Blue
Print for Rural America 2004 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 U.S. agriculture to prosperity. Since 1867, the Grange has provided a legislative
voice for families, 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 policies 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, trade negotiations 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. Instead, federal farm policies discourage
innovative farm practices such as part-time farming, new uses, organic and biotechnology.
The government depresses farm income by selling surplus agricultural products
and allowing imports of milk protein concentrates. All dairy farmers and all consumers
deserve to benefit from regional dairy programs and continued financial assistance
for moderate-sized dairy farms. The U.S. faces hostile multilateral trade negotiations
where the goal of our trading partners is to decrease U.S. farm income. Action
Plan- 1.
Support federal farm policies that provide credit, risk management, environmental
stewardship and income support programs for family farmers and ranchers, regardless
of the crop or livestock they produce. Support innovative farm practices like
part-time farming, new uses, organic or biotechnology. 2.
Extend regional dairy programs to all U.S. dairy farmers and all U.S.consumers.
Support financial assistance for moderate-sized dairy farms. Include milk protein
concentrates under U.S. trade agreements. Prevent importation of animal products
from nations with Mad Cow Disease. 3.
Increase farm income by reducing domestic and foreign barriers to agricultural
trade. Support new trade negotiations, such as the Free Trade Area of the Americas,
only when our trading partners agree that agricultural trade agreements must improve
the standard of living for all affected farmers, including U.S. farmers. Prevent
foreign subsidies from undermining domestic agricultural prices or natural resource
industries. Support country of origin labeling and traceability/animal identification
regulations 4.
Improve the bargaining position of farmers and ranchers engaged in contract agriculture.
Support restrictions on agribusiness mergers to prevent reduced competition or
reduced farm prices. Restrict sales of government-owned agricultural products
that reduce farm income. II.
Expand Telecommunications Services in Rural Areas
Access to telecommunications services such as telephone, cell phone, television,
radio, Internet, satellite and cable are important to rural America. This access
is threatened by government regulations that allow large conglomerates to control
multiple media venues while restricting entry of new and medium-sized media companies
into the market. The Internet delivers services and products efficiently, irrespective
of geographic location. Today, telecommuters enjoy rewarding careers and rural
lifestyles. Satellite technology brings new information to America's farms. Advanced
telecommunications technologies must be available in every rural community at
affordable costs. There must also be protections against children having access
to inappropriate materials, as well as reduced incidents of spam, Internet fraud
and loss of privacy from these technologies. Action
Plan- 1.
Support programs that guarantee every rural community will have local and long
distance telephone services, wireless telephone and dial-up or affordable high
speed Internet access. 2.
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
broadcast services. 3.
Protect children from inappropriate materials on the Internet, combat incidents
of Internet fraud and spam and protect the privacy of individuals who use the
Internet. 4.
Support FCC media ownership regulations that allow new and medium-sized media
companies to compete and that restrict media mergers that result in consolidated
control of multiple media venues.
III.
Reform the Endangered Species Act and Other Environmental Programs
The 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires that species preservation must
be the paramount goal in any federal decision affecting the habitat or viability
of an "endangered" species. ESA and other federal environmental programs restrict
normal, traditional and customary activities on private and public lands in rural
areas without regard for states' rights, protection of private property, sound
science, local economic impact or community safety. The consequences have been
heavy handed federal regulatory programs to direct land and water use in rural
communities that create unnecessary animosity, that fail to meet their environmental
goals, that threaten vital publicly-owned economic infrastructures, such as dams
and irrigation systems, and that increase the risks of catastrophic wildfires
in populated areas. Action
Plan- 1.
Support measures to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires through systematic
thinning and removal of brush, deadwood and ground fuel near populated areas.
2. Support
new federal regulations to limit federal jurisdiction over isolated wetlands under
the Clean Water Act as required by decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. 3.
Support amendments to the ESA to clarify that species recovery is the only
goal of the ESA. Balance all decisions to list a species as endangered against
the economic health of a community, state or region. Justify all ESA management
decisions through sound science. Delegate to state governments the primary authority
to manage endangered species recovery plans in their jurisdiction. 4.
Support the rehabilitation and continued operation of all dams and irrigation
systems in the West and Pacific Northwest. Restrict the quantity of threatened
or endangered fish species that may be taken from rivers or from U.S. territorial
waters as part of any fish resource management plan. 5.
Insist that private property rights derived from the U.S. Constitution, state
constitutions and common law be vigorously protected.
IV.
Achieve Energy Security for Rural America
Imported energy and energy price instability threatens prosperity in rural America.
Programs that promote energy from our nation's farms are underutilized. Proven
domestic reserves of energy can not be developed, even in an environmentally sound
manner. Voluntary energy conservation programs are under funded, while environmentally
marginal proposals to increase "global warming" regulatory burdens on agriculture
and industry would increase energy costs. Electric utility restructuring causes
anxiety in rural areas, especially where regional power administrations, rural
electric cooperatives and public power electric utilities have served their rural
customers effectively for decades. Rural consumers must benefit from electricity
restructuring and reliability programs along with other consumers. Action
Plan- 1.
Promote biodiesel, ethanol, biomass and wind energies derived from America's family
farms. 2.
Develop energy resources on public lands in rural areas in an environmentally
sound manner. Support a prohibition on further releases from the National Strategic
Petroleum Reserve. 3.
Support voluntary energy conservation for rural areas such as telecommuting, public
transportation and car/van pools instead of "global warming" regulations that
increase costs to farmers and consumers. 4.
Support electricity industry restructuring/reliability proposals that preserve
the special relationship that regional power suppliers such as Bonneville Power
Administration and the Tennessee Valley Administration, as well as rural electric
cooperatives and rural public utility districts have with their customers. Preserve
"cost-based" electricity pricing where this system has benefitted rural customers.
V.
Improve the Quality of Rural Education In
rural areas, public schools are the community focal point. Congress should increase
funding for rural public education, including funding for special needs students
and Headstart programs, without national performance standards. Full federal payments
in lieu of taxes for school districts in counties with federal land holdings must
be preserved. Internet access is vital for every rural student. Teachers and administrators
should have greater flexibility to deal with violence and disruptions that occur
in rural schools, such as lewd and obscene messages worn on clothing that distract
children from learning. New methods should be used to involve parents in their
children's education. Action
Plan- 1.
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. Support reduced federal mandates for specific educational
performance standards for rural schools. 2.
Support full federal payments in lieu of local school taxes in counties containing
federal land. 3.
Support increased authority for teachers and administrators to address instances
of violence or inappropriate expression that disrupt the learning process. Encourage
greater parental involvement. VI.
Enhance Homeland Security and Public Safety In Rural Areas Homeland
security is a top national priority. The USDA Homeland Security Council should
work to protecting our food supply. Domestically, rural Americans face threats
of violence and intimidation from extremist environmental groups such as the Earth
Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front. Criminals use rural locations to
manufacture drugs and leave land owners with toxic wastes. Laws regarding the
use of firearms during the commission of a crime are not adequately enforced and
rural children are increasingly becoming the targets of kidnappings. Action
Plan- 1.
Combat bioterrorism by preventing the importation or domestic transportation of
invasive pests and diseases. 2.
Support efforts to disrupt domestic terrorist activities initiated by extremist
environmental organizations and their ancillary propaganda networks. 3.
Support efforts to coordinate abducted children "Amber Alert" notices among all
50 states. 4.
Support legislation to combat the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs
in rural areas. 5.
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 bear firearms.
VII.
Strengthen Civic Participation in Our Society
The challenges we experienced after 9/11/01 test the durability of our 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 also facilitates civic participation.
Strengthening civic participation in our society by acknowledging language, faith,
patriotism and technology is the most effective means to guarantee our liberties
and combat threats to our way of life. Action
Plan- 1.
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 civic values in all schools. 2.
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
English. 3.
Support legislation to allow references to a divine presence at school and other
public events/places. 4.
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 allowing
rural citizens to meet their medical financial responsibilities through 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. Rural seniors must have a choice of Medicare programs
that include affordable prescription drug benefits. However, the best health insurance
has no value if there are no health care facilities in rural areas. Regulatory
barriers that rural health care facilities face when they seek equitable reimbursement
for treatments provided under Medicare and Medicaid must be repealed. We must
preserve access to modern pharmaceutical technologies for all rural families.
Action Plan-
1.
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.
2. Support
Medicare reform that gives rural seniors a choice among different Medicare programs,
including an affordable prescription drug benefit. 3.
Repeal regulatory barriers that rural health care facilities face regarding equitable
reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid. 4.
Support measures that 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 tax laws to preserve family farms and small rural businesses. For
most farmers and rural business owners, their farms and businesses are their largest
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, the sale of development or water rights. Tax laws also penalize family farmers
receiving advanced farm program payments in response to difficult economic situations
or natural disasters. Tax reform will assure that today's family farmers and rural
business owners can retire with dignity and that rural America's productive resources
are transferred to a new generation of family farmers and small business owners.
Action Plan-
1.
Support extending the current $500,000 private residence sale tax exclusion to
agricultural land, as well as the sale of development or water rights on agricultural
land. Support tax credits for agricultural land use preservation on private land.
2. Support
reinstating "constructive receipt" exemptions that treat federal farm program
payments as taxable income for the year they were intended to cover instead of
the year they are received. 3.
Support tax relief for farms and rural small businesses such as permanent elimination
of the estate tax and increased accelerated depreciation. X.
Support
Transportation Improvements That Protect Rural Freedom of Mobility
Freedom of mobility is critical to rural life. Transportation is our nation's
economic circulatory system and federal investments promote healthy economic growth.
However, our first-class network of highways, railroads, airports and waterways
is deteriorating from failure to deal with transportation issues. Since 1970,
Americans have increased the miles they drive by 148 percent, while new roads
have increased by just six percent. Gridlock costs $67.5 billion a year and wastes
3.6 billion hours. Grain literally rots on the ground waiting to be transported.
The number of grain railroad cars has fallen by 24% in just five years and 68
percent of the remaining railcars are at least 20 years old. Our nation's commercial
waterways are threatened by environmental regulations and deterioriating infrastructure.
Airports in rural communities continue to close while service at major urban airports
declines. Action
Plan- 1.
Support comprehensive, multi-year, federal surface transportation legislation
that would benefit rural America, through highway construction, rural highway
and bridge maintenance, highway safety and mass transportation. Support a dedicated
Highway Trust Fund funded by dedicated motor fuel taxes.
2. Encourage railroads, trucking companies and barge shipping companies
to serve the public interest by providing reliable and cost competitive bulk commodity
transportation. Question and challenge transportation mergers that result in further
concentration of transportation resources. 3.
Support federal expeditures to upgrade, maintain and manage all inland waterways
and commercial ports. Resist efforts to shorten transportation seasons on all
rivers for environmental reasons.
4.
Support continued commercial passenger and freight air service to smaller rural
airports. Support increased security at major airports.
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