all skill levels. In 2001, the 
American Rose Society, in conjunction with the 37 member countries that 
make up the World Federation of Rose Societies, the National Council of 
State Garden Clubs, and the American Nursery and Landscape Association 
began waging a campaign to honor our national floral emblem, the Rose.
  In an effort to increase support for public rose gardens in the 
United States; recognize the beauty and inspiration roses add to the 
environment and landscapes of cities, and communities around the 
country; to introduce the therapeutic benefits of roses to people of 
all ages and background; to provide educational programs designed to 
stimulate and teach about the joys of gardening, especially rose 
gardening; and to teach the great history and diversity the genus 
offers, the American Rose Society, whose national headquarters is 
located in Shreveport, Louisiana, is requesting a joint congressional 
resolution proclaiming the year 2002 as the Year of the Rose.
  The American people have long held a special place in their hearts 
for roses. Let us continue to cherish them, honor the love and devotion 
they represent and to bestow them upon all we love just as God has 
bestowed them on us.
  I ask unanimous that the text of this resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the joint resolution was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 8

       Whereas the study of fossils has shown that the rose has 
     been a native wild flower in the United States for over 
     35,000,000 years;
       Whereas the rose is grown today in every State;
       Whereas the rose has long represented love, friendship, 
     beauty, peace, and the devotion of the American people to 
     their country;
       Whereas the rose has been cultivated and grown in gardens 
     for over 5,000 years and is referred to in both the Old and 
     New Testaments;
       Whereas the rose has for many years been the favorite 
     flower of the American people, has captivated the affection 
     of humankind, and has been revered and renowned in art, 
     music, and literature;
       Whereas our first President was also our first rose 
     breeder, 1 of his varieties being named after his mother and 
     still being grown today; and
       Whereas in 1986 the rose was designated and adopted as the 
     national floral emblem of the United States: Now, therefore, 
     be it

[[Page S2595]]

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress--
       (1) designates the year of 2002 as the ``Year of the 
     Rose''; and
       (2) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     on the people of the United States to observe the year with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 ______