[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16637]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL RICE MONTH

  Mr. CASEY. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 651, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 651) recognizing the 20th anniversary 
     of the designation of the month of September of 1991 as 
     ``National Rice Month.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CASEY. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related 
to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 651) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 651

       Whereas rice is a primary staple for more than half of the 
     population of the world and has been one of the most 
     important foods throughout history;
       Whereas rice production in the United States dates back to 
     1685 and is one of the oldest agribusinesses in the United 
     States;
       Whereas rice grown in the United States significantly 
     contributes to the diet and economy of the United States;
       Whereas rice is produced in the States of Arkansas, 
     California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas;
       Whereas rice production, processing, merchandizing, and 
     related industries in the United States are vital to the 
     economies of the rural areas of the Sacramento Valley in the 
     State of California, the Gulf Coast region of the States of 
     Louisiana and Texas, and the Mississippi Delta region where 
     more than 3,000,000 acres of rice, on average, are produced 
     annually;
       Whereas, in 2009, rice farmers in the United States 
     produced nearly 22,000,000,000 pounds of rice that had a farm 
     gate value of more than $3,000,000,000;
       Whereas, in 2009, rice production and subsequent sales 
     generated $17,500,000,000 in total value added to the economy 
     of the United States from rice production, milling, and 
     selected end users and had the employment effect of 
     contributing 127,000 jobs to the labor force;
       Whereas eighty-five percent of the rice consumed in the 
     United States is grown by American rice farmers, which 
     supports rural communities and the economy of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the United States is one of the largest exporters 
     of rice and produces more than two percent of the world's 
     rice supply, feeding millions around the world;
       Whereas rice is a food enjoyed throughout life in many 
     forms, as the foundation of main dishes and side dishes, and 
     as cereals, flour, bran, cooking oil, rice cakes, and other 
     healthful snacks;
       Whereas rice is an important source of nutritional value, 
     as rice provides an excellent source of complex 
     carbohydrates, and is cholesterol-free, sodium-free, and 
     trans fat-free;
       Whereas published research shows that people who eat rice 
     have healthier diets;
       Whereas rice farmers in the United States play a key role 
     in the provision and enhancement of habitat for wetlands-
     dependant wildlife species, such as ducks, geese, swans, and 
     cranes; and
       Whereas the harvest of rice in the United States is 
     celebrated each September and September 2010 marks the 20th 
     anniversary of that annual celebration's designation: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 20th anniversary of the designation of 
     the month of September of 1991 as ``National Rice Month''; 
     and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     National Rice Month with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities.

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