Congressional Vote on CAFTA-DR Is Right for Rice and Texas Agriculture

WASHINGTON, August 4, 2005 — House passage of the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is a positive, long-term step for the Texas rice industry, USA Rice Federation leadership said last week.

“We thank all members of the House of Representatives who voted for passage of this agreement,” USA Rice Chairman Lee Adams said. “We especially acknowledge the representatives from Texas rice producing districts whose votes were critical for passage of the agreement.”

The following House members from Texas rice districts are to be commended for their votes for passage of CAFTA-DR:

· Kevin Brady, R-TX

· Tom Delay, R-TX

· Rubén Hinojosa, D-TX

· Ted Poe, R-TX

“Their votes for CAFTA-DR, and those of all legislators from Texas, represent a collective act of foresight and leadership that will not only benefit the Texas and U.S. rice industry, but the wider agricultural sector for years to come,” USA Rice Federation President and CEO Stuart Proctor said.

Proctor noted that Central American states (including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic constitute one of the top-five regional markets for U.S. rice exports.

CONTACT: David Coia, (703) 236-1444, dcoia@usarice.com

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USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and providing other services to increase profitability for all industry segments.