[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 161 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6382-S6383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL RICE MONTH

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to honor the more 
than 125,000 hard-working men and women who work in America's rice 
industry. September is National Rice Month, and it is also the start of 
our domestic rice harvest. This year, roughly 23 billion pounds of rice 
will be grown on 3 million acres of farmland. 85 percent of the rice 
eaten in America comes from just 6 States: Arkansas, California, 
Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, and my home State of Louisiana.
  Rice isn't just delicious in jambalaya or seafood gumbo; it is an 
indispensable part of Louisiana's economy. The 4,500 members of the 
Louisiana rice industry generate more than $700 million in economic 
benefits for the State. These small businesses not only put food on the 
table of America's families, but they also employ tens of thousands of 
workers. Altogether, America's rice crop has a $34 billion impact on 
our national economy.
  Rice farmers are also careful stewards of our Nation's precious 
natural resources. Over the past 20 years, rice farmers have been able 
to increase their yields by as much as 50 percent. They have achieved 
this while using less land, less water, and less energy. American rice 
shines as a bright example of sustainable agriculture and the benefits 
of effective agricultural research.
  America was born on a farm. The importance of farming to the U.S. 
economy cannot be overstated; agriculture provides jobs for nearly 1 in 
7 Americans. While rice is a valuable export, I am pleased to say that 
nearly all of our domestic rice crop is consumed right here. For these 
and many other reasons, I am proud to celebrate National Rice Month and 
the world's most popular grain. I also want to extend my heartfelt 
support and gratitude to all American rice farmers, particularly those 
in the great State of Louisiana. Keep up the good work.

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