[House Report 117-221]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                     {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                     {      117-221

======================================================================

 
  RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY TO THE UNITED 
    STATES AND SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF JULY 2021 AS NATIONAL 
                            BLUEBERRY MONTH

                                _______
                                

 December 20, 2021.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

    Mr. David Scott of Georgia, from the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 271]

    The Committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the 
resolution (H. Res. 271) recognizing the importance of the 
blueberry industry to the United States and supporting the 
designation of July 2021 as National Blueberry Month, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments 
and recommends that the resolution as amended be agreed to.
    The amendments are as follows:
  Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
following:

  That the House of Representatives--
          (1) supports the designation of National Blueberry Month;
          (2) recognizes the contributions of United States growers and 
        their families; and
          (3) recognizes that purchasing blueberries grown in the 
        United States supports farmers, jobs, and the economy.
  Amend the preamble to read as follows:

Whereas blueberries are a native North American fruit, first used fresh and 
dried in food and medicines by Native Americans who introduced them to 
early colonists, which led to new uses and forms, including frozen, 
establishing traditions still observed today;

Whereas wild blueberries continue to be managed and harvested in Maine by 
farmers, including the Wabanaki, as a native, naturally occurring crop;

Whereas the pioneering work conducted in New Jersey by Elizabeth White and 
Dr. Frederick Coville, a Department of Agriculture botanist, in the early 
1900s to domesticate wild lowbush blueberries resulted in the development 
of the hybrid for cultivated highbush blueberries;

Whereas because of these early efforts, highbush blueberries are large, 
sweet, juicy berries that can be commercially produced and shipped, 
allowing them to become an important United States agricultural industry;

Whereas wild blueberries--

    (1) are small and sweet; and

    (2) are not planted, but still grow and are harvested where they have 
naturally occurred for thousands of years;

Whereas highbush and wild blueberries have a total harvested area estimated 
at more than 110,000 acres and are produced in 48 States by nearly 16,000 
farms;

Whereas blueberry production in the United States increased, with 
particular growth in the past two years, to reach a harvest of 695,600,000 
pounds in 2020;

Whereas blueberries are low in fat, and a source of fiber, vitamins, and 
minerals;

Whereas blueberries are being studied to examine the role they may play in 
promoting good health in areas such as cardiovascular health, brain health, 
exercise, insulin response, and gut health; and

Whereas highbush blueberries are harvested in the United States from April 
through September, with the harvest reaching its peak in July: Now, 
therefore, be it

                           BRIEF EXPLANATION

    This resolution, as reported out of Committee, recognizes 
the importance of American blueberry growers to our economy and 
supports the designation of July 2021 as National Blueberry 
Month.

                    PURPOSE AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The United States is the largest producer of blueberries, 
accounting for over half of global production. A native North 
American fruit, wild lowbush blueberries were domesticated by 
American researchers, ultimately leading to the development of 
the hybrid for cultivated highbush blueberries. The growers of 
highbush blueberries generate more than $4.7 billion in annual 
economic impact and are produced in 48 states by more than 
14,000 farms across approximately 102,700 acres. This 
translates to more than $12.7 million flowing into the U.S. 
economy every day of every year.
    Blueberries are considered ``superfoods'' because they are 
full of antioxidants and provide many nutrients while also 
being low in calories. H. Res. 271 recognizes the importance of 
the blueberry growers and their families to the United States.

 H. RES. 271, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY TO 
   THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF JULY 2021 AS 
                        NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH

                           SECTION-BY-SECTION

    The resolution provides a series of findings related to 
blueberries including highbush and wild blueberries. The 
resolution also provides support from the House of 
Representatives for the designation of July 2021 as National 
Blueberry Month and recognizes the contributions of growers and 
that purchasing blueberries grown in the U.S. supports farmers, 
jobs, and the economy.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

                           I. Full Committee

    On September 21, 2021, the Committee on Agriculture met 
pursuant to notice, with a quorum present, to consider H. Res. 
271, Recognizing the Importance of the Blueberry Industry to 
the United States and Supporting the Designation of July 2021 
as National Blueberry Month. Chairman Scott made an opening 
statement as did Ranking Member Thompson. Chairman Scott 
requested other Members submit their opening statements for the 
record. Without objection, H. Res. 271 was placed before the 
Committee for consideration, a first reading of the resolution 
was waived, and it was opened for amendment at any point.
    Chairman Scott offered an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, and without objection, the reading of the amendment 
was waived, and the substitute was considered as original text 
for the purposes of further amendment. Chairman Scott 
recognized Mr. Bishop, the resolution's sponsor to speak on the 
resolution. Discussion occurred and without objection, the 
Committee considered the whole amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. There being no further amendments, a voice vote was 
conducted, and the resolution was reported favorably from the 
Committee.
    At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Scott advised 
Members that pursuant to the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, Members had until September 24, 2021, to file 
any supplemental, additional, dissenting, or minority views 
with the Committee. Without objection, staff was given 
permission to make any necessary technical, clarifying, or 
conforming changes to reflect the intent of the Committee. 
Chairman Scott thanked all the Members and adjourned the 
meeting.

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of 
Representatives, H. Res. 271 was reported by voice vote with a 
majority quorum present. There was no request for a recorded 
vote.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in the descriptive portions of this report.

          COST OF LEGISLATION AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect 
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested 
but not received a cost estimate for this measure from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office. The Committee 
adopts as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate 
of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such 
cost estimate be made available before House passage of the 
measure.
    The Committee has requested but not received from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to 
whether this measure contains any new budget authority, 
spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or 
decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. Congressional Budget 
Office staff has informed the Committee on a preliminary, 
informal, nonbinding basis that there does not appear to be any 
direct spending associated with the measure.

                    PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the House of 
Representatives, the performance goals and objectives of this 
measure are to support the designation of National Blueberry 
Month and recognize the contributions of growers and that 
purchasing blueberries grown in the U.S. supports farmers, 
jobs, and the economy.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committee within the meaning of section 5(b) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act was created by this 
legislation.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of 
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This measure does not contain any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI of the House of 
Representatives.

                    DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

    This measure does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program, a program that was included in any report from 
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a 
program in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance.

                  DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

    The Committee does not believe that the legislation directs 
an Executive Branch official to conduct any specific rule 
making proceedings within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.

                                  [all]