[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 3, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H256-H257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WELCOME TO THE ORANGE MEADOWBRITE

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, the Chicago Botanic Garden is a renowned 
scientific research facility located in my congressional district and 
they have made a number of major breakthroughs at their headquarters.
  Following a 7-year effort, our Garden developed a new flower called 
the ``Orange Meadowbrite.'' It is the first orange-blooming coneflower 
ever produced in cultivation.
  The new Orange Meadowbrite will have benefits far beyond the 
aesthetic. The ``green sector'' of the Illinois economy employs more 
people than the traditional agricultural commodities sector. 
Horticulture employs over 150,000

[[Page H257]]

people with an annual payroll exceeding $1.7 billion. With the fair 
market value of all assets directly associated with horticulture at 
over $2.9 billion, the development of this new flower will benefit many 
Illinois families.
  We want to especially congratulate Dr. Jim Ault, Director of 
Ornamental Plant Research at the Garden. He is the father of the Orange 
Meadowbrite whose scientific name is Echinacea, ``Arts Pride,'' in 
honor of Art Nolan, Jr., a long-time benefactor of the Garden's 
research program.
  We here in the Congress want to honor Chicagoland Grows, the Chicago 
Botanic Garden, and especially Dr. Ault for adding a new and beautiful 
flower to America's garden.

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