[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11042-11044]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION AND 
                           NATIONAL ARBOR DAY

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1114) supporting the goals and ideals 
of the Arbor Day Foundation and National Arbor Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1114

       Whereas the Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972 and 
     now has nearly 1,000,000 members;
       Whereas these members and the countless supporters of the 
     Arbor Day Foundation continue to further the mission of the 
     Foundation, which is to ``inspire people to plant, nurture, 
     and celebrate trees'';
       Whereas the Arbor Day Foundation manages the 260-acre Arbor 
     Day Farm to serve as a model of environmental stewardship;
       Whereas the Arbor Day Foundation distributes more than 
     10,000,000 trees annually through its Trees for America 
     program;
       Whereas the Arbor Day Foundation has worked with the 
     Department of Agriculture's Forest Service since 1990, 
     helping to plant nearly 12,000,000 trees in national forests 
     damaged by fire, insects, or other causes;
       Whereas J. Sterling Morton recognized the need for trees in 
     Nebraska and proposed a tree-planting holiday called ``Arbor 
     Day'' in 1872;
       Whereas the observation of Arbor Day soon spread to other 
     States and is now observed nationally and in many other 
     countries;
       Whereas J. Sterling Morton once observed that ``the 
     cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good, the 
     beautiful, and the ennobling in man''; and
       Whereas National Arbor Day, the last Friday in April, will 
     be celebrated on April 25, 2008: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of the Arbor Day 
     Foundation; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     National Arbor Day with appropriate activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.

                              {time}  1445


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I present for consideration H. Res. 1114, which 
expresses the support of Congress for the environmental goals and 
ideals of Arbor Day and the work of the Arbor Day Foundation.
  H. Res. 1114, which was introduced by my colleague, Representative 
Jeff Fortenberry, on April 16, 2008, was reported from the Oversight 
Committee on May 1, 2008 by voice vote. This measure has the support 
and sponsorship of 53 Members of Congress, and recognizes the 
importance of Arbor Day and the Arbor Day Foundation in preserving 
America's green spaces.
  J. Sterling Morton, the father of Arbor Day, once observed that, 
``The cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good, the 
beautiful, and the ennobling in man.'' Established in 1872 as a tree 
planting holiday and celebration, Arbor Day has had a powerful and 
positive effect on America's landscape and ecosystem, and is now 
observed both nationally as well as in many foreign countries.
  Mr. Speaker, we can't speak about National Arbor Day without 
mentioning the work of the National Arbor Day Foundation which was 
created with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and 
celebrate trees. The Foundation has attracted almost 1 million members 
to become passionate about conservation and is worthy to be 
commemorated for their efforts to distribute 10 million plus trees 
annually for planting. And so I ask, Mr. Speaker, that we show our 
support of Arbor Day and the Arbor Day Foundation by agreeing to H. 
Res. 1114.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the State of Nebraska, the author of this 
resolution, Mr. Fortenberry.

[[Page 11043]]


  Mr. FORTENBERRY. I thank the gentlelady from North Carolina for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day and an 
outstanding Nebraskan, once said, ``Each generation of humanity takes 
the earth as trustees.'' That is the spirit embodied in Arbor Day. The 
simple act of planting a tree provides resources and beauty for future 
generations, and engages in good environmental stewardship. This 
resolution supports the goals of National Arbor Day and the National 
Arbor Day Foundation.
  I would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the chairman of 
the Committee on Government Reform, and Mr. Clyburn of South Carolina 
for his help today, and the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Davis), the ranking member of the committee, for their help in bringing 
this important resolution to the floor.
  A bit of history on Arbor Day. J. Sterling Morton served as United 
States Secretary of Agriculture, and is honored as one of two 
Nebraskans to have a statue in the United States Capitol. His former 
home, Arbor Lodge in Nebraska City, is now the centerpiece of a truly 
magnificent State historical park.
  An early pioneer to the Nebraska territory, he first proposed Arbor 
Day in 1872 to address the absence of trees in Nebraska. Trees were 
needed to produce fuel and building materials, provide the necessary 
shade and wind breaks, as well as to prevent soil erosion. It is 
estimated that Nebraskans planted more than 1 million trees during that 
first Arbor Day.
  Before long, the idea spread. Arbor Day is now celebrated in all 50 
States and in many Nations throughout the world. Although National 
Arbor Day is always the last Friday in April, individual States observe 
Arbor Day on various dates, according to the most appropriate tree 
planting times.
  Another outstanding Nebraskan, John Rosenow, built upon that legacy. 
In 1972, he established the National Arbor Day Foundation. Its mission 
is to ``inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.'' 
Through its Trees for America program, it distributes more than 8 
million trees annually. The Foundation has worked with the United 
States Department of Agriculture's forest service since 1990, helping 
to plant nearly 4 million trees in national forests that have been 
damaged by fire, insects, or other natural causes. The Foundation has 
also branched out beyond the United States borders, promoting 
environmental activities throughout the world, including rainforest 
preservations.
  Mr. Speaker, it is very appropriate that we honor Arbor Day and its 
vision of dedication to tree planting. We should also recognize the 
countless individuals in our country who have planted trees in 
fulfillment of this important vision.
  J. Sterling Morton once also said, ``Other holidays repose on the 
past. Arbor Day proposes for the future.'' By supporting this 
resolution, we honor the spirit of Arbor Day. Planting trees is about 
planting for the future.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the State of Idaho (Mr. Sali).
  Mr. SALI. I thank the gentlewoman.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 1114, supporting the goals and ideals of 
the Arbor Day Foundation and National Arbor Day. I wholeheartedly 
support the planting as well as the management of healthy trees and 
forests. The Forest Service has estimated that a healthy and well 
managed forest could sequester much more of our national carbon 
emissions than our forests currently sequester, currently sequestering 
an estimated 10 percent of our national carbon emissions.
  I rise in support of this resolution. I also rise to urge my 
colleagues to address other issues facing our Nation, especially rising 
fuel prices. Increasing the supply of crude oil and ultimately its 
price is the single most effective thing Congress can do to lower gas 
prices. Today, 73 percent of every dollar we pay for gasoline is the 
price of producing crude oil. And yet, according to a study just 
released by the Bureau of Land Management, while onshore public lands 
in the United States are estimated to contain 31 billion barrels of oil 
and 231 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, some 60 percent of these 
lands are completely closed to leasing. Congress must act to lift the 
restrictions on America's energy rich public lands and increase 
exploration for and production of American crude oil and natural gas, 
and do so in an environmentally friendly manner.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman 
from Nebraska for introducing this resolution.
  I am reminded that my mother was a serious conservationist who just 
loved the beauty of flowers and trees. I would urge passage of this 
resolution as I close by remembering the words of Joyce Kilmer who had 
a poem called ``Trees.'' He said that:

     I think that I shall never see
     A poem so lovely as a tree.
     A tree that may in summer wear
     A nest of robins in her hair;
     Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
     Who intimately sleeps with the rain.
     Poems are made by fools like me,
     But only God can make a tree.

  I would urge passage.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution 
honoring the goals and ideals of the Arbor Day Foundation and National 
Arbor Day.
  Trees--They provide us with shelter and warmth. They clean the air we 
breathe. Their majesty inspires awe and alters landscapes. Mankind owes 
its livelihood to these miracles of nature, yet it is so easy to 
overlook their importance and beauty.
  These traits were not lost to J. Sterling Morton, a pioneer who moved 
from Detroit to the unforgiving, treeless plains of the Nebraska 
Territory in 1854. A journalist and avid lover of nature, Morton used 
his position as editor of Nebraska's first newspaper to spread 
agricultural information and his enthusiasm for trees.
  His words did not fall on deaf ears. Fellow pioneers soon realized 
how valuable trees were to their survival, not only for fuel and 
building materials, but for the stability of the soil and shade from 
the arid sun.
  Once appointed as the secretary of the Nebraska Territory, on January 
4, 1872 Morton first proposed a tree-planting holiday called ``Arbor 
Day.'' That same year, on April 10, citizens across Nebraska planted 
over one million trees.
  The first official Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1874 and by 1885 
it became a legal holiday in Nebraska to be celebrated on April 22, J. 
Sterling Morton's birthday. Throughout the 1870's the appeal spread 
across the nation and it was not long before Arbor Day was celebrated 
in each state of the United. States.
  Today, Arbor Day is observed not only throughout this great nation, 
but across the globe. While most states observe Arbor Day on the last 
Friday in April, celebrations have evolved to correspond with varying 
ideal planting weather.
  In response to growing national and international popularity, the 
Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972 to ``inspire people to plant, 
nurture, and celebrate trees.'' The Arbor Day Foundation fuels their 
mission through the Arbor Day Farm, promoting and coordinating events, 
working with government and corporate entities, and distributing over' 
10 million trees annually.
  What began as a local holiday born of one man's enthusiasm has 
flourished into a global celebration. From Florida to Oregon and 
Cambodia to Venezuela, people gather to honor the ideals of Arbor Day.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and cherish its goal, 
captured convincingly in the words of its founder, J. Sterling Morton--
``the cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good, the 
beautiful, and the ennobling in man.''
  Mr. DAVIS Illinois. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1114.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.

[[Page 11044]]

  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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