III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 540 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that flowers grown in the United States 

support the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and economy of the United 

States, that flower farming is an honorable vocation, and designating 

July as ‘‘American Grown Flower Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 12, 2018 

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

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that flowers grown in 

the United States support the farmers, small businesses, 

jobs, and economy of the United States, that flower 

farming is an honorable vocation, and designating 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 

nation; 

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; 


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•SRES 540 IS 

Whereas consumers spend almost $27,000,000,000 each year 

on floral products, including cut flowers, garden plants, 

bedding, and indoor plants; 

Whereas nearly 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 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 5 flower varieties with the highest United States 

production are tulips, Gerbera daisies, lilies, gladiolas and 

irises; 

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 hunVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:09 Jun 13, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR540.IS SR540

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dreds 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 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 our 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) designates July 2018 as ‘‘American Grown 

3 Flower Month’’; 


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1 (2) recognizes that purchasing flowers grown in 

2 the United States supports the farmers, small busi3 nesses, jobs, and economy of the United States; 

4 (3) recognizes that growing flowers and greens 

5 in the United States is a vital part of the agricul6 tural industry of the United States; 

7 (4) recognizes that cultivating flowers domesti8 cally enhances the ability of the people of the United 

9 States to festively celebrate holidays and special oc10 casions; and 

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

12 proactively showcase flowers and greens grown in 

13 the United States in order to show support for our 

14 flower farmers, processors, and distributors as well 

15 as agriculture in the United States overall. 

Æ 


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