[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL RICE MONTH

  (Mr. CRAWFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, September is National Rice Month. For 
those of us in the agriculture community, there are two numbers that 
stuck out. One is 2050; the other is 9 billion. Let me explain.
  By the year 2050, we expect the human population will be at about 9 
billion people. Beyond all the other concerns we have about such a 
large population, among those concerns is: How will we feed that many 
people?
  I believe that hearty, wholesome grains like Arkansas rice will be a 
part of the answer to that important question. Rice is nutrient-dense, 
containing over 15 vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, B 
vitamins, iron, and zinc. It is easily stored, transported, and an 
incredibly versatile kitchen staple for families around the world.
  In an age of concern over healthy, affordable foods, rice supplies an 
answer that other grains can't match. A one-half cup cooked serving of 
rice costs less than 10 cents and provides complex carbohydrates that 
fuel the human body.
  But here in the United States Congress, one of the problems I run 
into is that people don't know that we grow rice in the United States. 
I do what I can to spread the word about American rice production, 
including sending other Members Rice Krispies Treats on their 
birthdays.
  If we are going to use rice as a tool for solving the world's need 
for cheap, affordable foods, we have got to keep telling the story 
about American rice. I can't think of any other food more important for 
feeding the world.

                          ____________________