WASHINGTON-(AgWatch)--U.S. representatives banded together Thursday to form the bipartisan Congressional Chicken Caucus to educate members of Congress and their staffs on the concerns and benefits of the domestic chicken industry.
Arkansas congressman Rick Crawford and Georgia congressman Sanford Bishop co-founded caucus.
"The Congressional Chicken Caucus will educate other Members of Congress about the history, contributions and concerns of the U.S. chicken industry," Crawford said, "as they pertain to food safety, trade, labor, immigration and the environment."
He said chicken production has remained a vital industry in his Arkansas district and across the U.S.
"The chicken industry employs over 300,000 workers in the United States," Crawford said. "My Arkansas district is home to chicken production and I look forward to working with Congressman Bishop and caucus members to advocate for the industry."
Bishop echoed Crawford sentiments.
"I look forward to working with the Chicken Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman Rick Crawford, and other bipartisan members of the Caucus in creating forums where poultry producers, consumers, retailers and food inspectors can provide members of Congress with their insights on how we can better maintain and enhance our poultry industries," Bishop said.
U.S. chicken companies directly employ over 300,000 workers, producing products worth a wholesale value of over $45 billion dollars annually with major operations in more than 30 states. Further, there are more than 40 vertically integrated companies that contract with about 25,000 family farmers to produce market-ready broilers, hatching eggs and pullets.
Members of the Congressional Chicken Caucus include the following U.S. representatives:
Founding Member and Co-Chair Rick Crawford, (R-Ark.)
Founding Member and Co-Chair Sanford Bishop, (D-Ga.)
Larry Kissell, (D-N.C.)
Austin Scott, (R-Ga.)
John Carney, (D-Del.)
Mike McIntyre, (D-N.C.)
Robert Hurt, (R-Va.)
Tom Graves, (R-Ga.)
John Barrow, (D-Ga.)
