[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14995]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL RICE MONTH

  (Mr. ABRAHAM asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with America's rice 
farmers and families in celebrating the month of September as National 
Rice Month. It has been 25 years since September was first dedicated as 
National Rice Month.
  So on this silver anniversary, I want to pay a special tribute to the 
hardworking men and women who produce rice on their family farms. I 
would also like to recognize all those who mill and market rice, all 
the suppliers and buyers and, of course, all of the consumers who make 
rice an essential part of their diet.
  Rice farming in America actually predates this Nation's independence, 
beginning almost 300 years ago. Today, America's rice industry creates 
125,000 good-paying jobs and contributes an estimated $34 billion to 
our Nation's economy.
  Nine million tons of rice are grown each year by family farmers on 
more than 2.7 million acres of land, predominantly in Louisiana, 
Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, California, and Texas. While these six 
States produce the lion's share of rice in America, there is also rice 
production in other States, like Illinois and Tennessee. In fact, the 
rice industry reaches every State in the Nation, especially those 
States with cereal makers, breweries, and other foodmakers that use 
rice as a key ingredient.
  I ask my colleagues to support me in recognizing September as 
National Rice Month.

                          ____________________