[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H10493-H10494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF THE YEAR OF THE ROSE

  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 292) to 
support the goals of the Year of the Rose.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 292

       Whereas the study of fossils has shown that the rose has 
     been a native wild flower in North America for over 
     35,000,000 years;
       Whereas the rose is grown today in every State in the 
     United States;
       Whereas the rose has long been used to symbolize love, 
     friendship, beauty, peace, and the devotion of the people of 
     the United States to their Nation;
       Whereas the rose has been cultivated and grown in gardens 
     for over 5,000 years, and is

[[Page H10494]]

     referred to in both the Old and New Testaments;
       Whereas the rose has for many years captivated the 
     affection of humankind and it has been revered in art, music, 
     and literature;
       Whereas George Washington was a breeder of roses and one of 
     his varieties, named after his mother, is still grown today;
       Whereas in 1986 the rose was designated as the national 
     floral emblem of the United States; and
       Whereas the American Rose Society has designated 2002 as 
     the Year of the Rose: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals of the Year of the Rose; and
       (2) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe the 
     year with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann 
Davis).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 292.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 292. 
This resolutions supports the goals of the Year of the Rose and it 
encourages the President to issue a proclamation asking Americans to 
observe the year with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
  I commend my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Louisiana 
(Mr. McCrery) for his hard work to bring this resolution to the floor.
  The rose has been an important symbol of love in our society for 
centuries. Its sheer beauty illuminates thousands of flower gardens 
across our great land, from the East to the West Coast and from North 
to South. The rose is grown and cultivated in every state of the Union.
  Fossil studies have concluded that the rose has been a native wild 
flower in North America for some 35 million years. It is also referred 
to in passages of the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.
  One of our great public servants, the first President of the United 
States, George Washington, was a breeder of roses. In fact, one of his 
varieties, named after his mother, Mary Ball Washington, is still grown 
today. For many years the rose has captivated the affection of 
humankind and has been revered in art, music and literature.
  In 1986, the rose was designated as the national floral emblem of the 
United States. This is a distinct honor for a flower that has touched 
the hearts and lives of millions of Americans for many, many years. The 
American Rose Society has designated the year 2002 as the Year of the 
Rose.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency 
Organization, I am pleased to join with my colleague in the House in 
consideration of H. Con. Res. 292, a resolution introduced by the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery).
  Roses are beautiful and have long been used to symbolize love, 
friendship, and peace. Indeed, four States in this country currently 
list some variation of rose as their official state flower: New York, 
Iowa, Georgia, North Dakota currently recognize this beautiful flower.
  The resolution before us speaks to the fact that the rose was 
designated as the national emblem of the United States and that the 
American Rose Society has designated the year 2002, next year, as the 
Year of the Rose.
  Of course, Mr. Speaker, we all know that individually in our own 
lives, roses have played serious roles. They are used by people to 
extend friendship. I can imagine that all of us who are males have, at 
some point in time, picked up a dozen roses or, if not a dozen, at 
least a half a dozen, to convey in some way, shape, form, or fashion an 
appreciation that we may have had.
  So I think this is an excellent resolution. As a matter of fact, I 
even fondly remember my father teaching me how to date, and he told me 
that when I wanted to convey to whoever the date might be, that I ought 
to say to them, roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so 
are you.
  Well, Mr. Speaker, in a very serious way, roses do, in fact, convey 
not only a level of appreciation, but also a level of respect, and I 
commend the gentleman for introducing this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as 
much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
McCrery).
  (Mr. McCRERY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. 
Jo Ann Davis) for yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann 
Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their eloquent 
statements on behalf of the support of this resolution for the Year of 
the Rose.
  Mr. Speaker, the American Rose Society is headquartered in my 
hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. The American Rose Society has 
designated 2002 as the Year of the Rose, and at a time in which images 
of violence and war are a constant reminder of the capacity of man to 
be cruel to its fellow man, the rose stands as a reminder of the beauty 
and the fragility of life.
  It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that this resolution will call public 
attention to the worthy goals of the Year of the Rose, and I urge its 
adoption.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, having no other speakers, 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 292.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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