III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 166 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that domestically grown flowers support 

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

enhance the ability of the people of the United States to honor their 

mothers on Mother’s Day, and that the White House should strive 

to showcase domestically grown flowers. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 4, 2015 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. BOXER, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) submitted 

the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that domestically grown 

flowers support the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and 

economy of the United States, enhance the ability of 

the people of the United States to honor their mothers 

on Mother’s Day, and that the White House should 

strive to showcase domestically grown flowers. 

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 more than $25,000,000,000 each 

year on floral products, including garden plants, bedding, 

indoor plants, and cut flowers; 

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•SRES 166 ATS 

Whereas 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, yet 74 percent of the people of the United 

States do not know where the flowers they purchase are 

grown, and 58 percent would prefer to buy locally grown 

flowers given the choice; 

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 2015, 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, irises, and 

gladiolas; 

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 hundreds of growers, thousands of small businesses, and tens 

of thousands of jobs in the United States; 

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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 since 2007; 

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 in 2014, President Barack Obama and First Lady 

Michelle Obama highlighted their support for domestically grown flowers at the White House State Dinner 

with French President Franc ̧ois Hollande, the only White 

House State Dinner that year; 

Whereas the 2014 White House State Dinner featured quince 

branch from Mississippi, weeping willow from New Jersey, Scotch broom from Virginia, iris from California, 

and alocasia, equisetum, nandina, and green liriope from 

Florida; 

Whereas flower-giving has been a holiday tradition in the 

United States for generations; 

Whereas Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day are 2 of the 3 

top flower-giving holidays in the United States; 

Whereas 38 percent of the people in the United States, 

spending more than $2,000,000,000, buy flowers on Valentine’s Day; and 

Whereas flowers are even more popular on Mother’s Day 

than on Valentine’s Day, and in 2014, 2⁄3 of people in the 

United States celebrating Mother’s Day purchased flowers, spending more than $2,300,000,000: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 

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1 (1) purchasing flowers grown in the United 

2 States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs, 

3 and economy of the United States; 

4 (2) flowers and greens grown in the United 

5 States are a vital and integral part of the agricul6 tural industry of the United States; 

7 (3) flowers grown in the United States enhance 

8 the ability of Americans to honor their mothers on 

9 Mother’s Day; and 

10 (4) the White House should strive to showcase 

11 flowers and greens grown in the United States to 

12 show support for the flower breeders, farmers, proc13 essors, and distributors of the United States. 

Æ 

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