III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 651 

Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the designation of the month of 

September of 1991 as ‘‘National Rice Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 

Mr. REID (for Mrs. LINCOLN) (for herself, Mr. COCHRAN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, 

Mr. PRYOR, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. VITTER, Mrs. MCCASKILL, 

Mr. BOND, Mr. WICKER, and Mr. CORNYN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the designation of the 

month of September of 1991 as ‘‘National Rice Month’’. 

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; 


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•SRES 651 ATS 

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; 


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•SRES 651 ATS 

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 wetlandsdependant 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 20th anniversary of the des3 ignation of the month of September of 1991 as ‘‘Na4 tional Rice Month’’; and 

5 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

6 to observe National Rice Month with appropriate 

7 ceremonies and activities. 

Æ 


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