[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 113 (Tuesday, September 4, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Mr. Feingold):
  S. 1397. A bill to ensure availability of the mail to transmit 
shipments of day-old poultry; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I rise today be introduce legislation 
that will ensure the continued availability of the U.S. mail for the 
shipment of day-old poultry * * * For decades, America's hatcheries and 
family farmers have relied on the United States Postal Service to 
safely and efficiently deliver live, day-old poultry. However, 
Northwest Airlines, the last contractor to provide the service to the 
Postal Service in the Midwest recently decided to discontinue the 
shipment of live poultry as of September 1.
  the decision by the air carriers to stop working with the Postal 
Service has placed the economic vitality of many rural communities and 
the livelihoods of many of my constituents in serious jeopardy. In 
fact, hundreds of Iowans are employed in Iowa hatcheries which supply 
day-old birds to family farmers and hobbyists.
  For example, the McMurray Hatchery in Webster City, IA, has shipped 
day-old chicks and other poultry to customers in all parts of the 
United States for over eighty years. The hatchery employs up to seventy 
people in sseason and is a major contributor to the region's economy. 
Ninety-five percent of the hatchery's orders are shipped through the 
mail, and carried by Northwest Airlines. Without the ability to deliver 
their product to their customers, however, the McMurray Hatchery would 
likely be put out of business.
  In the community of Rudd, the Hoover Hatchery employs thirty people. 
The Welp Hatchery in Bancroft employs fifty people. For these small, 
rural communities, each with fewer than a thousand people, loss of 
these hatcheries would be devastating.
  The legislation I introduce today would protect these hatcheries and 
the economies of Webster City, Rudd, Bancroft, and communities like 
them across the country. My legislation would authorize the U.S. Postal 
Service to require an air carrier to accept shipments of any day-old 
poultry and other live animals that are also allowed by the carriers's 
cargo service. In addition, my legislation would permit the Postal 
Service to assess a reasonable postage surcharge on shipments of live 
poultry to compensate carriers for any necessary additional expenses 
associated with the handling of live animals.
  Most importantly, my legislation would ensure that the commitment of 
the United States Postal Service to deliver all of the mail, without 
discrimination, would not be broken. Therefore, I urge my Senate 
colleagues to support this legislation and to uphold our obligation to 
America's hatcheries and family farmers.
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