[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9127-9128]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    AMERICA'S NATIONAL TREE--THE OAK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2001

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to introduce 
legislation recognizing the people's selection of the oak tree as 
America's national tree. This past Arbor Day, April 27, Members of 
Congress, Agriculture Secretary Veneman, Interior Secretary Norton, and 
EPA Administrator Whitman joined the National Arbor Day Foundation in a 
ceremonial unveiling of a young oak on the Capitol grounds. Selected by 
the American public over a four-month long open voting process using 
the Internet (http://www.arborday.org/NationalTree/ntResults.html), the 
oak earned the title of America's Chosen National Tree. To recognize 
this distinction, I and Mr. Goss of Florida along with Mr. Osborne of 
Nebraska are introducing legislation today granting the oak official 
status as America's national tree. The junior Senator from Nebraska, 
Mr. Nelson, has already introduced companion legislation, S. 811.
  As a member of Congress representing a heavily forested district in 
Virginia, I fully understand and appreciate how trees add to an 
individual's quality of life. As chairman of the House Agriculture 
Subcommittee responsible for forestry, I know how trees and forests 
enhance the environment, add recreational opportunities and provide for 
the livelihoods of 1.4 million working individuals in the $262 billion 
dollar forest industry. Whether one is enjoying the myriad of products 
generated from a forest, or the simple satisfaction of laying under a 
shaded giant, trees contribute to all Americans. This is why I am here 
today and why it is appropriate to recognize the Oak as the National 
tree chosen by the American public.
  I would also like to commend the National Arbor Day Foundation for 
its use of the Internet as the primary communication tool in this 
endeavor to name America's National tree. As co-chair of the 
Congressional Internet Caucus, I applaud the powerful role the Internet 
played in this historic vote. Not only did this medium make possible 
easy, broad-based participation in the vote, but it also offered many 
educational opportunities for those who checked out arborday.org 
online. Having been a member of the Foundation for 16 years, I am 
impressed with their work in promoting trees in our communities across 
the country, and I am also pleased that they are using the capabilities 
of the Internet to educate the American public about the proper care 
and benefits of trees.
  Along with other well-known national emblems, the oak is a most 
fitting selection as America's National tree. The stately oak not only 
surrounds us here on the Capitol ground, but also is a part of our 
daily lives as wood products in our homes, our offices and places of 
gathering. Common to all fifty states, the oak has played a huge role 
in America's history as a valuable resource. It helped our founding 
fathers establish a new nation, supplying building materials for the 
expanding

[[Page 9128]]

original thirteen colonies. It further greeted pioneers as they 
traveled across the new republic to the West Coast. And to this day it 
has remained an enduring, valuable, and highly-prized raw material. Its 
use as beautifully crafted furniture, sturdy door and window framing, 
ornate flooring and paneling, all reinforce the sensible selection of 
the oak. This majestic tree, which has long been a part of our national 
heritage and strength, fully merits this distinction.
  I want to personally thank those who took part in the vote for 
America's national tree, and I applaud Arbor Day for its dedication to 
the future for which the oak represents. I look forward to working with 
my colleagues to designate the oak as America's national tree.

                          ____________________