Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Congressman Sanford Bishop, (D-GA), announced members of the bipartisan Congressional Chicken Caucus in the 113th Congress. Crawford and Bishop founded the Chicken Caucus in 2012 and will continue serving as co-chairs of the caucus in the 113th Congress.

The bipartisan caucus will serve as a formal group of members whose mission is to educate other members of Congress about the history, contributions and concerns of the U.S. chicken industry, which emanate from a wide range of issues pertaining to food safety, international trade, labor, immigration and the environment.

Congressional Chicken Caucus Members:
Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR), Caucus Co-Chairman
Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Caucus Co-Chairman
Congressman Reid Ribble (R-WI)
Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA)
Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD)
Congressman Tim Griffin (R-AR)
Congressman Gregg Harper (R-MS)
Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC)
Congressman Alan Nunnelee (R-MS)
Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA)

“The chicken industry employs over 300,000 workers in the United States. My Arkansas district is home to chicken production facilities like Peco Foods in Batesville. Working with caucus members, I plan to be a strong advocate for the 43,000 Arkansans who work in chicken production,” said Crawford. “My goal in co-founding the Congressional Chicken Caucus is to be a voice for the folks at Peco Foods in Batesville and Tyson Foods in Springdale. Working with Tyson and Peco, I hope to foster new development and move Arkansas forward.”

“As Georgia is the number one chicken product producing state in the nation, I am proud to be able to fight for an industry of such importance to the second Congressional District of Georgia,” said Congressman Bishop. “I look forward to continue working with the Congressional Chicken Caucus in creating a forum where chicken producers, processors, consumers, and retailers can provide members of Congress with their thoughts and suggestions on how to sustain and improve our poultry industries.”

U.S. chicken companies directly employ over 300,000 workers, producing products worth a wholesale value of over $45 billion dollars with major operations in more than 30 states. The more than 40 vertically integrated companies contract with about 25,000 family farmers to produce market-ready broilers, hatching eggs, and pullets. The industry’s induced economic impact can be felt in every sector of the U.S. economy and in every state.

Congressman Rick Crawford represents Arkansas’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Crawford serves on the Agriculture Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. On the Agriculture Committee, Crawford is Chairman of the Livestock, Rural Development and Credit Subcommittee. Congressman Crawford and his wife Stacy live in Jonesboro with their two children.