[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 182 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 341--DESIGNATING THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF DECEMBER IN 
                2011 AS ``NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE WEEK''

  Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Burr, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. 
Murray, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Casey, Ms. Cantwell and Ms. Collins) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 341

       Whereas Christmas trees are grown in all 50 States;
       Whereas Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the 
     United States since about 1850;
       Whereas Edward Johnson, assistant to Thomas Edison, came up 
     with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882;
       Whereas President Calvin Coolidge started the National 
     Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the White House lawn in 
     1923;
       Whereas there are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas 
     trees in the United States;
       Whereas there are approximately 100,000 people employed 
     full or part-time in the Christmas tree industry;
       Whereas Christmas tree farms in the United States planted 
     approximately 35,000,000 Christmas trees in 2011 to replace 
     those harvested in 2010; and
       Whereas growing Christmas trees preserves green space and 
     small family-owned farms, provides habitats for wildlife, and 
     sequesters carbon dioxide: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the first full week of December in 2011 as 
     ``National Christmas Tree Week'';
       (2) encourages the celebration of Christmas trees during 
     that week;
       (3) recognizes the role Christmas trees have played in the 
     history of the United States;
       (4) reaffirms the environmental benefits of Christmas tree 
     farms and recycled Christmas trees;
       (5) encourages the recycling of Christmas trees after the 
     holiday season; and
       (6) celebrates the joy Christmas trees bring to families 
     across the United States.

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