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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2004 |
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National
Grange Sets Its New Public Policies at its 138th Annual Convention
During
the week of November 9th - 13th, the National Grange held its 138th Annual Convention
in Rochester, NY. This was an event in which the Grange could honor its traditions
through celebrations, ceremonies and speeches while simultaneously developing
new policies that will ensure a brighter future for rural Americans. Over the
years, the National Grange has served as an advocate for the American farmer and
the broader rural community, petitioning for such things as rural mail delivery
over a century ago to broadband deployment for the new millennium.
In
keeping with this vital tradition, the National Grange maintains a policy development
process originating in thousands of Community Granges across the nation. Each
Community Grange creates and submits resolutions to State Granges addressing issues
affecting them at the state and/or national level. National/issue resolutions
are submitted to the State Granges and then forwarded to the National Grange.
The National Grange Annual Convention provides a forum in which these resolutions
can be reviewed. It provides Grangers from across the country the opportunity
to make their voices heard on issues affecting the nation. This year, 189 separate
policy resolutions were submitted to the National Grange for consideration. On
agriculture issues, the National Grange adopted a policy supporting legislation
that would allow U.S. farmers to save seed from GMO seed for their own use if
they pay a tech fee per bushel that would go to the patent holder. They endorsed
the adoption of an electronic ear implant cattle identification program with adequate
funding provided by the USDA. .gif) They
called for reform of immigrant farm guest worker programs so the cost to farmers
when hiring seasonal or temporary farm guest workers more closely reflects the
prevailing local wage.
Delegates
expressed their strong opposition to the acquisition of any Farm Credit Institutions
by any bank outside the Farm Credit System. Delegates also called on farm equipment
manufacturers to help deter the increasing problem of theft of farm machinery
by embedding serial numbers into cast components of new tractors and/or hiding
those numbers inside of the housings. New National Grange policy also calls for
a thorough investigation of the practice by grain buyers of adulterating the grain
they purchase from farmers with foreign matter and additional moisture prior to
resale. The Grange also called on the United Soybean Board to continue to focus
check-off monies toward research to combat the aphids and rust situations.
In
an effort to strengthen civic participation the Grange called for permanent legislation
that would prohibit a poll tax or literacy requirement, on the voting rights of
the citizens of the United States. They called for legislation or other means
to affirm the current wording of the Pledge of Allegiance. The Grange called on
Congress to adopt alternate provisions to maintain continuity of government in
the event of mass casualties in our U.S. House of Representatives. The Grange
delegates also expressed their opposition to the FCC proposed connection-based "Phone Tax" as it will shift funding for the Universal Service Fund from phone
companies with high volume long distance profits to rural and "necessity" phone
customers who can least afford additional costs on their basic telephone service. In the area of
conservation the National Grange adopted a policy asking for agricultural exemptions
from the Environmental Protection Agency's Spill Prevention Containment and Control
ruling. Delegates called for increased consideration of issues related to trans-boarder
environmental problems associated with the increased importation of electricity
from Mexico and Canada. New National Grange policy calls for requiring anyone
who appeals a timber sale on federal lands to post a non-refundable appeal bond
that would be used to support local school districts. Delegates also called on
the U.S. Forest Service to repeal regulations that arbitrarily restrict the selective
cutting of small diameter trees in order to improve the overall health of federal
forests and to reduce the risks of catastrophic wildfires. The Grange delegates
called on the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to carry out
an aggressive restocking program to refill and fully utilize vacant grazing allotments.
The Grange also maintained its position to oppose any legislation that would allow
abuse of private property rights, such as the Get Outdoors Act.
On
education, Grange delegates called for reform of the federal student aid program
to more accurately reflect family expenses such as real estate taxes, medical
expenses and other financial obligations in determining financial aid.
.jpg) During
the Convention, delegates articulated their high interest in health care issues.
The delegates called for legislation to require increased disclosure on the label
of information regarding the quantity, purity and origin of all ingredients contained
in vitamins, non-prescription drugs and herbal medicines but they opposed any
further legislation or regulations that would eliminate easy and inexpensive access
to vitamins and food supplements. They adopted new policy calling for federal
legislation to allow professional associations, such as the Grange, to be able
to offer its members affordable group health insurance on a national basis. They
strongly urged hospitals to charge uninsured patients the same rates that are
negotiated by insurance companies and Medicare for their clients. They called
for more effective use of Medicare dollars by increasing Medicare funding for
health screening and early intervention of chronic diseases. They also called
upon 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 with
the final cost of those medical services being remitted or billed back to the
Medicaid program in that person's state of legal residence.
Grange
delegates however, called for strict restrictions on civil litigation brought
by anyone against a manufacturer or seller of food or a trade association for
any injury resulting from a person's voluntary consumption of food, their weight
gain, obesity, or any associated health condition. The Grange also adopted a policy
to support implementation of a limited trial program regarding the importation
of prescription drugs from Canada but only if stringent new procedures to guarantee
patient safety and protect patient rights under U.S. law are part of the trial.
Finally in the health care area, the delegates took a strong stance against the
use of steroids and stimulants in all competitive sports and called for severe
penalties against those who violate these prohibitions.
Other
policies adopted included the support for agricultural research and development
in and for Third World nations. The Grange also emphasized its stand encouraging
the state and federal governments to provide incentives to companies to retain
domestic jobs. On
the transportation issue, delegates voted to support funding for a new core safety
program that is properly directed toward lifesaving roadway safety projects; reducing
administrative delays at federal and state agencies responsible for approving
highway planning; immediate action by States to obligate new congestion relief
funding for projects that reduce highway bottlenecks; establishment of "blue ribbon
commissions" to solve problems facing the future of the Interstate Highway System
and the Highway Trust Fund. The Grange delegates also expressed their opposition
to proposals to install driver monitoring devices on school buses to replace or
substitute for random drug and alcohol testing.
top A
Successful Year of the National Grange Legislative Programs
The National
Grange President William Steel highlighted this year's legislative programs as
a big success in his annual Master's Address at the 138th Annual Convention. "This
year, our legislative program continued to set the standard among non-partisan
organizations for grassroots participation and political influence in Washington,
D.C." said Mr. Steel. The followings are parts of his address stating the legislative
department activities: Legislative
Fly-Ins - "We set record levels for attendance and participation during
two National Grange Legislative Fly Ins this year. The first was in Manchester,
NH this last January during the New Hampshire Presidential Primary and the second
was in Washington DC in May during the Second Session of the 108th Congress. The
educational and advocacy opportunities at these conferences continue to attract
enthusiastic participation from Grange members across the nation." Legislative
Communications - "Our legislative communications this year continued
to provide some of the best legislative information, anywhere. This year marked
the 35th anniversary of View from the Hill, the Legislative Department's monthly
newsletter. The weekly e-mail Action Alert program provided our members with sixty
different opportunities this year for Grange members to contact their legislators
or government officials to urge immediate action on issues of concern to the Grange.
The 2004 National Grange Legislative Policy Book and Grassroots Training Manual
was revised with a better layout and a new eye catching cover. A new Legislative
Department publication entitled Rural Voters Matter outlined five key issue areas
of concern to Grange voters across the nation and was distributed to more than
270 candidates for federal office this year, including an unsuccessful candidate
for U.S. Congress from the 19th district of Pennsylvania of whom I am extremely
proud."
Outside
Recognition - "Perhaps the most significant recognition for our legislative
program this year came from two unconventional sources. First, the national educational
textbook publishing company, Glencoe/McGraw Hill contacted our office and asked
permission to include excerpts from the National Grange's priority issues document,
Blueprint for Rural America 2004, in the next edition of their high school textbook
on civics and American government entitled United States Government: Democracy
in Action. Out of all of the thousands of lobbying groups, trade associations
special interests and advocacy organizations in Washington DC, the editors at
Glencoe/McGraw Hill singled out our Blueprint for Rural America as the best example
of positive, grassroots, issue-based advocacy for the next generation to learn
from, study and emulate. Second, we were contacted by the Library of Congress
in late October and asked if we would include our 2004 campaign and election materials
as part of their electronic archives of the 2004 election. These materials will
include Rural Voters Matter, our federal candidates issues guide and Grange Voters
Matter, our electronic Get Out The Vote program that focused on e- voter registration
and early/absentee voting for rural and farming communities. This archive will
become part of the permanent collection of the Library of Congress and will be
used by historians and social scientists over the next generation to study the
impact of electronic media on the 2004 election."
top Digital
TV and Rural Access
On November 19, 2004, the National Grange and APT
(Alliance for Public Technology) held a brown bag lunch in the Grange headquarter
building to discuss "The Transition to Digital Television: Ensuring Full Access
for All Americans." The
Federal Communications Ccommission's (FCC) Media Bureau Plan currently requires
the transition from all traditional analog television broadcasts to digital television
must be completed by January 1, 2009. The National Grange agrees that the digital
braodcasting is the inevitable future of television but we are concerned that
the transition must be accomplished so that all consumers, expecially those in
rural areas, can fully enjoy the digital era. Existing television sets are not
capable of receiving the new digital signals without the installation of expensive
new equipment. For consumers who have cable or satellite television service, this
transition will generally be accomplished through there cable or satellite "box".
However, for about fifteen percent of all television consumers (the majority of
who are located in rural areas) over-the-air programming is the only programming
available to them. These consumers will either have to purchase add-on signal
conversion devices or new digital televisions. The National Grange is deeply concerned
that the FCC's plan may not provide sufficient time to ensure that rural areas
are prepared for the change and is actively working with over-the-air television
broadcasters to convince the FCC to accomodite the needs of rural communities
in the final digital transition.
 | "There
is no guarantee that all Americans can get access to this digital broadcasting,"
Guest speaker Robert Okun, Vice President for Government Affairs at the National
Broadcasting Company (NBC) said. "Good localism means good economics and the shut
down of the over-the-air without acceess to the digital TV might generate the
economic backlash in the underserved areas." Mr. Robert Okun, NBC (right) Mr.
Leroy Watson, Grange (left) |
The
full access of digital TV for all Americans will be one of the important issues
that Grange will address to ensure the full benefits of digital technologies for
rural areas. top 2005
Legislative Fly-In Set for March 14-15
The National Grange is preparing
for the 9th Annual National Grange Legislative Fly-In, which will take place from
March 14 through March 15. The goal of the Legislative Fly-In is to bring Grange
members from all parts of the country to Washington D.C. to learn more about the
legislative activities of the National Grange through an informative series of
workshops and guest speakers. Over the course of the Fly-In, Grange members will
partake in several workshops dealing with legislative issues that are important
to Grange members across the nation, including those issues covered by the National
Granges' Blueprint for Rural America. The Fly-In also provides Grange members
with the opportunity to discuss Grange policy, as well as individual state issues,
with their Members of Congress. In the launching season of the 109th Congress
you will be able to meet your Senators and Representatives who have the freshest
mind to hear their constituents.
All
Grange members are invited, and are encouraged to participate in the two-day legislative
program. Due to the surprising increase of number of participants - the PA, MA,
and NC State Grange will bring their bus groups - 2005 Fly-In will be the biggest
event since the program started from 1997. For any inquiries
on this event, please contact Chil-Sook Hwang at (202) 628-3507 ext. 109 or chwang@nationalgrange.org.
top Holiday
Greetings to All
On behalf of everyone at the National Grange, we would
like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This past year has
had many successes that we hope will carry on into the New Year. Most of all,
we want to express our appreciation to all our members throughout the country
as well as those who have supported us in our ongoing mission to ensure the continuing
prosperity of American agriculture and to work on behalf of rural Americans.
Thank
you for your interest and participation in 2004 National Grange
Legislative
Program and Wish you Happy Holidays!
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