Tell Congress Not to Compromise on Chinese Chicken
Now is not the time to expand the list of Chinese food products allowed into the United States. In addition to ongoing problems with China's food safety standards and inspection system, U.S. inspectors have found filthy and unsanitary conditions in Chinese poultry processing facilities. The recurring reports of avian flu outbreaks offer yet another reason to be cautious. But companies like Tyson are lobbying Congress to end the ban, worried that a Chinese ban on U.S. chicken will hurt their profits.
This issue will be decided in the Congressional budgets. Both the House and Senate have passed budgets for USDA, and the House version keeps the ban on Chinese chicken, while the Senate version does not. In September, a conference committee will have to negotiate a final version. Please tell your Member of Congress to keep the stronger language from the House bill that maintains the ban on Chinese chicken.
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