[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 63 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2514-H2515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TIME TO END THE POULTRY EMBARGO

  (Mr. DEAL of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

[[Page H2515]]

  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on March 10 of this year, Russia 
imposed an export and import ban on United States poultry. Even though 
an agreement was reached with Russia supposedly on March 30 and they 
announced that the embargo had been lifted on April 15, the truth is 
that no American poultry has been shipped into Russia. In fact, over 
20,000 metric tons that had been shipped prior to the embargo are still 
sitting in Russian ports waiting to be unloaded.
  In my State of Georgia poultry has a significant impact of some $10 
billion a year, the largest segment of our agricultural economy. Over 
$300 million a year are exported. Mr. Speaker, I think we should 
understand that the Russian embargo is costing American poultry 
companies $25 million a day. It is time that this Congress send a 
message to our trading partners that we expect them to be fair.
  Mr. President, as you go to visit with President Putin, I hope you 
will take the message that this Congress is paying attention and that 
if Russia wants the lifting of the Jackson-Vanik rules, and if they 
want admission into the World Trade Organization, it is time to stop 
playing games with the poultry issue and end the embargo.

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