[Congressional Bills 114th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. Res. 397 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 397 Supporting the recognition of 2016 as the ``Year of Pulses'' and acknowledging the nutritional benefit and important contribution to soil health of pulse crops. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 10, 2016 Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Tester, Mrs. Murray, and Ms. Heitkamp) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Supporting the recognition of 2016 as the ``Year of Pulses'' and acknowledging the nutritional benefit and important contribution to soil health of pulse crops. Whereas the United States will celebrate 2016 as the ``Year of Pulses''; Whereas the 68th United Nations General Assembly declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses; Whereas a pulse is a dry, edible seed of a plant in the legume family, including a dry bean, dry pea, lentil, or chickpea; Whereas pulse crops are grown in abundance in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; Whereas a pulse is an important component of a nutritious diet and is high in plant-based protein, vitamins, fiber, and minerals, including iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc; Whereas a pulse helps prevent serious and chronic illness, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke; Whereas a legume serves as an important rotation crop, keeps soil fertile, and improves overall soil health by replenishing nitrogen; Whereas a pulse crop provides food security and nutrition to much of the developing world as a low-cost source of protein; and Whereas a pulse crop is an important economic development crop for small farmers, for both domestic production and export potential: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate supports-- (1) the recognition of 2016 as the ``Year of Pulses''; (2) the participation by representatives of the Federal Government in events and activities organized pursuant to the observance by the United Nations of the International Year of Pulses in 2016; and (3) the future funding of programs to support the cultivation and consumption of pulses. <all>