III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 208 

Expressing support for the designation of July as ‘‘American Grown Flower 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 14, 2019 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Ms. HARRIS, and Mr. SULLIVAN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 

Nutrition, and Forestry 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of July as ‘‘American 

Grown Flower Month’’. 

Whereas cut flower growers in the United States are hardworking, dedicated individuals who bring beauty, economic stimulus, and pride to their communities and the 

United States; 

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 almost $27,000,000,000 each year 

on floral products, including cut flowers, garden plants, 

bedding, and indoor plants; 


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•SRES 208 IS 

Whereas, each year, nearly 30 percent of households in the 

United States purchase fresh cut flowers and greens from 

more than 16,000 florists and floral establishments; 

Whereas the people of the United States increasingly want to 

support domestically produced foods and agricultural 

products and would prefer to buy locally grown flowers 

whenever possible, yet a majority of domestic consumers 

do not know where the flowers they purchase are grown; 

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 2017, 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 five flower varieties produced in the largest 

quantities in the United States are tulips, Gerbera daisies, lilies, gladiolas, and irises; 

Whereas people in every State have access to domestically 

grown flowers, yet only one in five 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 


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•SRES 208 IS 

increase of approximately 20 percent in the number of 

domestic cut flower farms between 2007 and 2012; 

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 flowers grown domestically enhance the ability of 

the people of the United States to festively celebrate weddings and births and honor those who have passed; 

Whereas flower giving has been a holiday tradition in the 

United States for generations; 

Whereas flowers speak to the beauty of motherhood on Mother’s Day and to the spirit of love on Valentine’s Day; 

Whereas flowers are an essential part of other holidays such 

as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa; 

Whereas flowers help commemorate the service and sacrifice 

of members of the Armed Forces on Memorial Day and 

Veterans Day; and 

Whereas the Senate encourages the cultivation of flowers in 

the United States by domestic flower farmers: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of July as ‘‘Amer3 ican Grown Flower Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes that purchasing flowers grown in 

5 the United States supports the farmers, small busi6 nesses, jobs, and economy of the United States; 


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•SRES 208 IS 

1 (3) recognizes that growing flowers and greens 

2 in the United States is a vital part of the agricul3 tural industry of the United States; 

4 (4) recognizes that cultivating flowers domesti5 cally enhances the ability of the people of the United 

6 States to festively celebrate holidays and special oc7 casions; and 

8 (5) urges all people of the United States to 

9 proactively showcase flowers and greens grown in 

10 the United States in order to show support for the 

11 flower farmers, processors, and distributors in the 

12 United States as well as agriculture in the United 

13 States overall. 

Æ 


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