No Chicks on Northwest Leads to Legislation

September 5, 2001

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) has introduced a bill designed to force airlines to accept conditionally day-old poultry chicks in the wake of Northwest Airlines' decision to stop transporting the birds as of Sept. 1.

"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," Grassley said. The decision by Northwest Airlines, the last contractor to provide the service to 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."

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 more than 80 years. "The Hatchery employs up to seventy people in season 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," Grassley said "Without the ability to deliver their product to their customers, however, the McMurray Hatchery would likely be put out of business."

Grassley's bill 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 carrier's cargo service. In addition, it 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," he said.