Recognizing the importance of the United States wine industry to the American economy.

        [Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 429 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

2d Session
H. CON. RES. 429

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 29 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

Received

October 2 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the importance of the United States wine industry to the
American economy.

Whereas the United States is one of the largest wine producing countries in the
world, with the United States wine, grape, and grape products industry
representing more than 1 percent of the $13,800,000,000 American economy
in 2007;
Whereas the wine and winegrape industry of Texas has an economic impact of
$1,000,000,000 on the economy of Texas;
Whereas since 2000, the wine and winegrape industry of Texas has experienced
tremendous growth, with nearly 90 percent of that growth resulting from
an increase in the number and revenue of small wineries producing less
than 5,000 gallons of wine each year; and
Whereas in 2005, the wine and winegrape industry of Texas--

(1) included 113 wineries and 220 commercial growers of winegrapes on
2,900 acres;

(2) produced over 626,000 cases of wine;

(3) provided the equivalent of 8,000 full-time jobs and paid over
$234,000,000 in wages to workers;

(4) generated revenue from wineries that produced an economic impact of
$91,500,000 on the economy of Texas;

(5) generated over $10,000,000 in revenue from vineyards in Texas;

(6) attracted over 868,000 tourists to Texas, who spent over
$220,000,000; and

(7) generated over $69,000,000 in Federal, State, and local taxes: Now,
therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) recognizes the importance of the United States wine,
winegrape, and grape products industry to the American economy;
and
(2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy
of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Texas Department
of Agriculture and the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association
in Grapevine, Texas.

Passed the House of Representatives September 27, 2008.

Attest:

LORRAINE C. MILLER,

Clerk.