The National Grange

Grangers continue to be community members that can be emulated by children. We encourage all Grange members to play an active role in their local schools. Nationwide, Grange members invest in our children’s education by providing dictionaries to third graders through the Words for Thirds project. We are pleased that McGraw-Hill continues to include excerpts from Blueprint for Rural America in the most recent edition of their high school textbook on civics and American government entitled United States Government: Democracy in Action. This textbook will be used in high school classrooms across the nation. McGraw-Hill deemed the Grange’s Blueprint for Rural America as the model for grassroots advocacy to be emulated.

Every child deserves to be well educated by well qualified teachers in a healthy, safe, and nurturing environment with up-to-date technology and adequate telecommunications access. Our country is committed to educating every child. We urge Congress to evaluate established educational accountability programs and make appropriate adjustments to take into account the differences in rate and ability with which different children learn. Children with special needs often require extra equipment and additional personnel. The cost of a good education consumes a large percentage of local tax dollars, and adequate funding for education is a constant concern.

The National Grange supports public education and the idea of strengthening and improving the public education system. However, we believe that the No Child Left Behind Act is in fact, counterproductive. We believe that every child should be able to receive a public education, and that the state is responsible for providing said education programs that are not federally mandated. ALL federal educational program initiatives required by the federal government, no matter how well meaning, such as the No Child Left Behind Act MUST BE paid for by federal government funds and SHALL NOT BE paid for by state and local government funds.

We support schools using agricultural instruction such as Ag in the Classroom and Food for America. We encourage the study of cooperatives to be included in these instructions. We oppose the distribution within our public school system of violent propaganda by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other anti-agricultural groups.

We urge continued investment in career technical education by supporting the authorizing of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, when the act is scheduled for re-authorization, at the same or greater funding level.

We encourage Grange at all levels to become actively involved in the education of students and community members in the fight against alcohol abuse and the use of illegal drugs in America. We also support education to inform the American public about the misuse of legal drugs.

We as individuals need to take responsibility for our health and take the steps necessary to change bad habits. The cost of healthcare coverage, medicines and procedures continues to grow faster than the inflation rate. We as patients desire the latest technology, the best specific medication, and the most experienced physician. We advocate for affordable health insurance for all. We support a cap on malpractice suits to help reduce the cost of health care and make it possible for physicians, especially in rural areas, to continue practicing medicine.

Health care costs, particularly those of prescription drugs, are of great concern. Even though we believe that drugs should be affordable to all Americans, we need to be mindful of safety. Drugs manufactured in the United States are the safest in the entire world and must meet stringent FDA standards. We have no guarantees that imported drugs will meet these standards, but we believe that with proper control and monitoring, drugs from Canada can be safely imported.

We believe in privacy for all patients. However, we realize the need for disclosing limited information to relatives or others who need to authorize medical treatment.

We recognize the importance of proper nutrition in combating obesity and the diseases that come from it. Educational programs for all ages should be provided to encourage healthy eating and to teach the benefits of exercise and reduced caloric intake. We encourage schools to take a proactive stance by offering healthy snacks, such as milk in their vending machines, and by having an ongoing physical education program.

1. The National Grange supports vocational, continuing and adult education. We encourage State Granges to support educational programs within each state serving those persons who are beyond public school age in need of further education. This support includesthe Job Corps Program, the only residential training program that exists solely to serve hard-core unemployed, undereducated youth. Furthermore, we also support providing rehabilitative training equivalent to high school education or trade school to prison inmates.

2. We support supplemental and full-time instruction for adults in agricultural program areas vital to the industry. We strongly believe that vocational agriculture should be a major vocational program area, including the development and supervision of occupation experience programs for year-round instruction from professional agricultural educators where needed.

3. The National Grange encourages Subordinate Granges to become familiar with local vo-ag/FFA advisory boards and/or FFA Alumni support affiliates and support FFA and FHA chapters.

4. The National Grange supports career evaluations at the middle/junior high school level to prepare students to make subsequent educational or training decisions in the appropriate area of their choice.

5. The National Grange supports the federal government’s continued investment in career technical education by reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998.

6. The National Grange supports the use of the voucher system in vocational rehabilitation programs, allowing the recipient to choose the vocational rehabilitation program which best satisfies his/her requirements and occupational goals.

7. The National Grange recommends the return of vocational education curriculum to high schools, community colleges and trade schools, including the funding for these courses.

1. The National Grange supports public education and supports the idea of strengthening and improving the system of public education. However, we believe that the No Child Left Behind Act is, in fact, counterproductive.We believe that every child should be able to receive a public education, and that the state is responsible for providing said education, which shall include the following: a broad curriculum with emphasis on basic language, physical education, math, and science skills; an opportunity for students to chose either vocational or “college preparatory” training; functional buildings; frequent public reports and accountability of funds; and basic training in agriculture, including the “Ag in the Classroom” program, covering both production and consumption.

2. The National Grange supports the adoption of a health education curriculum, including, but not limited to, basic first aid, sound nutrition, substance abuse education, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, and counseling on the possibilities and problems of an unwanted pregnancy.

3. The Grange supports the teaching of foreign languages, including sign language. We recommend that all other subjects be taught in the English language and that all non-English speaking students and residents in the United States be given the opportunity to receive immediate instruction in the English language through programs such as English-As-A-Second-Language.

4. The National Grange supports federal legislation requiring background checks on job applications of childcare workers. Any applicant found to have a criminal or child care/molestation record should be denied employment in childcare centers/facilities. Childcare industry employers who do not secure a background check should be fined for negligent behavior.

5. The National Grange supports affordable telecommunications services for rural schools and libraries.

6. The National Grange supports strong educational standards, but does not believe that the establishment of National Education Standards Testing achieves this goal.

7. The National Grange supports the retention of the Head Start program and advocates increased funding. We also support requiring Head Start program administrators to adhere to strict interpretations of regulations and screening before children are admitted into the program.

8. The National Grange supports the teaching of both the theory of evolution and the story of creation, allowing individual school boards and students to make their own choice.

9. The National Grange supports posting the Ten Commandments in schools, courthouses and other public facilities.

10. The National Grange supports legislation that would bring about protection of parental and/or guardian rights in the guidance, control and administration of their dependent minors’ health care. This legislation should be written to include any and all federal, state and local government agencies .

11. The National Grange supports the use of reading materials that emphasize decodeability in kindergarten through grade 6.

12. The National Grange supports the teaching of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, including the Preamble and the Bill of Rights, in schools.

13. The National Grange urges that United States’ citizens, rather than foreign students, be given preference in obtaining publicly-funded scholarships.

14. The National Grange endorses “Read Across America”; we recommit our organization to engage in programs and activities to make Americans the best readers in the world.

15. The National Grange supports traditional educational standards in American schools by making certain that school textbooks, today and in the future, are not modified to the point where our historical family gender specific terminology is altered or lost due to political or social pressures.

16. The National Grange opposes any legislation that may be proposed permitting or requiring non-security school staff to carry firearms while at school.

17. The National Grange urges the Federal Department of Education to encourage all local school systems to retain recess for elementary school children.

18. The National Grange supports legislation to establish standardized requirements for schools nurses in all 50 states as well as legislation to adequately fund school nurse programs to be able to handle the increased workload.

1. The National Grange favors an educational environment for deaf and hard of hearing children where their unique communication mode is respected, used, and developed to an appropriate level of proficiency. Placement in this environment should be best suited to the child’s individual needs, which include, but are not limited to, social, emotional, cultural needs, age, hearing loss, academic level, modes of communication, styles of learning, motivational level, and family support.

2. The National Grange supports deaf and hard of hearing children receiving an education in which teachers, psychologists, speech therapists, assessors, administrators, interpreters, and other personnel understand the unique nature of deafness and are specifically trained to work with deaf and hard of hearing children, and in which their teachers and interpreters are proficient in the primary language mode of those children.

3. The National Grange believes that parents of deaf and hard of hearing children, deaf and hard of hearing people, teachers, and professionals who are trained in the area of educating the deaf should assist in determining the extent, content, and purpose of the educational program, and particularly consider those program options that provide the pupil with an appropriate and equal opportunity for communication access, including the state’s school for the deaf, which may be the least restrictive environment for a deaf or hard of hearing child.

4. The National Grange strongly supports continuation of the Education of the Deaf Act to provide maximum benefit for deaf and hard of hearing persons, both in programs and services, including funding for Gallaudet University and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID).

5. The National Grange supports equal educational opportunities for exceptional and handicapped persons. This includes allocating funds for the enhancement of reading skills of individuals with reading problems, such as, but not limited to dyslexia, poor cognition, and poor expressive skills, and encouraging the Federal Government to provide funding at the 40% level for federally mandated individualized education programs for special needs children.

1. The National Grange supports the continuation of the federal guaranteed student loan, grant, and work-study programs. The National Grange recommends that Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Expected Family Contribution (EFC) regulations be adjusted to reflect family expenses, such as real estate taxes, medical expenses and other financial obligations in the determination of financial aid. The National Grange urges the Department of Education to exercise stricter controls to reduce fraud in the Pell Grant program, including making disbursements only to academically viable schools. We urge strict enforcement of the requirements for repayment of federally financed student loans with severe penalties for default. The National Grange suggests that the guidelines for student financial aid laws be revised so financially independent students are eligible to receive financial aid for their higher education.

2. The National Grange supports the retention of Federal Government Impact Aid for public school districts that lose traditional revenue sources due to a federal presence or activity.

3. The National Grange commends law enforcement agencies for their support of drug awareness educational programs such as Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE), and we urge the U.S. Drug enforcement agency to reassign its efforts to give stronger support to drug education.

4. The National Grange supports federal categorical aid to school library centers.

5. The National Grange believes that public funding should be used only in public schools. We support redirecting public funding to nonpublic or Charter schools, only when the money is for special needs students where the law mandates special training not available in public schools.

6. The National Grange supports federal funding for state allocation of dollars for rural education to promote better salaries and benefits for teachers in rural education and to improve rural school conditions.

7. The National Grange favors a study of the Charter Schools and voucher system to determine their effectiveness. .

8. The National Grange urges adequate funding by the federal government for all federally mandated education programs.

9. The National Grange suggests that the guidelines for student financial aid laws be revised so financially independent students are eligible to receive financial aid for their higher education.

11. The National Grange supports legislation that awards grants to institutions for history teacher preparation initiatives stressing content mastery in traditional American history and the principles on which the American political system is based.

1. The National Grange urges adequate funding for school breakfast and lunch programs. These programs should provide balanced diets to meet a child’s daily nutritional requirements.

2. The National Grange supports the American Dietetic Association’s current guidelines recommending two to three servings of dairy products daily in the school nutrition program. In addition, we urge the USDA to keep dairy products in the Food Pyramid and encourage all consumers to include adequate amounts of calcium in their diets.

3. The National Grange urges the agricultural community to provide nutrition education programs for consumers and school-aged children and support continued funding for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition program.

4. The National Grange urges all school districts and supports any legislation to prohibit the sale of junk food and soda pop from vending machines in elementary and junior high schools. We also urge school districts to seek out contracts with vendors distributing more healthy alternatives such as milk.

5. The National Grange urges United States Senators and Representatives to discourage the enactment of any law that would put additional tax on “fat” foods for the purpose of preventing obesity. Instead, educational programs should be provided to encourage eating a variety of nutritious foods in moderation, and to teach the basic interaction of calorie intake and energy expenditure.

6. The National Grange supports each individual restaurant’s right to decide whether to include calorie counts on their menu boards of calorie, fat, carbohydrates and sodium on their menus for all food and beverage items.

1. The National Grange believes the agricultural industry should be free to advertise their products as long as the advertisement is accurate and is based on facts.

2. The National Grange favors strict enforcement of all food labeling laws by the Food & Drug Administration. We support legislation requiring food companies and restaurants to clearly mark food labels and items on menusthat may contain ingredients such asMonosodium Glutamate (MSG).

3. The National Grange recommends that a ban be placed on the use of all sulfites on fresh fruits and vegetables in restaurants. We further recommend that all manufacturers of food and drink who use sulfites in their products be required to specify on the product label that a sulfite was used.

4. The National Grange supports legislation that would prohibit the hauling of garbage, refuse, and toxic material in cargo containers that may also be used to transport feed, food, and food products.

5. The National Grange urges the Department of Health and Human Services to review and strengthen the regulations pertaining to manufactured products used in the home canning process, including requiring a manufacturer’s name and expiration date on these products.

6. The National Grange encourages Land Grant Universities to provide research and accurate information on food safety and to make it available to agricultural producers and consumer groups.

7. The National Grange supports stricter enforcement to stop the illegal use of imported fruits and vegetables in the school lunch program.

8. The National Grange favors continued testing of cider processing but strongly urges Congress and USDA not to require pasteurization of all commercial cider.

9. The National Grange supports the initiation of a regulated food products irradiation program. We further support federal funding for a program to educate the public about the benefits of irradiated food products.

10.The National Grange supports easy and inexpensive access to vitamins and supplements. The National Grange strongly supports current Food and Drug Administration regulations that make food supplements, vitamins, herbal mixtures, and other over-the-counter medications available exclusively on a non-prescription basis. However, we urge that all herbal medicines sold in the United States be labeled with a warning to consult with a physician or pharmacist before using.

11. The National Grange supports legislation that would require manufacturers and processors of dietary supplements to report certain information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services annually, including a list of supplements manufactured and the labeling and major ingredients for such supplements.

1. We oppose any amendment to the United States Constitution that denies an individual the freedom of choice for abortion. However, we do oppose partial-birth abortions. Government financing should not be available for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, endangered health of the mother, or serious defects of the fetus. We support educational efforts, which would emphasize the necessity for licensed hospitals and medical doctors when abortions are necessary. We further support requiring all abortion agencies to provide counseling by qualified professional personnel to explore all possible options before an abortion.

2. Although the National Grange is opposed to mandatory population controls, we do recognize the need for readily available family planning information for those who need or desire it. However, we favor state legislation requiring abortion and family planning clinics to notify parents or guardians of minors who are seeking drugs or abortions.

3. The Grange urges the adoption of a national safe abandonment policy allowing a mother to abandon a child at a hospital within 72 hours of birth, no questions asked.

4. The National Grange supports the release of adoption records that will provide family health history.

1. The National Grange supports access to affordable health care and health insurance for every American regardless of age, race, income, health condition, or location with freedom of choice of medical provider and facility. In addition, health care cost containment strategies should maintain the highest quality of care without compromising effectiveness and efficiency.

2. The National Grange supports proposals for health care reform that include the following safeguards: a) allow patients to sue HMOs for medical malpractice; b) place a cap on how much an individual may sue for per medical malpractice suit, including a $250,000 cap on malpractice awards arising from non-economic claims (i.e. pain and suffering); c) place a cap on malpractice awards regarding product liability; d) require insurance companies to provide a minimum of two days’ coverage for natural birth, four days’ coverage for Cesarean births, and more for a complicated birth as deemed necessary by the doctor; e) establish an efficient grievance and appeal process for patients when medical procedures or payments are denied by insurance companies/HMO’s; f) allow small businesses, insurers, and health care providers to join forces and create purchasing tools to develop and administer health plans for workers; g) require that insurance companies cover all legally mandated medical services at federal, state, or hospital levels, including preventative procedures such as well baby check ups and childhood immunizations; h) require insurance companies to pay claims within 30 to 45 days of receiving properly completed forms and bills.

3. The National Grange urges federal agencies to be more aggressive in their investigations and prosecutions of fraud, waste, and abuse in the health care system. We further support stricter standards for review of background checks in the certification process of health care personnel. The National Grange supports legislation to outlaw non-disclosure pacts and peer reviews of “cover up” arrangements between physicians, and requires interstate disclosure by licensing boards of substandard medical practitioners. We support efforts to maintain the National Practitioners Data Base allowing consumers to have access to these reports so they can properly choose the best medical professional for themselves. We also support legislation prohibiting HMOs from requiring doctors to sign a gag rule in their contracts or to abide by such rules.

4. The National Grange supports tax deductible medical savings accounts (MSAs) in the form of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) type account to be used strictly for medical expenses. We supportextending health care coverage under COBRA for all terminated employees who qualify for a period of up to 36 months or until eligible for Medicare/Medicaid and include portability of health insurance coverage — even if there is a pre-existing condition — for those who change jobs or become unemployed. The National Grange supports tax incentives for businesses to provide health insurance coverage for their employees and 100% tax deductibility of health insurance premiums for the self-employed and individuals acquiring private health insurance.

5. The National Grange supports amending the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 to prohibit the Health and Human Service Department from implementing this Act until more restrictive safeguards are in place, for example, “identifier” numbers to be used only in the transfer of medical information.

6. The National Grange favors the passage of laws, which allow parents/guardians and doctors to decide whether or not to keep severely physically and mentally handicapped children alive by life support systems without interference by the government.

7. The National Grange urges Congress to pass legislation making the attending physician’s decision the governing factor regarding treatment or length of hospital stay. This decision should be the deciding factor for coverage whether or not treatment or hospitalization takes place in or out of the patient’s home state.We believe HMOs should be required to accept the determination of the attending health care provider as evidence of the need for an emergency visitation or ambulance service.

8. The National Grange recommends educational programs in wellness and disease prevention for both health service consumers and health service providers.

9. The National Grange supports the Surgeon General’s plan to present a “National Strategy” toward suicide prevention and the understanding of mental illness.

10. The National Grange believes that all recipients of health care goods and services should receive a copy of a fully itemized bill for all goods and services rendered, upon request.

11. The National Grange supports legislation to eliminate smoking in restaurants.

12. The National Grange supports legislation that would provide for patient protection from Health Maintenance Organizations and that will exclude fee-for-service health plans from any revisions made.

13. The National Grange goes on record supporting legislation that would require patients, when physically or mentally able, to submit their medical background to health care professionals.

14. The National Grange urges that the new federal and state laws on privacy of medical information be examined, and amended if necessary, so that medical practitioners may release or disclose limited information when necessary to contact relatives or others who are needed to authorize medical treatment.

15. The National Grange supports legislation such as “The Small Business Health Fairness Act” or any other legislation that would allow professional associations to offer members group health insurance on a national basis thus making it more affordable.

16. The National Grange strongly urges hospitals to charge uninsured patients the same rates that are negotiated by insurance companies and Medicare for their clients.

17. The National Grange supports legislation requiring all public buildings to be smoke free.

18. The National Grange supports legislation to amend present law to require builders and landlords to include carbon monoxide detectors as well as smoke detectors in buildings they build or manage.

1. The National Grange will evaluate any and all proposed health care reforms so that they do not adversely affect either the rural or urban sectors of our country.

2. We encourage the clinic form of primary or emergency care for rural communities that are too small to support a full service hospital. We further urge that the federal government maintain block grant/matching funds to states for community health clinics.

3. The National Grange supports legislation to ensure that fairness in price and benefits offered becomes a part of any and all medical insurance programs. The National Grange believes that payment to health care providers should adhere to a schedule of fees for services provided that is fair and equitable across the United States.

4. The National Grange supports incentive programs for doctors who will agree to practice in rural areas where basic medical care is not available.

5. The National Grange encourages local Granges to establish or continue their involvement in emergency medical services in their communities.

6. The National Grange supports the establishment or use of the necessary infrastructure for the expansion of telemedicine into rural areas.

7. We encourage local Granges to present programs that educate the community about pharmaceutical assistance programs.

1. The National Grange supports and recognizes the value of medical research in increasing the quality of life. We support improvement in the quality of health care services and access to new and existing technologies. We encourage continued funding of medical research, including those using animals. However, we support legislation banning full human cloning.

2. The National Grange encourages research to continue on alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, hypnosis, massage therapy, prayer, and meditation, which may be used in conjunction with the standard treatments that are showing results against diseases.

3. We support a greater effort to educate the public about the need for participating in organ donor programs; however, we oppose any efforts to commercialize human organ procurement.

4. The National Grange supports the National Cancer Institute and encourages Congress to continue providing funds for research.

5. The National Grange supports the establishment of a “radiation data base” on radiation releases to the public resulting from both intentional and unintentional releases due to nuclear weapons testing and accidental releases from nuclear power plants.

6. The National Grange urges that the correct information about Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) should be given to all parents and caregivers of children under five years.

7. The National Grange urges adequate funding for agencies at all levels dealing with the HIV and AIDS problem and supports increased emphasis on testing.

8. The National Grange urges the use of government funds for stem cell research only on postnatal or adult stem cells.

9. The National Grange supports the research and possible use of cord blood stem cells and, promotes the registry and donation of cord blood stem cells.

10. The National Grange supports legislation that would ban the patenting of natural occurring genes. We only support the patenting of treatment and/or alterations of those natural occurring genes.

1. The National Grange supports legislation to restore Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for the care of America’s people. The National Grange supports the following reforms and changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs: a) equity of payment between inpatient and outpatient procedures according to Medicare’s Diagnostic Related Groups; b) equity in reimbursements between rural and urban hospitals; c) prohibit hospitals or doctors from setting fees or discontinuing Medicare assignments for specific diagnosis during treatment on the basis of the method of payment; d) faster processing of claims to permit faster reimbursement; e) extended coverage to ensure sufficient time for full recovery and f) prohibit health care professionals from charging amounts above the Medicare limits for Medicare services.

2. The National Grange supports a full investigation of the causes of the rapid increase in Medicare/Medicaid costs. We further support a cap on the annual increase in Medicare deductions of no more than the general inflation rate. We urge that more effort be made by Medicare/Medicaid personnel to reduce fraud and waste as a cost containment measure.

3. The National Grange will lobby for a change in current Medicare insurance to include coverage for hearing exams and hearing aids. The National Grange urges Medicare and Medicaid to review their payment schedules and make changes which recognize recommended and accepted medical procedures and screening tests, such as: coverage for the prostate-specific antigen test (PSA); increased coverage for home health care costs; reimbursement for services of midwives and physicians’ assistants; coverage for outpatient office laser surgery.

4. The National Grange favors legislation permitting retired people to deduct the cost of their supplemental health insurance from their taxable income. We support changing current regulations to permit seniors who are “grandfathered” by residence address into a Medicare supplemental insurance program to be allowed to move anywhere within the original service area without being dropped from their insurance plan. We further support a division of assets procedure for Medicaid and Medicare that would preserve the financial stability of a healthy spouse.

5. The National Grange recognizes the importance of care coordination and is in favor of studies to investigate the establishment of a Medicare Coordinated Care program.

6. The National Grange supports the right to have a second doctor in the operating room, where medically required, for patients on Medicare.

7. The National Grange supports legislation that would give eye and dental insurance to seniors age 65 plus for those procedures that Medicare does not cover, with a co-pay/deductible for amounts over 100 dollars.

8. The Grange at all levels works to convince our government that Medicare money should also be spent on health screening for early intervention of diseases which is far more economical than the huge cost of treating advanced stages of the diseases.

9. The National Grange urges the federal government to change its rules to allow Medicaid recipients who require emergency medical attention while he/she is visiting another state to receive the medical services they need under that state’s Medicaid program. The final cost of those medical services should be remitted or billed back to the Medicaid program in that person’s state of legal residence.

10. The National Grange urges Congress to pass an act allowing Medicare information to be given to an assigned representative and that the representative be allowed to act on behalf of said patient without consignment of Medicare and/or Social Security benefits.

11. The National Grange encourages the Federal Government to simplify the Medicare D program to provide drug formularies, which reduce all medication costs for Medicare recipients and require all aspects of the program to be implemented within 60 days of an applicant’s enrollment.

12. The National Grange strongly urges the Federal Government to negotiate lower drug prices.

13. The National Grange supports allowing Medicare to help cover the cost of purchasing hearing aids, the National Grange also supports legislation to change the regulatory language that categorizes hearing aids as cosmetic devices to the category of prosthesis devices in all instances for Medicare as well as Medicare supplemental insurance.

1. The National Grange supports coverage for long-term nursing/in-home care, including an allowable tax credit for long term care insurance premiums, and an allowable tax credit for adult day care expenses incurred by primary care givers of adults who cannot care for themselves. A tax credit should also be available for programs to provide assisted living to the elderly in their own homes. We urge changing the Medicare entitlement and managed health care insurance programs so that they provide payment for assisted living programs.

2. The National Grange supports legislation that will provide uniform care and services to nursing home patients and will protect their rights. We further believe that all nursing homes should be inspected without prior notification.

3. The National Grange encourages Congress to require Medicare to make timely payments to both acute care and extended care facilities to ensure that the correct level of care is maintained for all patients.

4. The National Grange urges the U.S. Health Care Financing Authority to allow elderly couples to be in the same nursing home when long term care for both becomes necessary.

1. We strongly support legislation to protect the rights of deaf and hard of hearing persons.

2. The National Grange encourages manufacturers of machinery and stereo equipment to place warning labels, where feasible, informing consumers that permanent hearing loss could occur as a result of prolonged noise exposure above 85 decibels. We further support legislation requiring motorcycle mufflers to be designed so that the maximum decibels produced shall not be higher than 85 decibels at a distance of 50 feet.

3.The National Grange supports legislation requiring emergency warning messages to be both close captioned and delivered verbally; that stations be required to identify themselves by their call letters every half-hour, both verbally and close captioned; and all television stations provide closed captioning for news, weather, sports, and other live events.

4. The National Grange encourages telephone companies to make all public telephones hearing-aid compatible and install volume-controlled amplifiers. We further recommend that local, state, and national governments specify in their lease/purchase agreements with any telephone contractor that all instruments be hearing aid compatible.

5. The National Grange supports legislation that would require all health insurance companies to cover hearing screening, testing, surgery, and hearing aids, including mandatory regular hearing screenings and hearing aids for children.

6. The National Grange supports legislation allowing separate vocational rehabilitation programs to work in partnership with other job programs, thus providing all persons with disabilities access to core services.

7. The National Grange supports legislation that would establish detection and intervention programs for newborns and infants with hearing loss. These programs should provide technical assistance and establish national tracking surveillance and research programs. We further urge Congress to pass legislation to require hearing testing of newborns prior to their release from the hospital.

8. The National Grange urges the Department of Transportation to become aware of the need for unisex handicapped restrooms and to make provisions for them at all new or remodeled rest stops.

9. The National Grange supports legislation so that any retired military service personnel with 50% or more service-related disability rating be allowed to obtain and receive needed dental treatments at the Veteran’s Administration Dental Clinics at no cost.

1. The National Grange encourages the bold, accurate labeling of household products (including carpeting and furniture that have been treated with toxic chemicals), farm chemicals, and other products containing toxic ingredients.

2. The National Grange supports the random testing for substance abuse in those occupations where public safety is concerned (pilots, police, medical personnel, etc.).

3. The National Grange urges that funding for addiction treatment be governed by medical personnel and not by non-medical administrators of reimbursement programs.

4. The National Grange believes that any product containing above the acceptable FDA limit of Dioxin should display a label warning consumers of its presence.

5. The National Grange voices concern with alcohol as the number one drug problem in the United States. We strongly support the enforcement of the existing laws and support the continued enactment of stiffer laws and penalties. We support federal legislation, which would ban the advertising and promotion of alcoholic beverages on television and radio. We further support alcohol education for children and adults. The National Grange supports the adoption of more prominent alcohol warning labels on all beer, wine and liquor containers.

6. The National Grange supports the effort of The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban cigarette and alcohol advertising that encourages children to smoke and drink .

7. The National Grange urges legislation requiring all tobacco products to carry a federal health warning label, just as cigarettes do, and that advertisements include the detrimental effects of any tobacco products as well.

8. The National Grange recommends the passage of laws making it a punishable crime to use such drugs as Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine on anyone for the purpose of procuring sex.

9. The use of steroid and other stimulants, unless prescribed for medical reasons, should be made illegal in all competitive sports and the National Grange supports having heavy penalties imposed upon the violators.

10. The National Grange supports the continuation of the many programs presently fighting substance addiction.

1. The National Grange supports making prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs more affordable. We commend Congress for establishing a universal, affordable prescription drug benefit under Medicare coverage including self-injected medicines. The National Grange encourages thorough testing of new medications by the FDA and we believe that FDA regulations should control the pharmaceutical distribution process from the time of drug manufacture to the consumer. The National Grange strongly encourages drug companies to produce lifesaving and life enhancing medicines for a wide variety of diseases and medical conditions. We further support requiring all government and private prescription drug coverage programs to offer the widest possible selection of lifesaving and life enhancing medicines at an affordable price for those who need them.

2. The National Grange supports allowing U.S. citizens, who are visiting foreign countries, to bring back with them up to three months supplies of regulated pharmaceutical products for their own use, provided that they have valid prescriptions for those specific pharmaceutical products from their U.S. physician. The National Grange supports the current Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act provisions that do not allow regulated pharmaceutical products to be imported into the U.S. for sale or distribution unless those importers are also pharmacists and/or pharmaceutical wholesalers currently subject to federal and state regulation. We strongly support current law and regulations that require anyone to import regulated pharmaceutical products for sale or distribution in the U.S. to keep accurate records tracking the origin, history and chain of custody of these products before they entered the U.S. We support legislation requiring anyone authorized to import regulated pharmaceutical products for sale or distribution in the U.S to be financially responsible for any testing necessary to verify the authenticity and/or degradation of the pharmaceutical products they import. We further support legislation requiring anyone authorized to import regulated pharmaceutical products for sale or distribution in the U.S. to be allowed to import such products only if they are shipped into the U.S. in counterfeit proof and tamper resistant packaging.

3. The National Grange supports a voluntary program, which would offer pregnant women who test HIV positive voluntary access to the drug AZT that could prevent the transfer of the HIV antibodies to the unborn child or newborn child.

4. The National Grange supports the practice of allowing any victim of a terminal disease to volunteer to take an experimental drug under medical supervision to help advance the cause of medical knowledge, but especially to seek relief from intolerable pain caused by terminal disease. The National Grange will work to secure legislation requiring physicians to obtain specific written approval of the patient or those legally authorized to give approval prior to prescribing experimental drugs. When experimental drugs are prescribed by the physician, the warning and permission form must be in clear, common layman language on a separate medical form.

5. The National Grange supports legislation that would require the pharmaceutical companies to significantly reduce the minimum dose purchase requirement for pneumoncocial vaccine. There is a further need to publicize the availability of this vaccine and inform parents and doctors of the need for this protection. We recommend that local county Health Departments include this vaccine in required childhood immunization s.

6. The National Grange urges pharmaceutical companies to lower the cost of drugs to people in the United States similar to those available in Canada and will work to pass legislation on the national level to legalize the re-importation of prescription drugs with the following requirements:

1. That it be strictly limited to drugs from licensed pharmacies and wholesalers who sell to the public in Canada.

2. That the F.D.A. (Food and Drug Administration) be given the resources and authority to ensure safety of re-imported drugs from Canada employing technological and other safeguards.

7. The National Grange will work to amend the 2003 Federal Medicare Prescription Drug Bill to allow the federal government to negotiate the price of drugs it buys.

8. The National Grange urges the Food and Drug Administration to mandate that producers label all products and commodities containing gluten.

9. The National Grange supports an effort to have drug companies use larger, bold print on labels and inserts.