[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 66 (Monday, May 4, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 166--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT 
DOMESTICALLY GROWN FLOWERS SUPPORT THE FARMERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, JOBS, 
AND ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES, ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF THE PEOPLE OF 
THE UNITED STATES TO HONOR THEIR MOTHERS ON MOTHER'S DAY, AND THAT THE 
    WHITE HOUSE SHOULD STRIVE TO SHOWCASE DOMESTICALLY GROWN FLOWERS

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. Boxer, and Ms. Murkowski) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 166

       Whereas the people of the United States have a long history 
     of using flowers and greens grown in the United States to 
     bring beauty to important events and express affection for 
     loved ones;
       Whereas consumers spend more than $25,000,000,000 each year 
     on floral products, including garden plants, bedding, indoor 
     plants, and cut flowers;
       Whereas 30 percent of households in the United States 
     purchase fresh cut flowers and greens from more than 16,000 
     florists and floral establishments each year;
       Whereas the people of the United States increasingly want 
     to support domestically produced foods and agricultural 
     products, yet 74 percent of the people of the United States 
     do not know where the flowers they purchase are grown, and 58 
     percent would prefer to buy locally grown flowers given the 
     choice;
       Whereas in response to increased demand, the ``Certified 
     American Grown Flowers'' logo was created in July 2014, in 
     order to educate and empower consumers to purchase flowers 
     from domestic producers;
       Whereas as of April 2015, millions of stems of domestically 
     grown flowers are now Certified American Grown;
       Whereas domestic flower farmers produce thousands of 
     varieties of flowers across the United States, such as 
     peonies in Alaska, Gerbera daisies in California, lupines in 
     Maine, tulips in Washington, lilies in Oregon, and larkspur 
     in Texas;
       Whereas the 5 flower varieties with the highest United 
     States production are tulips, Gerbera daisies, lilies, 
     irises, and gladiolas;
       Whereas people in every State have access to domestically 
     grown flowers, yet only 1 of 5 flowers sold in the United 
     States is domestically grown;
       Whereas the domestic cut flower industry creates almost 
     $42,000,000 in economic impact daily and supports hundreds of 
     growers, thousands of small businesses, and tens of thousands 
     of jobs in the United States;
       Whereas more people in the United States are expressing 
     interest in growing flowers locally, which has resulted in an 
     approximately 20 percent increase in the number of domestic 
     cut flower farms since 2007;
       Whereas most domestic cut flowers and greens are sold in 
     the United States within 24 to 48 hours after harvest and 
     last longer than flowers shipped longer distances;
       Whereas in 2014, President Barack Obama and First Lady 
     Michelle Obama highlighted their support for domestically 
     grown flowers at the White House State Dinner with French 
     President Francois Hollande, the only White House State 
     Dinner that year;
       Whereas the 2014 White House State Dinner featured quince 
     branch from Mississippi, weeping willow from New Jersey, 
     Scotch broom from Virginia, iris from California, and 
     alocasia, equisetum, nandina, and green liriope from Florida;
       Whereas flower-giving has been a holiday tradition in the 
     United States for generations;
       Whereas Mother's Day and Valentine's Day are 2 of the 3 top 
     flower-giving holidays in the United States;
       Whereas 38 percent of the people in the United States, 
     spending more than $2,000,000,000, buy flowers on Valentine's 
     Day; and
       Whereas flowers are even more popular on Mother's Day than 
     on Valentine's Day, and in 2014, \2/3\ of people in the 
     United States celebrating Mother's Day purchased flowers, 
     spending more than $2,300,000,000: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) purchasing flowers grown in the United States supports 
     the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and economy of the 
     United States;
       (2) flowers and greens grown in the United States are a 
     vital and integral part of the agricultural industry of the 
     United States;
       (3) flowers grown in the United States enhance the ability 
     of Americans to honor their mothers on Mother's Day; and
       (4) the White House should strive to showcase flowers and 
     greens grown in the United States to show support for the 
     flower breeders, farmers, processors, and distributors of the 
     United States.

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