H. Res. 917 is a ceremonial House resolution that congratulates Korson’s Tree Farms (Montcalm County, Sidney Township) for being selected to supply the White House Christmas Tree for 2025.
The text recites the farm’s prior contest wins, notes that a Michigan grower has not supplied the official White House tree in 41 years, and cites state-level industry statistics before setting out four short operative actions: a formal congratulations, recognition of the industry’s economic importance, an invitation to the United States Capitol, and an instruction for the Clerk to provide enrolled copies of the resolution to the President and First Lady for display.
The resolution creates no regulatory duties or budgetary commitments; its effect is symbolic. For stakeholders in Michigan’s Christmas-tree sector, the measure is a publicity vehicle that reiterates the industry’s role in the state economy and gives the farm a formal congressional acknowledgement that can be used for marketing and local promotion.
At a Glance
What It Does
The resolution lists factual ‘‘whereas’’ findings about Korson’s contest wins and Michigan’s Christmas-tree industry, then issues four nonbinding directives: congratulate the farm, recognize the industry’s significance, invite the farm to the Capitol, and arrange for ceremonial copies to be delivered to the President and First Lady. It does not appropriate funds or change policy.
Who It Affects
Directly affected parties are Korson’s Tree Farms, the Michigan Christmas-tree sector, the Clerk of the House (for preparing and distributing enrolled copies), and Capitol/White House staff who would handle any visit or display. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform receives the referral for the bill record.
Why It Matters
Although symbolic, the resolution amplifies national attention on a single grower and the broader Michigan industry, potentially aiding local marketing and tourism. It also exemplifies how Congress uses honorary resolutions to recognize constituents and industries without creating legal obligations.
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What This Bill Actually Does
H. Res. 917 is brief and ceremonial.
The bill’s introductory clauses summarize why Korson’s Tree Farms was selected and place that selection in historical and economic context: it cites the farm’s National Christmas Tree Association Grand Champion status, earlier state- and national-level contest results, and several Michigan industry metrics (number of farms, acreage, harvest ranking, and farm-gate value for greens products).
The operative text contains four short measures. First, the House ‘‘congratulates’’ Korson’s Tree Farms on being chosen for the 2025 White House Christmas Tree.
Second, the resolution ‘‘recognizes’’ the agricultural and economic importance of the Christmas-tree industry in Michigan and nationally. Third, it ‘‘invites’’ the farm to the U.S. Capitol to be honored, which implies coordination with House scheduling and Capitol staff but imposes no legal requirement to host or fund an event.
Fourth, it directs the Clerk to make enrolled copies of the resolution available to the President and First Lady for ‘‘appropriate display,’’ a ceremonial administrative action rather than a policy directive.There are no enforcement mechanisms, appropriations, or changes to statute in the text. The bill is nonbinding: it expresses the sense of the House and establishes a record of congressional recognition.
Practically speaking, the principal outputs are publicity, a potential Capitol visit arranged through congressional and Capitol event channels, and the production and distribution of formal copies of the enrolled resolution for display at the White House or elsewhere.Procedurally, the resolution was introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for the congressional record. Because it is a simple resolution (H.
Res.), it affects only the House’s expressions and does not create rights, obligations, or federal spending.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The preamble cites Korson’s Tree Farms as Grand Champion of the National Christmas Tree Association contest and notes prior contest placements in 2015 and 2017.
The resolution highlights that a Michigan grower has not supplied the official White House Christmas tree in 41 years, citing 1985 as the last Michigan display tied to a national contest win.
Operative clause (1) issues a formal congressional congratulations to Korson’s Tree Farms for being chosen as the 2025 White House Christmas Tree provider.
Operative clause (3) invites the farm to the U.S. Capitol to be honored; operative clause (4) instructs the Clerk to provide enrolled copies of the resolution to the President and First Lady for display.
The measure was introduced December 1, 2025, by Representative John Moolenaar with multiple cosponsors and was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Factual findings and industry context
The preamble assembles contest history and industry statistics: Korson’s contest wins (including Grand Champion status), earlier national and state placements, the 41-year Michigan gap since 1985, and statewide metrics (over 500 farms, roughly 37,000 acres in production, and an estimated $40 million farm-gate value for greens). These clauses do not create obligations but establish the factual basis for the House’s recognition and provide talking points that beneficiaries can cite in publicity and grant applications.
Formal congratulations to Korson’s Tree Farms
This clause directs the House to congratulate the named farm for being selected as the official 2025 White House Christmas Tree provider. It is an expression of the House's sentiment only; it imposes no regulatory, funding, or reporting requirements on any party.
Recognition of industry significance
The House ‘‘recognizes’’ the agricultural and economic importance of the Christmas-tree industry to Michigan and the nation. That language formalizes congressional acknowledgement but does not authorize any federal action to support the industry or change existing policy.
Invitation to the Capitol
The resolution invites Korson’s Tree Farms to the U.S. Capitol to be honored. Practically, this requires coordination with House offices and Capitol event operations if the invitation is accepted, but it does not allocate funds or obligate House staff to provide resources beyond standard scheduling and hospitality practices.
Distribution of enrolled copies to the President and First Lady
The Clerk is instructed to make enrolled copies of the resolution available to the President and First Lady ‘‘for appropriate display.’’ This is a ceremonial administrative action: preparing, enrolling, and delivering such copies is routine and typically handled out of the Clerk’s office budget and protocol channels. The clause names specific individuals for delivery rather than leaving the recipient generic.
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Who Benefits
- Korson’s Tree Farms — receives formal congressional recognition and a traceable record of selection that the farm can use for marketing, publicity, and local economic development efforts.
- Michigan Christmas-tree growers and related businesses — the resolution spotlights the state’s industry statistics and can increase consumer and buyer awareness that benefits the broader supply chain (retailers, wreath and greens producers, agritourism operators).
- Montcalm County and Sidney Township — the local community gains positive publicity that can support tourism, local events, and community pride tied to a national spotlight.
Who Bears the Cost
- Clerk of the House and House administrative staff — minor administrative tasks (preparing enrolled copies, coordinating deliveries) and any routine labor associated with producing ceremonial documents.
- House and Capitol event staff — if the farm accepts the invitation, security, scheduling, and event coordination consume staff time and standard logistical resources without a specific appropriation in the resolution.
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform — administrative workload for referral, record-keeping, and any follow-up while the committee maintains the resolution in the congressional record.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central tension is between symbolic recognition and substantive policy: the House can and does celebrate local achievement, which benefits constituent relations and marketing, but using legislative time for honorary resolutions trades off against opportunities to advance binding policy or fiscal measures that would materially assist the same industry.
The resolution is purely ceremonial and creates no new legal authorities, funding, or regulatory changes; nonetheless, it uses congressional floor time to single out a private producer and an industry sector. That raises a procedural question about the trade-offs involved when Congress allocates time to honorary measures: the direct fiscal impact is minimal, but floor and staff time are limited resources.
The directive to the Clerk to provide enrolled copies to specifically named individuals is largely symbolic, but it does raise questions about the practical effect of such distribution. ‘‘Appropriate display’’ is undefined, so whether the copies will be presented, framed, or exhibited is left to the discretion of the receiving office. Similarly, the invitation to the Capitol requires interagency coordination (House offices, Capitol Police, event staff) without a funding mechanism or defined responsibilities, which can complicate planning for a formal recognition event.
Finally, the resolution links celebratory recognition to narrowly factual claims about industry size and contest history. Those facts are useful for publicity but do not translate into policy support; stakeholders seeking legislative or financial assistance for the industry would need separate substantive measures rather than ceremonial acknowledgements.
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