[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 15 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. J. RES. 15
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 18, 2007
Received
December 19, 2007
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the contributions of the Christmas tree industry to the
United States economy.
Whereas Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since
the 1850s;
Whereas, by 1900, one in five American families decorated a tree during the
Christmas season, while, by
1930, a decorated Christmas tree had become a nearly universal part of the
American Christmas celebration;
Whereas 32.8 million households in the United States purchased a live-cut
Christmas tree in 2005;
Whereas the placement and decoration of live-cut Christmas trees in town squares
across the country have become an American tradition;
Whereas, for generations, American families have traveled hundreds and even
thousands of miles to celebrate the Christmas season together around a
live-cut Christmas tree;
Whereas 36 million live-cut Christmas trees are produced each year, and 98
percent of these trees are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree
farms;
Whereas Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania,
New York, Minnesota, Virginia, California, and Ohio are the top
producers of live-cut Christmas trees, but Christmas trees are grown in
all 50 States;
Whereas there are more than 21,000 growers of Christmas trees in the United
States, and approximately 100,000 people are employed in the live-cut
Christmas tree industry;
Whereas many Christmas tree growers grow trees on a part-time basis to
supplement their other farm and non-farm income;
Whereas growing Christmas trees provides wildlife habitat;
Whereas, in 2005, Christmas trees were planted on more than a half million acres
of land;
Whereas 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted in 2006, and, on average,
over 1,500 Christmas trees can be planted per acre; and
Whereas the retail value of all Christmas trees harvested in 2005 was $1.4
billion: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress recognizes the
important contributions of the live-cut Christmas tree industry,
Christmas tree growers, and persons employed in the live-cut Christmas
tree industry to the United States economy.
Passed the House of Representatives December 17, 2007.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.