IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 937 

Recognizing the important role Victory Gardens played in America’s World 

War efforts and reaffirming their purpose as essential to strengthening 

food security, health education, and community morale during the 2020 

Coronavirus disease (COVID–19) crisis. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 22, 2020 

Ms. KAPTUR (for herself and Mr. FORTENBERRY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the important role Victory Gardens played in 

America’s World War efforts and reaffirming their purpose as essential to strengthening food security, health 

education, and community morale during the 2020 

Coronavirus disease (COVID–19) crisis. 

Whereas during World War I and World War II, the Victory 

Garden campaign called on Americans to plant vegetable, 

fruit, and herb gardens in whatever space they had available to implement a valuable and self-sufficient means to 

prevent potential food shortages; 

Whereas so many patriotic Americans participated in the 

movement during WWII, it is estimated that home, 

school, and community gardeners produced close to 40 


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•HRES 937 IH 

percent of the Nation’s fresh vegetables from 20 million 

gardens; 

Whereas the forces at work in the global Coronavirus pandemic disrupt global food supply chains and leave American consumers vulnerable, many individuals are hindered 

from accessing even local food resources such as farmers’ 

markets, State fairs, and other community supported agriculture, due to social distancing guidelines; 

Whereas Americans have been asked to follow social 

distancing guidelines and shelter in their homes to flatten 

the curve in the COVID–19 crisis; 

Whereas many will find the extra time at home provides a 

ripe opportunity for engagement in gardening as a hobby, 

as a food source, and as a means to promote stable physical and mental health; 

Whereas existing community gardens are investments in 

neighborhood revitalization, provide local sources of 

produce, and most importantly help restore fresh foods to 

underserved food desert communities, while inspiring and 

teaching children to gain a tangible appreciation for the 

power of nature to sustain life and improve health outcomes through gardening; 

Whereas spring 2020 has already seen significant increased 

demand at garden stores, centers, and suppliers; 

Whereas supporting the growth of healthy and fresh fruits, 

vegetables, and herbs at home, through our education 

systems, in community gardens, and through all health 

care providers can play a fundamental role to amplify the 

benefits of healthy food options as nature’s best medicine 

and help citizens improve overall health, ultimately reducing cases of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, 


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and pulmonary diseases each of which has an increased 

mortality rate among COVID–19 patients; 

Whereas increased access to local healthy food options builds 

resiliency in individuals and communities; and 

Whereas promoting Victory Gardens can improve citizen morale during this harrowing global experience by rallying 

citizens to a healthy, productive, and patriotic activity 

which can benefit whole communities: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of the health con3 sciousness, food security, and community morale 

4 that is spurred by planting of Victory Gardens; and 

5 (2) recognizes that the Secretary of Agriculture 

6 should collaborate with the House of Representa7 tives— 

8 (A) to encourage citizens to plant Victory 

9 Gardens for the benefit of their families, com10 munities, and country; and 

11 (B) to supply seeds, preserving materials, 

12 and manuals to help citizens grow and preserve 

13 crops from their Victory Gardens during the 

14 COVID–19 crisis. 

Æ 


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