FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2005
Press Release
Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association Commends State Legislature
HARRISBURG , PA- The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association (PCTGA) recently extended thanks to members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate for their support in passing HB 815 which included a line item of $300,000 set aside for ornamental conifer research.Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation in Christmas Tree production, with gross dollar sales of $13,905,000 in the state. Combined with the numerous employees hired by the industry throughout the year, the continued health of Christmas trees is critical to the industry within the Commonwealth. Legislators sent the message that they consider combating pest and diseases that would reduce the opportunity for consumers to use a live cut tree at Christmas as a priority.
PCTGA President Mark McCurdy thanked all the members of PCTGA for their hard work and dedication to House Bill 815. “As President of the PCTGA, I feel that research is an integral part in the survival of the Christmas tree industry. The money now available for ornamental conifer research will benefit the industry and Association in a number of ways, including increasing knowledge of pests and diseases that threaten Christmas Trees, along the benefits that the Christmas Tree industry plays on Pennsylvania commerce.”
Association member Donny Abraczinskas and PCTGA lobbyist, Vince Phillips, have pointed to the many Senate and House members that assisted PCTGA by supporting this amendment. Through their many visits to Harrisburg, both Abraczinskas and Phillips proclaimed that, though too numerous to mention fully in this article, several individuals are deserving of special recognition; Republican Dave Millard (R-Columbia) for introducing the amendment to secure the $300,000; Majority Leader Sam Smith (R-Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson) and Speaker of the House, John Perzel (R-Philadelphia). Several Senators went above and beyond the call of duty in their support of conifer research, including Majority Caucus Secretary Robert Robbins (R-Crawford), Majority Leader Chip Brightbill (R-Lebanon), John Gordner (R- Columbia), Noah Wenger (R- Lancaster), Sean Logan (D- Westmoreland), Barry Stout (D-Fayette), Don White (R- Indiana), Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia), and of course, the appropriations committee chairperson, Robert Thompson (R-Chester).
MEDIA CONTACT: Bethany Dennis, 717.238.9765, communications@christmastrees.org