SRES-822-119
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4365; text: CR S4391-4392)
Sponsored by Alex Padilla (D-CA)
What it does
This Senate resolution designates July 2026 as "American Grown Flower and Foliage Month." It recognizes the domestic flower and foliage industry's economic and cultural contributions, and urges Americans to purchase domestically grown flowers and foliage. The resolution carries no legal force, creates no new law, and does not appropriate any funds.
Who benefits
Domestic flower and foliage farmers, particularly those in high-production states such as California, Florida, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, and Maine. Small florist businesses and floral distributors who carry American-grown products. Industry marketing organizations such as the "American Grown Flowers" labeling program, which may see increased consumer awareness. Agricultural trade associations that advocate for domestic flower production.
Who is hurt
Foreign flower exporters — particularly those in Colombia and Ecuador, which supply the majority of cut flowers sold in the U.S. — could see modest reputational or competitive disadvantage if the resolution meaningfully shifts consumer purchasing behavior. Importers and wholesalers who primarily handle foreign-grown flowers could face indirect pressure. However, because the resolution is purely symbolic, any measurable market effect is uncertain.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that only 15% of flowers sold in the United States are domestically grown, despite strong consumer preference for locally sourced agricultural products, and that raising awareness can help close that gap. They contend the resolution costs nothing while spotlighting an industry that supports hundreds of growers, thousands of small businesses, and tens of thousands of American jobs — providing a low-cost tool to encourage consumer behavior that benefits domestic agriculture.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that symbolic resolutions consume Senate floor time without producing measurable policy outcomes, and that if Congress genuinely wanted to support domestic flower growers, it would pursue substantive measures such as country-of-origin labeling requirements, targeted agricultural subsidies, or trade policy adjustments. They contend that the resolution's economic framing — citing $70 billion in annual floral spending — highlights a real market gap that a non-binding proclamation is unlikely to meaningfully address.
Constitutional context
No significant constitutional issues are raised by this resolution. Senate resolutions expressing the sense of the chamber and designating commemorative time periods are a well-established congressional practice that does not implicate enumerated powers, agency authority, or individual rights.
Checks and balances
The Senate expresses a non-binding opinion; no executive branch agency gains or loses authority, and no judicial review is implicated, as the resolution creates no enforceable legal obligations.
Historical precedent
Congress regularly passes commemorative resolutions designating awareness months for agricultural industries, including similar resolutions recognizing American-grown products in prior sessions.