WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rick Crawford, (R-AR) and Congressman Sanford Bishop, (D-GA) announced that they have co-founded the bipartisan Congressional Chicken Caucus. The Chicken Caucus will educate members of Congress and their staffs on the concerns and benefits of the U.S. chicken industry.

“The chicken industry employs over 300,000 workers in the United States. My Arkansas district is home to chicken production and I look forward to working with caucus members to advocate for the industry,” said Crawford. “The Congressional Chicken Caucus will educate other Members of Congress about the history, contributions and concerns of the U.S. chicken industry, as they pertain to food safety, trade, labor, immigration and the environment.”

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.

Founding members of the Congressional Chicken Caucus include:

Co-Chair, Congressman Rick Crawford, (R-AR)
Co-Chair, Congressman Sanford Bishop, (D-GA)
Congressman Larry Kissell, (D-NC)
Congressman Austin Scott, (R-GA)
Congressman John Carney, (D-DE)
Congressman Mike McIntyre, (D-NC)
Congressman Robert Hurt, (R-VA)
Congressman Tom Graves, (R-GA)