The National Grange

Our American way of life continues to be threatened on a number of fronts. Rural law enforcement agencies are confronted with crimes heretofore associated only with urban areas. Organized gang activities, identity theft and the manufacturing of illegal drugs, especially methamphetamine, are all now a part of the rural crime landscape.

The Grange encourages creating new ways of dealing with the methamphetamine problem, such as the development and approval of new over-the-counter cold remedies, which are not adaptable to the manufacture of illegal drugs. The Grange supports efforts to restrict access to over-the-counter, non-prescription drugs such as pseudoephedrine, which has been used as a component in the manufacture of methamphetamine. However, we support the consumer’s right to choose the product that best meets their needs.

The nation’s law enforcement agencies face the challenge of dealing with crimes as diverse and far reaching as domestic and environmental terrorism, corporate and consumer fraud and electronic and Internet crimes. The Internet has made it easier for child predators to contact children. The Grange supports maximum penalties for those convicted in child predator cases. The Grange supports victim advocacy programs in rural communities, many of which are ill prepared to address complex issues such as domestic violence and the rights of victims of violent crimes.

Our judicial system continues to be overburdened. The Grange supports efforts to restore fairness to the civil judicial system at both the state and federal levels through reform of tort, liability, and malpractice law. The Grange encourages the use of alternative dispute resolution such as arbitration to reduce the judicial caseload. The Grange urges the U.S. Supreme Court Justices to base decisions on a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

The Grange, in addressing the needs of laborers and employers, seeks an equitable balance between the two, fostering economic growth and prosperity for all. The Grange has long supported an individual’s right to work for a reasonable wage in a safe environment. The Grange would implore businesses to make provisions to secure employees’ pension benefits and all moneys paid into retirement plans to prevent them from being lost by beneficiaries in the event of a future merger or liquidation of the company. The Grange calls for the shift of private pension responsibility to the Federal Pension Benefit Guarantee Plan only when the retirees are affected by a total closure of the business. The Grange will continue to seek workplace safety regulations, which protect workers while not placing excessive financial burden on employers.

While free trade agreements have opened markets to United States products, some U.S. companies have found the cost of labor and operations to be more favorable in other countries. The Grange encourages the state and federal governments to provide incentives to companies to retain domestic jobs.

Many federal, state, and local laws and regulations enacted in the past have become outdated, thereby creating a hindrance to development. The Grange urges legislative bodies and regulatory agencies at all levels of government to periodically review and purge outdated laws and regulations.

Progress, in technology and transportation, has linked nations more closely than ever before, with global trade and migration. The Grange encourages Congress to seek a fair and level playing field in global trading when entering into international trade agreements and treaties. Global treaties need to be carefully overseen by Congress to ensure that the sovereignty of the United States is not diminished or surrendered. The United States must not cede the property rights guaranteed its citizens under the Constitution to a global authority or world organization.

Realizing that our borders are not fully secure, the Grange supports the efforts of the federal government to increase border security to stem the tide of illegal immigration, drug trafficking and the potential for foreign terrorist attack. The Grange urges Congress to reform immigration laws to provide for an orderly, well regulated flow of immigrants to meet the needs of our country and insure a stable workforce.

Conflicts in the Mid-East and other regions of the world continue to affect the lives of Americans on a daily basis. The Grange encourages our full support in the establishment of a self-governing Iraq. The Grange urges the United States government to maintain a strong, effective military to protect the interests of American citizens at home and abroad.

1. The National Grange supports the repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931. Until that time, the threshold exemption level of the Act should be indexed to the rate of inflation.

2. The Grange opposes the establishment of a commission to draft a Farm Worker Bill of Rights. We believe any future legislation that would impose a 40-hour workweek, that places a limitation s on hours that can be worked in a single day, or that requires time and a half pay for overtime on a farming operation would be counter productive and against the best interests of farm workers and farm employers.

3. The National Grange supports realistic OSHA work place safety regulations. We believe it should be both the employer and employee’s responsibility to follow safe work practices. Any employer who is cited by OSHA for violating work place safety regulations should be allowed a reasonable period of time in which to correct that violation before being penalized. The National Grange believes that any OSHA reform legislation should exempt farms having fewer than 10 full-time employees. We further support any exemption from new health and safety standards for farms having fewer than 10 full-time employees.

4. The National Grange favors lifting the bans in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1943, which outlaws work that is done in the home in embroidery, gloves and mittens, handkerchiefs, buttons and buckles, jewelry and clothing.

5. The National Grange recommends that the federal government set the example for the private sector by actively pursuing employment opportunities for the disabled, and actively protecting the rights of the disabled in employment discrimination cases.

6. The National Grange supports allowing individuals who are collecting unemployment compensation to decline bonafide offers of employment without losing their unemployment benefits so long as they are enrolled in an accredited job training or vocational education program provided that enrollment in these programs in no way extends the time that an individual can collect these benefits.

7. The National Grange supports legislation that requires all employers to pay at least the minimum wage regardless of whether the employees are tipped. However we also support legislation to allow younger teens (ages 13-15) to be given the privilege of working a maximum of ten hours a week for less than the minimum wage. After a probationary period, established by the employer, the younger teen should be paid the minimum wage.

8. The National Grange is in agreement with the concept of the proposed legislation that would establish the “Living Wage Responsibility Act” to provide a living wage above the poverty level for all eligible employees working on federal contracts.

9. We favor binding arbitration clauses in labor contracts covering public sector employees.

10. We support the right of individuals to join any union and collectively bargain in good faith, as long as employees are not required join or contribute money to any union or organization that claims to represent their interests in the work place. We further support mandatory restrictions on the use of compulsory union dues for political, charitable or social causes without paying members consent.

11. The National Grange supports any legislation that allows employers to hire replacement workers during a strike.

1. The National Grange supports imposing stiff mandatory sentences in criminal cases. We believe using plea-bargaining should be restrained. We further believe that convicted criminals should be responsible for restitution to their victims and society. The National Grange believes that persons who are convicted of rape, murder, or any three-felony offenses should serve their full sentence without benefit of parole or furlough. We support the death penalty for premeditated crimes ending in death. We further support the death penalty for all citizens who are convicted of military espionage in either peacetime or war.

2. The National Grange favors classifying the importing, manufacturing, cultivation, or distribution of all illegal drugs as felonies under state and federal statutes. A mandatory prison sentence should be imposed upon conviction for any felony drug offense. Upon a second conviction for any felony drug offense, the penalty shall be a 30-year minimum sentence without the possibility of parole.

1. We support increased protection for those who serve on juries. We strongly believe all jury deliberations should remain confidential without any publication or disclosure . The National Grange also supports legislation to forbid public disclosure of information about criminal investigations that could be detrimental to the case of either the prosecution or the defense until after the cases’ final disposition.

2. The National Grange supports legislation to assure that victims and witnesses of violent crimes (including but not limited to murder, attempted murder, sexual assault and assault) must be notified in writing at least 60 days before any and all hearings in which the person who has been convicted of that crime seeks release or a change in release status from either a prison or a mental institution.

3. The National Grange supports legislation to protect the language interpreter with an interpreter/client privilege just as lawyers have attorney/client privileges.

4. The National Grange encourages print and broadcast news media to be sensitive to the issues involving their coverage of crime and victimization in order to better respect the privacy of crime victims.

5. The National Grange supports the publics right to know of potential sexual predators and offenders living in their communities as required by the current revision of “Meagan’s Law”.

1. The National Grange opposes unreasonable federal regulations that would force the closing of jails, or that would require excessive expenditures of state funds.

2. The National Grange encourages the continued use of the Coast Guard and the National Guard to assist law enforcement agencies.

3. The National Grange urges that laws regarding disabled parking violators be strictly enforced whether on state, federal, or private property.

4. The National Grange supports legislation that would make the unauthorized entry or use of a computer facility or illegal tapping of phones a felony.

5. The National Grange supports legislation to make stalking in any form a federal offense.

6. The National Grange recommends that all manufacturers of goods and machinery be exempt from all lawsuits, fines, liabilities and other civil penalties if they meet all the state and federal regulations that were in effect at the time the product was built or produced. The National Grange also supports the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act or similar legislation which prohibits civil actions against a manufacturer or seller of food or a trade association for any injury resulting from a person’s consumption of food including weight gain, obesity, or any associated health condition.

7. The National Grange supports federal legislation to prohibit gambling on the Internet. We further support legislation to make the unsolicited e-mailing or posting of advertisements for pornographic websites and materials both a criminal and civil offense in order to control the availability of pornographic material to children.

8. The National Grange believes that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency should reassign its efforts to give stronger support to drug education and law enforcement. This includes the prosecution of persons who violate drug laws.

9. The National Grange recommends that there be no changes in the laws that currently ban the production and sale of marijuana in the United States.

10. The National Grange actively promotes and supports legislation, which will create a new Twelfth Circuit Court of Appeals to meet the needs to the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Territories.

11. The National Grange believes that state law, not federal law, should have jurisdiction over “hate crimes” and state law should be responsible for assigning specific punishment for these crimes.

12. The National Grange believes that cell phone use by inmates should be banned at all state and federal correctional facilities. Additionally, prison visitors should be required to surrender all cell phones at the facility entrance until their departure.

1. The National Grange believes that the United States does not need any more gun control laws until the present laws are strictly enforced and prosecuted. We oppose further legislation restricting the rights of citizens to bear arms for protection of their families, property and common defense, with the exception of assault weapons manufactured and designed specifically for military use. We support the enforcement of all existing laws pertaining to the sale of firearms. We favor severe and mandatory sentences, including incarceration, for anyone using firearms while committing a crime and the strict enforcement of existing rules and regulations pertaining to the ownership, purchase, or registration of firearms.

2. The National Grange supports laws prohibiting the sale of stun guns to the general public.

3. The National Grange believes that children should not be used to violate an individual’s right to privacy in order to gather information about firearms in private homes as proposed by the American Medical Association and American Pediatric Association.

4 . The National Grange supports legislation that would prohibit the manufacture and sale of toy guns that are replicas of real guns.

1. The National Grange supports Chapter 12 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code for Agriculture that gives insolvent family farmers a better opportunity to reorganize their finances and to remain in operation.

2. The National Grange favors tightening bankruptcy rules, including additional stiff penalties for bankruptcy fraud to combat planned bankruptcies and other abuses of the law.

3. The National Grange supports legislation that will require companies or businesses that file for bankruptcy to ensure that the employees who are owed compensation are the first secured creditors.

4. The National Grange supports legislation, which would classify producers having an ownership interest in agricultural products as secured creditors in bankruptcy cases.

1. The National Grange supports efforts to restore fairness to the civil judicial system at the state and federal levels through reform of tort, liability, and malpractice law. We favor a civil law system in which the plaintiff, if they lose, will be responsible to pay the defendant’s legal and court costs when the court rules the lawsuit was frivolous or superfluous. We further support limiting the amount of contingency fees that are paid to lawyers as well as putting caps on excessive jury awards for economic and non economic damages, such as pain, suffering, and bad faith. We support placing limits on the findings of joint and several liability and clearly established standards of bad faith action. We support incentives for alternative dispute resolutions, such as arbitration.

2. The National Grange believes that Legal Services Corporations and local legal aid bureaus should not receive any federal funding for nuisance or harassment suits against farmers. Correspondingly, the National Grange believes individuals should be prohibited from initiating so called “citizen suits” civil litigation against farmers and others for environmental violations without demonstrating any direct loss or damage to initiate such a suit.

3. The National Grange favors the current United States’ patent laws, which prohibits the publication of a patent application until the patent grant has been issued. The National Grange also supports the current patent laws already in place on protecting technology.

1. The National Grange supports revising federal regulations so that the parent/child relationship created by court action is recognized for the purpose of receiving government assistance.

2. The National Grange supports allowing the supervised video taping of a child’s testimony to be presented in court in sexual molestation cases.

3. The National Grange encourages the proper authorities to conduct more thorough investigations of persons filing for licenses to operate childcare centers and their employees, checking qualifications and backgrounds for prior criminal offenses. We further encourage rigid, unannounced inspections of childcare facilities for violations of health and safety codes.

4. The National Grange supports all efforts to increase the public’s awareness and sensitivity to child abuse. The Grange strongly advocates that all child abuse laws be reviewed, revised, and enforced so as to secure the safety and well being of all children to the fullest extent of the law while remaining aware and protective of the rights of innocent families. The National Grange supports the Child Abuse Reform Enforcement Act (C.A.R.E.), and other such legislation, which seeks to equalize sentencing of perpetrators of sexual abuse without regard of the familial relationship of perpetrator to the child or children.

5. The National Grange favors adoption reforms that would consider the best interests of the child in all proceedings, investigations, or rulings by the courts. We further believe that all phases of an adoption should be handled only by the most qualified agencies.

6. The National Grange supports requiring that the biological father’s name, if known and proven, be included on the child’s birth certificate for purposes of determining the father’s identification, the child’s right to Social Security, and other support, which should be provided by the father.

7. The National Grange believes in a traditional family. Therefore, we believe that in the situation of a broken home, both parents should be required to support their children.

8. The National Grange supports policies that grant legal surrogate decision-making authority to grandparent caregivers in the absence of responsible parents or stepparents. We support legislation to provide financial, social and legal supports as needed to grandparent caregivers raising grandchildren. We further support legislation to protect the visitation rights of grandparents. In the case of a child who is legally removed from the parents, the grandparents should be considered first as custodian of that child.

9. The National Grange supports the Amber Alert System at the state and federal level.

10. The National Grange supports “The Elder Justice Act” legislation to protect seniors from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

11. The National Grange supports The Child Predator Act of 2005 and/or similar legislation that amends the Jacob Wetterling Act of 1994 in the following ways:

1. Defines the term “child predator”: The term “child predator” means a person who is convicted of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, if the offense is sexual in nature and the minor is age 13 years-old or younger.

2. Reporting change of address: Child predators must report change of residence within 10 days of a move.

3. Community notification: Child predators would have to notify, at a minimum, schools, public housing, and at least 2 media outlets (such as newspapers, television stations, or radio stations) covering that community.

4. Felony for noncompliance: Child predators, who knowingly fail to comply, would be charged with a federal felony.

5. National Sex Offender Registry: The national database would be available on a free access Internet website.

1. The National Grange supports the continued marketing of gasoline and gasoline varieties without government interference through the competitive market place in order to benefit consumers.

2. The National Grange supports legislation that would entitle consumers to a free annual credit report and allow the consumer more control over who has access to credit reports.

3. The National Grange favors a law requiring identification of all products that are foreign-made or assembled.

4. The National Grange urges Congress to enact laws to protecting an individual’s right to privacy and to protect the confidentiality of all personal records from fraudulent use. The National Grange supports a federally funded public service program to educate individual consumers regarding privacy geared toward reporting how to report suspected identity theft activities. We also support stronger penalties for those convicted of identity theft including full restitution to all victims.

5. The National Grange supports allowing nonprofit organizations to make continued “incidental use” of copyrighted music.

6. The National Grange seeks legislation requiring any private company that is not associated with government programs, to disclose that information in large print, or verbal explanation during the application process , that they are not part of a governmental Medicare program.

7. Regulations should be enacted that require companies to give consumers the option of mailed billings or statements without surcharges.

8. The National Grange encourages companies to print product expiration dates in the mm/dd/yyyy format.

1. The Grange supports legislation to enable the family farmer or the family farm cooperative to borrow money at low interest rates.

3. The National Grange supports strong independent banks in lieu of further concentration of banking and financial powers in interstate and nationwide firms. Banks should be prohibited from purchasing insurance companies, selling securities, and entering the field of general commerce. We believe that any banks allowed to write and sell insurance must be subject to all applicable state insurance resolutions and laws as administered by State Insurance Commissions. We also believe that any banks that are allowed to offer or underwrite securities must be subject to regulation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

4. The National Grange supports federal regulations to insure the security of loans that are made by savings and loan institutions.

5. The National Grange supports legislation requiring credit card companies to discontinue the use of “pre-approved” in their solicitations. All credit card companies should require an application showing proof of financial responsibility.

6. The National Grange supports the continued independence of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and opposes the merger of the NCTUA with any other government financial institution insurance fund. We support the current form of regulating credit unions as cooperatives. We also support current regulatory procedures, which authorize member owned credit unions to maintain their federal tax-free status.

7. The National Grange supports regulations to assure that all real estate loans, when renewed or refinanced, are based on current appraisals.

8. The National Grange supports legislation to require banks and other lenders to pay the market rate of interest on escrow account accumulation.

9. The National Grange urges state and federal banking regulators to better monitor fees charged by banks, reduce and eliminate those that are unfair, and provide customers with protection against aggressive banking business practices. We seek passage of legislation to eliminate unreasonable delays in the availability of the funds from a deposited check. We support banking regulations that will require all banks to honor government checks that are presented to them for payment. We further support legislation to require banks to post any and all service charges for ATM use on the video screen at the time of use, allowing the customer to cancel the transaction if they so choose at no charge.

10. The National Grange supports legislation to raise the annual tax-exempt contributions to IRA plans to $5,000. We support legislation to increase the annual contribution that employees may make to their 401(k) plans to $15,000. We also support automatically increasing annual maximum 401(k) contributions by the amount of inflation. We further support allowing workers over the age of 50 to make an additional “catch-up” contribution of $5000 to their 401(k) plan.

1. The National Grange supports the efforts of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies to strengthen and improve the insurance guarantee funds.

2. The National Grange supports the current McCarran-Ferguson Act. We support state jurisdiction over the insurance industry. However, we support the establishment of a federally funded terrorist reinsurance program.

3. The National Grange believes that the National Flood Insurance Program should operate on an actuarially sound basis. Furthermore, Natural Flood Insurance Programs should not be available for properties that have suffered multiple losses where steps were not taken to better protect the property from further damage.

4. The National Grange urges state and federal regulators working with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to establish the necessary safeguards that will make it possible for the viatical industry to serve viators and investors in a responsible way.

5. The National Grange actively lobbies against any legislation that would require insurance companies to comply with "The Community Reinvestment Act, 12 U.S.C. 2901, commonly known as "CRA", or any other legislation which would attempt to accomplish the same.

1. The National Grange supports the strict enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States and further supports regular review of these laws to be sure they are meeting the needs of the United States. The National Grange recommends our government put immigration policies to open debate with full disclosure to the public of the present and future impact of immigration on local communities across the nation. We support increased efforts by the U.S. government to patrol our borders preventing the illegal entry of aliens into our nation, including the assignment of military forces to assist civilian agencies in enforcing our boarder control policies. We support a prohibition on general amnesty for all illegal aliens of any nationality. We suggest that proof of citizenship and/or legal registered immigration be required for receiving benefits. We also recommend that federal authorities be allowed to detain illegal immigrants and foreigners with expired visas for the duration of their investigation and processing, and be deported if immigration status is determined to be illegal.

2. The National Grange supports continuation of the legal program to bring aliens into the United States on a temporary basis for the harvesting of seasonal crops. We support reform of current foreign guest worker programs to allow for expedited processing of foreign guest workers employed in the agricultural sector as well as reform of the H2A program so that the wage costs to farmers when hiring under the H2A program more closely reflects the prevailing local wage. The National Grange believes that the Department of Labor’s regulations under the Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act should be as favorable to agricultural employers as possible. We further support an amendment to the Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act recognizing that a crew chief is an independent contractor who is responsible for the general care of his crew when it does not conflict with the requirements that are assigned to the landowners.

3. Agricultural employers should not be responsible for checking the authenticity of migrant and seasonal worker documentation at the time of employment. Employers who unknowingly hire illegal aliens should not be taxed or fined.

4. The National Grange recommend that citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants be withheld until such time as the parents have gone through the proper channels and obtained U.S. citizenship for themselves.

5. The National Grange recommends that current immigration laws be revised to establish a practical and enforceable guest worker visa program. The National Grange also supports the expansion of the H1B visa program for professionals to enter the United States in order to provide services in sectors where there is a documented need.

1. The National Grange believes that opening trade between nations is a far better way to increase international understanding than limiting trade because of differences in ideologies. We will actively support programs to increase the competitive position of U.S. companies in world markets.

2. The National Grange supports actions to assure that the Panama Canal remain open to U.S. shipping.

3. We urge prompt enforcement of federal trade laws and regulations to curtail the importation of subsidized steel.

4. The National Grange encourages purchasing American-made products and recommends that all levels of government be required to buy American made products whenever feasible.

5. The National Grange supports a fair and equitable textile import policy that would provide assistance to the domestic industry, would be beneficial to the producers of fibers and would not be price inflationary to the United States’ consumers.

6 . The National Grange supports policy to remove trade, financial, and travel restrictions to Cuba.

7. The Congress of the United States should take steps to preclude the sale or lease of properties and/or businesses within the limits of the United States or any of its possessions to any foreign purchaser or leasor whose country prohibits the sale or lease of properties and / or businesses to any U. S. business or citizen.

1. The National Grange urges the U.S. government to extend foreign aid only after careful investigation, or in cases of natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, or floods. We further support: a) basing the amount of foreign aid given on the humanitarian need and a greater use of agricultural products in lieu of cash transfers; b) closer monitoring of International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans and encourage making loans to Third World countries that are designed to provide self-help; c) taking into consideration the recipient countries’ present foreign debt, repayment schedule, and record before providing them with new financial assistance; d) keeping in mind the food and financial needs of domestic programs when Congress considers the appropriate amount of foreign aid. We recommend that countries needing financial assistance should apply to the United Nations so that all countries would share in the economic assistance to developing countries. The National Grange supports legislation that would require that any future foreign aid provided by the United States require that the recipient country purchase products made or grown in the United States.

2. The National Grange favors canceling all U.S. aid and supplies to foreign countries that take, hold, or kill American citizens, refuse to recognize international law, willingly permit the production and shipment of illegal drugs into our country, or allow the takeover of U.S. embassies or any property belonging to the U.S. government.

3. The National Grange supports permitting Third World countries to reduce their foreign debt in exchange for the establishment of permanent rain forest preserves.

4. The National Grange encourages agricultural research and development in and for Third World nations.

5. The National Grange supports the continuation of the Peace Corps program.

1. The National Grange supports a friendly relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan).

2. The National Grange supports a positive non-military program promoting the democratic form of government as a means to roll back or contain dictatorial forms of government. We will work to achieve peace and freedom for all people. We urge the President to peacefully support people who strive for democracy and renounce any violence committed against individuals anywhere in the world who promote the adoption democratic forms of government.

3. The National Grange supports actions by our government and other governments in condemning terrorist acts and supports efforts to secure the release of all hostages.

4. The National Grange supports a U.S. foreign policy that outlines a clear-cut position that only allows American troops to be committed to foreign countries in turmoil when it is in the strategic interest of the United States and adequate safeguards are provided. We support the United States’ involvement in United Nations’ military operations including funding such military operations only with the approval of Congress.

5. The National Grange urges that the United Nations be used as a forum to keep the issue of chemical warfare before the international community until a treaty is signed by all nations that look to the effective banning of this type of warfare.

6. The National Grange commends the United States’ active participation in improving health through the WHO (World Health Organization) and UNICEF (TheUnited Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund ), in increasing global food supplies, in conserving soil, water and genetic resources, and in providing a cleaner environment through UNEP (United Nations Environmental Protection) and FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization).

7. The National Grange strongly supports extending and maintaining the protections of U.S. Constitutionally guaranteed individual rights under all international law. We urge the United States Government not to get ratify or sign agreements or treaties with the United Nations or any other international body that rights restrict of limit individual rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution or Bill of Rights or that impose taxation on the citizens of the United States.

8. The National Grange supports legislation to formally rescind the President’s signature approving the Statute of the International Criminal Court made on behalf of the United States and to take necessary steps to prevent the International Criminal Court’s establishment and prohibit the use of appropriated funds for the establishment or operation of the Court. We further urge the U.S. government to use all of its diplomatic and political influence to protect U.S. Service persons or U.S. citizens and nationals from being subject to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

9. The National Grange supports legislation that rejects any merger, treaty, or agreement with any country that infringes on the sovereignty of the U.S. Constitution.

1. The National Grange supports international agreements leading toward a balanced reduction and eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons. To complement this objective, we further support the development of strategic and civil defense systems.

2. The National Grange recommends that the federal government negotiate with foreign countries for compensation for the military defenses that we provide to their countries.

3. The National Grange supports a strong effective military. We urge Congress to appropriate sufficient funding including adequate pay for all branches of the military. We support policies which will re-establish effective security and intelligence capabilities.

4. The National Grange calls on President Bush to award the Medal of Freedom posthumously to the heroic passengers and crew of United Flight 93, and also to the brave emergency workers in New York who died giving their lives to save others on September 11, 2001.

5. The National Grange supports the continued presence of United States Armed Forces in South Korea.

6. The National Grange encourages the Homeland Security Department to expeditiously develop and disseminate educational information to be made available to the public so they may be prepared to protect themselves from terrorist attack in the form of chemical, biological or nuclear attacks or exposure.

1. The National Grange recommends that the federal antitrust laws be rigidly enforced.

2. The National Grange supports the Capper-Volstead Act, which relates agricultural co-ops.