PALM HARBOR, Fla. (21 Apr.) – In recognition of the 38th anniversary of Earth Day, U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.) will join with students throughout Hillsborough County tomorrow, as they attempt to set a world record for the most trees planted within an hour on Earth Day.

If they meet their expected goal of 10,450 trees planted in an hour tomorrow, Hillsborough County Public Schools will set a world record. The previous record of 4,100 trees planted worldwide in one hour on Earth Day was set in 2005.

"I am honored to be a part of this event and look forward to contributing to this effort to raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing our planet in the 21st century,” said Bilirakis. “I applaud Hillsborough County Public School students, faculty and staff for their leadership and ambition. They are setting an example during the 11th-hour of Earth Day this year to demonstrate that it is never too late to positively affect the global environment in which we all live.”

Congressman Bilirakis will join in the main event to be held tomorrow, April 22, 2008, at Hillsborough High School on 5000 Central Avenue in Tampa, Fla. Beginning at 11:00 a.m., each of the Hillsborough County's 275 public schools will simultaneously join in the planting effort, with each school expected to plant 38 Longleaf Pine seedlings.