[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 578 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 578

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
              be established a National Watermelon Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 26, 2007

  Mr. Putnam (for himself, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. 
 Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Boyd of Florida, Mr. 
    Buchanan, and Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
              be established a National Watermelon Month.

Whereas watermelon production constitutes an important sector of the 
        agricultural industry of the United States;
Whereas, according to the January 2006 statistics compiled by the National 
        Agricultural Statistics Service of the United States Department of 
        Agriculture, the United States produces 4,200,000,000 pounds of 
        watermelon annually;
Whereas watermelon is grown in 49 States, is purchased and consumed in all 50 
        States, and is exported to Canada;
Whereas evidence indicates that eating 2.5 to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables 
        daily as part of a healthy diet will improve health and protect against 
        diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease;
Whereas proper diet and nutrition are important factors in preventing diseases 
        such as childhood obesity and diabetes;
Whereas watermelon has no fat or cholesterol and is an excellent source of the 
        vitamins A, B6, and C, fiber, and potassium, which are vital to good 
        health and disease prevention;
Whereas watermelon is also an excellent source of lycopene;
Whereas lycopene, an antioxidant found only in a few red plant foods, has been 
        shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers;
Whereas watermelon is a heart-healthy food that has qualified for the heart-
        check mark from the American Heart Association;
Whereas watermelon has been a nutritious summer favorite from generation to 
        generation;
Whereas it is important to educate citizens of the United States regarding the 
        health benefits of watermelon and other fruits and vegetables; and
Whereas July 2007 would be an appropriate month to establish as National 
        Watermelon Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that there should be established a National Watermelon Month to 
recognize the health benefits of watermelon and the importance of 
watermelon to the agriculture industry of the United States.
                                 <all>