IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1685 

Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the annual September celebration of 

the harvest of rice in the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 

Mr. BERRY (for himself, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. 

CHILDERS, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. PAUL, Mr. HERGER, Mr. OLSON, and 

Mr. CASSIDY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Agriculture 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the annual September 

celebration of the harvest of rice in the United States. 

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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•HRES 1685 IH 

Whereas rice production, processing, merchandising, and related industries in the United States are vital to the 

economies of 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 rice is produced on more than 3,000,000 acres of 

land 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, and 

the production and sale of this rice 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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•HRES 1685 IH 

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 the designation of September as National 

Rice Month: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the 20th anniversary of the an3 nual September celebration of the harvest of rice in 

4 the United States; 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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