[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 6, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 331--DESIGNATING AUGUST 2023 AS ``NATIONAL CATFISH 
                                MONTH''

  Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. 
Cruz, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Braun, Mr. 
Boozman, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 331

       Whereas the Catfish Institute recognizes August to be 
     National Catfish Month;
       Whereas the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, 
     Mississippi, and Texas recognize August to be National 
     Catfish Month;
       Whereas the States of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and 
     Tennessee embody the Channel Catfish as their State Fish;
       Whereas the farm-raised catfish industry in the United 
     States employs over 9,000 people and contributes almost 
     $2,000,000,000 to the economy of the United States;
       Whereas the United States has 55,855 surface water acres 
     used for catfish production in 2023, and catfish growers in 
     the United States had $447,039,000 in sales during 2022;
       Whereas the average catfish farmer produces 6,800 pounds of 
     catfish per acre;
       Whereas 99 percent of all United States farm-raised catfish 
     are grown in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, 
     Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas;
       Whereas catfish is the largest farm-raised seafood product, 
     by weight, in the United States, representing more than 50 
     percent of the food fish produced by the United States 
     aquaculture industry;
       Whereas United States farm-raised catfish are consistently 
     high quality and, unlike ocean-caught fish, are available all 
     year long;
       Whereas United States farm-raised catfish are a sustainable 
     and environmentally friendly seafood product;
       Whereas catfish is a lean fish and an excellent source of 
     protein; and
       Whereas catfish is a versatile fish in cuisine of the 
     United States, with a myriad of regional and national recipes 
     to be enjoyed by all people of the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates August 2023 as ``National Catfish Month'';
       (2) recognizes the contributions of all workers, past and 
     present, that produce, process, and provide catfish for the 
     people of the United States; and
       (3) recognizes that purchasing United States farm-raised 
     catfish supports farmers, jobs, and the economy of the United 
     States.

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