[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10747-S10748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. DOLE:
  S.J. Res. 41. A joint resolution recognizing the contributions of the 
Christmas tree industry to the United States economy and urging the 
Secretary of Agriculture to establish programs to raise awareness of 
the importance of the Christmas tree industry; to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the joint 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. 41

       Whereas Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the 
     United States since the 1850s;

[[Page S10748]]

       Whereas, by 1900, one in five American families decorated a 
     tree during the Christmas season, while, by 1930, a decorated 
     Christmas tree had become a nearly universal part of the 
     American Christmas celebration;
       Whereas 32.8 million households in the United States 
     purchased a live-cut Christmas tree in 2005;
       Whereas the placement and decoration of live-cut Christmas 
     trees in town squares across the country have become an 
     American tradition;
       Whereas, for generations, American families have traveled 
     hundreds and even thousands of miles to celebrate the 
     Christmas season together around a live-cut Christmas tree;
       Whereas 36 million live-cut Christmas trees are produced 
     each year, and 98 percent of these trees are shipped or sold 
     directly from Christmas tree farms;
       Whereas North Carolina, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, 
     Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, Virginia, 
     California, and Ohio are the top producers of live-cut 
     Christmas tree, but Christmas trees are grown in all 50 
     States;
       Whereas there are more than 21,000 growers of Christmas 
     trees in the United States, and approximately 100,000 people 
     are employed in the live-cut Christmas tree industry;
       Whereas many Christmas tree growers grow trees on a part-
     time basis to supplement their other farm and non-farm 
     income;
       Whereas growing Christmas trees provides wildlife habitat;
       Whereas more than a half million acres of land were planted 
     in Christmas trees in 2005;
       Whereas 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted in 
     2006, and, on average, over 1,500 Christmas trees can be 
     planted per acre; and
       Whereas the retail value of all Christmas trees harvested 
     in 2005 was $1.4 billion: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress--
       (1) recognizes the important contributions of the live-cut 
     Christmas tree industry, Christmas tree growers, and persons 
     employed in the live-cut Christmas tree industry to the 
     United States economy; and
       (2) urges the Secretary of Agriculture to establish 
     programs to raise awareness of the importance of the live-cut 
     Christmas tree industry.

                          ____________________