The National Chicken Council held its annual Capitol Hill fly-in this week and, once again, this annual educational effort was deemed a success. “Day in Washington” brings together representatives from NCC processor and allied companies, as well state poultry associations to meet with Members of Congress in both the Senate and House of Representatives to discuss face-to-face issues of vital importance to the U.S. chicken industry. This was the 16th time that “Day in Washington” has been held.
Industry representatives urged politicians in both the Senate and House to promptly pass Trade Promotion Authority legislation to ensure a successful outcome for the on-going negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), stressing the importance of trade for the future growth of the chicken industry.
Trade Promotion Authority provides for an up-or-down vote in both chambers without the opportunity to provide amendments or make changes to closely negotiated agreements. Because TPP specifically is expected to include provisions of great importance and benefit to U.S. poultry interests, trade promotion authority is key, NCC members said. Without Trade Promotion Authority, it will be essentially impossible to gain congressional approval of important international trade pacts, like TPP.
NCC members also discussed the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for corn-based ethanol, saying that the RFS must be repealed and pointing out that congressional action to repeal the corn ethanol mandate remains the most viable pathway to allowing all users of corn to have equal standing in the marketplace. Industry representatives also stressed to Members of Congress that repealing the RFS does not preclude incentives for next-generation biofuels from non-food feedstocks that would allow a sustainable national renewable fuels policy.
Members of Congress were also urged to support language in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to ensure fair market access for U.S. chicken, which have been unfairly excluded from the South African market via antidumping duties. Those duties are inconsistent with World Trade Organization rules.
NCC members also left behind detailed background information on he following issues:
- Avian influenza
- Antibiotics
- Dietary guidelines
- E-verify
- Food safety
Representative Jim Costa (D-CA), who serves on the Committees of Agriculture and Natural Resources and is co-chair of the Congressional Chicken Caucus, took time out of his busy schedule to join the group for breakfast on Wednesday. He shared his thoughts and opinions on some of these crucial issues at the center of the Day in Washington educational efforts and applauding the group for their efforts on Capitol Hill.
