Blue
Print for Rural America 2003 Contains the Following:
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National Grange, the nation's oldest rural public interest and general agricultural
organization, has developed a 10-point program to revitalize Rural America and
return US agriculture to prosperity. Since 1867, the Grange has provided a legislative
voice for families, family farmers and rural communities. Today, nearly 300,000
Grange members, affiliated with 3,000 local, county and State Grange chapters
across the nation, are leaders in developing and implementing programs that benefit
their communities.
I.
Return Prosperity to U.S. Agriculture for Individuals and Families America's
family farmers and ranchers face challenges regarding food security, contract
agriculture, agribusiness consolidations, and low prices. Federal farm programs
should encourage increased participation in the agricultural sector by the largest
number of individuals and families through the broadest practical distribution
of agricultural production. Congress should reauthorize the Northeast Dairy Compact
and authorize other regional dairy compact as well as continue direct financial
assistance targeted at moderate sized dairy operations. Imports of Milk Protein
Concentrates should be included under existing U.S. trade agreements. Federal
farm policies should also promote a variety of innovative agricultural practices
that include part-time farming, new uses, organic production and biotechnology.
Action
Plan- -
Support Federal farm programs that provide credit, risk management, income supplement
and environmental stewardship opportunities that benefit family farmers and ranchers,
regardless of the crop or livestock they produce. Support continued financial
assistance for moderate sized dairy farms. Support research, marketing and producer
education programs that are appropriate for innovative production philosophies
such as part-time farming, new uses, organic or biotechnology.
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Increase US agricultural exports by reducing domestic and foreign barriers to
agricultural trade. Prevent foreign subsidies from undermining domestic agricultural
prices. Support including imported Milk Protein Concentrates under existing U.S.
trade agreements.
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Support measures to improve the bargaining position of individual family farmers
and ranchers engaged in contract agricultural production. Support permanent reauthorization
and expansion of the Northeast Dairy Compact, creation of a Southern Dairy Compact
and formation of dairy compacts in other regions. Oppose proposed agribusiness
mergers that threaten to reduce competition or reduce prices received by family
farmers and ranchers.
II.
Expand Telecommunications Services in Rural Areas Adequate
access to telecommunications services such as telephone, Internet, satellite and
cable is important to rural America. The Internet delivers services and products
efficiently, irrespective of geographic location. Today, telecommuters can enjoy
a rewarding career and a rural life style. Satellite technology can bring new
information to every American farm. We must guarantee that advanced telecommunications
technologies are available in every rural community at affordable costs. We must
assure that children do not access inappropriate materials through these technologies.
We must reduce the incident of Internet fraud. We must protect the privacy of
individuals using these technologies. Action
Plan- -
Support programs that guarantee every rural community will have local telephone
services, lifeline telephone services, wireless telephone services, competitive
long distance telephone services, local/toll-free dial up Internet service and
affordable high speed Internet access.
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Assure that every rural community has access to free, over-the-air broadcast radio
and television services as well as competitive cable, fixed wireless, or satellite
dish services.
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Prevent children from accessing inappropriate materials from the Internet, combat
incidents of Internet fraud and protect the privacy of individuals who use the
Internet.
III.
Reform the Endangered Species Act and Other Environmental Programs
The 1973 Endangered Species Act requires that species preservation must be the
paramount goal in any Federal decision affecting the habitat or viability of an
"endangered" species. Species are included under the Act only on the basis of
biological conditions. The law does not allow impacts on communities or private
property to be a factor in placing a species on the endangered list. Federal environmental
programs restrict normal, traditional and customary activities on private and
public lands in rural areas without regard for sound science or input from local
persons. The consequence has been heavy handed Federal regulatory programs to
direct private and public land use in many rural communities that create unnecessary
animosity and that fail to meet their environmental goals. Action
Plan- -
Support litigation to de-list specific subspecies of Pacific Salmon based on principals
of sound science. Restrict the quantity of threatened or endangeted fish species
that may be taken from rivers or from U.S. territorial waters, as part of any
comprehensive fish resource management program.
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Support amendments to the ESA to require that all decisions to list a species
as endangered must be balanced against the economic health of the local area,
state or region as well as justified by peer reviewed science. Allow state governments
to manage local habitats as part of a species recovery plan, including authority
to exempt any business, farmer, rancher or landowner who complies with a state
ESA law from further compliance with Federal ESA laws.
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Support rehabilitation of existing watershed dams. Oppose the removal of any dam
in the Pacific Northwest without consideration of best available science or local
economic impact.
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Insist that private property ownership rights derived from the U.S. Constitution,
state constitutions, and the common law be vigorously protected.
IV.
Achieve Energy Security for Rural America Imported
energy and energy price instability threatens prosperity in rural America. Programs
to promote energy from our nation's farms languish for lack of political leadership.
Proven domestic reserves of energy cannot be developed. Voluntary energy conservation
programs are under funded. Environmentally marginal proposals to increase regulatory
burdens on agriculture and industry increase energy costs. Electric utility deregulation
causes anxiety in rural areas, especially where rural electric cooperative and
public power electric utilities have served their rural customers effectively
for decades. Rural consumers must share equally in the benefits of electricity
deregulation programs with other consumers. Action
Plan- -
Promote development of energy sources that are derived from America's family farms.
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Develop energy resources on public lands in rural areas in an environmentally
sound manner. Oppose further releases from the National Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
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Support voluntary energy conservation programs for rural areas such as telecommuting,
public transportation and car/van pools. Oppose regulations that increase costs
to farmers and consumers.
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Support electricity deregulation as a primary function of state governments, not
the Federal government. Support only those electricity deregulation proposals
that treat rural consumers equitably with other consumers and that preserve the
special relationship that rural electric cooperatives and rural public utility
districts have with their customers.
V.
Improve the Quality of Rural Education In
rural areas, the public school is a community focal point. Congress should increase
funding for rural public education, including funding for special needs students
and Headstart programs. Internet access is vital for every rural student. Full
Federal payments in lieu of taxes for school districts in counties with Federal
land holdings must be preserved. However, violence and disruptions occur far too
often in rural schools. Lewd and obscene messages worn on clothing are offensive.
These distractions keep children from taking full advantage of the learning process
and are contrary to the civic values we wish them to cultivate. Teachers and administrators
should have greater flexibility to deal with these problems. New methods should
be used to involve parents in their children's education. Action
Plan- -
Support increased Federal funding for rural public schools, including funding
for mandated programs for special needs students, for Headstart programs and for
high speed Internet access.
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Support full Federal payments in lieu of local school taxes in counties containing
Federal land.
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Support increased authority for teachers and administrators to address instances
of violence or inappropriate expression that disrupt the learning process. Encourage
greater parent involvement.
VI.
Enhance Homeland Security and Public Safety In Rural Areas
In the wake of September 11, 2001, homeland security is a top priority. The USDA
Homeland Security Council should focus its efforts on protecting our food supply
from foreign pests and animal diseases. Domestically, rural Americans face threats
of violence and intimidation from extremist environmental groups such as the Earth
Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front. Drug dealers use rural locations
to manufacture drugs and leave toxic wastes for landowners to clean up. Laws regarding
the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime are not adequately enforced.
Our children are increasingly becoming the targets of kidnappings. The basic rights
of crime victims in rural areas go unprotected. Action
Plan- -
Combat foreign bioterrorism by preventing the importation of invasive pests and
diseases.
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Support efforts to disrupt domestic terrorist activities initiated by extremist
environmental organizations and their ancillary propaganda networks.
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Support efforts to coordinate abducted children "Amber Alert" notices among all
50 states.
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Support legislation to combat the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs
in rural areas.
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Support the strict enforcement of all existing laws pertaining to the use of firearms
during the commission of a crime in lieu of additional restrictions on the right
to bare arms.
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Support programs that protect the rights of victims of violent crime in rural
areas.
VII.
Strengthen Civic Participation in Our Society The
challenges our nation experienced after September 11, 2001 go beyond public safety
to the durability of our fundamental liberties and our duties of civic participation.
Common frames of reference, such as language, faith and patriotism, are fundamental
prerequisites for individual liberties and vibrant civic participation. These
shared references reinforce our traditions of religious and social tolerance.
Modern technology can also facilitate civic participation. Strengthening the role
of civic participation in our society by acknowledging the roles played by language,
faith, patriotism and technology, is the most effective means to guarantee our
personal liberties and combat on going threats to our way of life. Action
Plan- - Support
a constitutional amendment to protect the Flag of the United States and to maintain
the current wording of the Pledge of Allegiance. Support teaching about the Declaration
of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and basic civil values
in all schools and in other forums.
- Support
legislation to make English the official language of the United States. Support
legislation to assure that everyone living in the United States can learn to function
with English.
- Support
legislation to allow references to a divine presence at school and other publics
events.
- Support
using Internet technologies to facilitate civic participation such as Internet
voting, voter registration, nomination petitions, referendum petitions, serving
on juries, and registering for selective service or other volunteer service programs.
Substantially increase penalties for incidents of fraud regarding voting or other
civic responsibilities.
VIII.
Improve the Quality and Availability of Rural Health Care It
is time to focus attention on health care in rural America. We support policies
that allow rural citizens to meet their medical financial responsibilities, such
as 100% tax deductions for all health and long term care insurance, Medical Savings
Accounts and competitive medical insurance choices that include fee-for-service
and HMO products in rural areas. We must give rural seniors a choice of Medicare
programs that include an affordable prescription drug benefit. But even the best
health insurance has no value if there are no health care facilities in rural
areas. We must repeal regulatory barriers rural health care facilities face when
they seek equitable reimbursement for treatments provided under Federal health
care programs. We must preserve access to the latest pharmaceutical technologies
for all rural families. Action
Plan- -
Provide rural residents the freedom to address their medical financial responsibilities
through income tax deductions for all health and long term care insurance premiums,
Medical Savings Accounts, and preservation of choice in health insurance products.
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Support Medicare reform that gives rural seniors a choice among different Medicare
programs, including an affordable prescription drug benefit.
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Support repeal of regulatory barriers regarding equitable reimbursement from Federal
medical insurance programs, i.e. Medicare and Medicaid, for rural health care
facilities.
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Support measures to assure access to modern pharmaceutical technologies for rural
families.
IX.
Reform The Federal Tax System To Preserve Family Farms And Rural Businesses
Congress
should reform the tax system to preserve family farms and small rural businesses.
For most farmers and small business owners, their farms and businesses are their
largest retirement asset. Current tax laws penalize farmers and rural businesses
that seek to sell their property to other families, to pass it on to their heirs
or to preserve the future use of their property in agriculture through conservation
investments or through the sale of development or water rights. New tax policies
will assure that today's family farmers and rural business owners can retire with
dignity and that the rural America's productive resources are transferred to a
new generation of family farmers and small business owners. Action
Plan- -
Support the permanent elimination of the estate tax. Support immediate phase out
of taxes on all estates below $1.2 million, adjusted for future inflation.
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Support extending the current $500,000 private residence sale capital gains tax
exclusion to agricultural land as well as to the sale of development or water
rights on agricultural land. Support tax credits for agricultural land use preservation
on private land.
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Support tax relief for rural small businesses, such as increased acclerated depreciation.
X.
Address the Needs of Foster Children and Foster Parents In Our Communities. The
well being of foster children and the dedicated families that accept these children
into their lives is important. Children in foster care often come from situations
that put them at-risk for falling into a lifestyle that may include drugs, poverty
and violent crime. Foster parents are licensed professional caregivers and dedicated
volunteers who open their hearts and homes to children in need. The National Grange
Foster Parents Program is dedicated to restoring dignity, raising self-esteem
and creating a sense of belonging for all children in foster care and their foster
parents through educational efforts, through advocacy, and by upholding family
values. Action
Plan- -
Restore funding under Title XX of the Social Security Act that is used to pay
for social services to assist vulnerable children, including children in foster
care.
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Support new programs to give children who have received foster care special preferences
in receiving Federal grants for higher education.
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Support reforms to base each state's reimbursement rate for foster care on regional
USDA guidelines that project the cost of raising a child in foster care.
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Support income tax deductions for all forms of foster care services provided to
children.
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