| December
4, 2002 Hon.
Gale Norton, Secretary
United States Department of Interior
1849 C St.,
NW
Washington, DC 20240 Hon.
Ann Veneman, Secretary
United
States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Suite 200-A
Washington, DC 20250
Recent outbreaks of dangerous diseases carried by mosquitoes, such as the West
Nile Virus are a major public health concern to residents of rural communities.
On behalf of over 200,000 National Grange members, I must express our concern
regarding the use of additional federal funding for the establishment of new wetlands
following President Bush's signing of the North American Wetlands Conservation
Reauthorization Act on December 2nd. We strongly urge you to issue a moratorium
on the use of federal funds for the construction and creation of new wetlands
as a means of helping to control mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus and
other diseases.
At
the 136th Annual Convention of the National Grange, held last November in Portland,
OR, the National Grange delegates adopted the following policy statements regarding
the wetlands. "The
National Grange requests Congress to put a moratorium on the funding and design
of new wetlands to aid in the control of mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus."
Grange
members fully understand and appreciate how preserving existing wetlands can help
ensure a clean water supply and provide habitat for wildlife throughout the nation.
However, Grange members are also concerned that important issues of public health
are not being adequately addressed in this process. Wetlands are excellent breeding
areas for mosquitoes. By using federal funds to design and create new wetland
areas, our government is contributing to the problem of mosquito borne illnesses
in rural areas. The
National Grange appreciates your commitment to balancing the environmental benefits
of preserving existing wetlands and protecting the health of rural Americans from
diseases such as the West Nile Virus. We believe that this balance can best be
achieved by issuing a moratorium on the use of federal funds for the construction
and creation of new wetlands. I
appreciate your consideration of the views of the National Grange on this important
issue and I would appreciate learning your views on this issue, as well. Sincerely,
Kermit W.
Richardson, Master (President)
National Grange of the Order of Patrons of
Husbandry | 
