Category: National Grange News
What agriculture needs now is more labor
By Burton Eller, opinion contributor Those of us living and working in rural and small town America have a message for our city cousins. We need workers and we need them now. Whether we’re making maple syrup in Vermont, picking apples in Washington, harvesting grapes in California, milking cows in Wisconsin, processing peaches in … Continue reading “What agriculture needs now is more labor”
Grange applauds Carr, Wicker for telehealth initiative
The National Grange strongly applauds Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker for today’s important announcement about improving affordable healthcare access. This access is a major challenge for rural communities, but the services made possible by high-speed Internet represent the promise of better healthcare for millions of rural residents, particularly seniors … Continue reading “Grange applauds Carr, Wicker for telehealth initiative”
Grange signs onto letter in favor of ‘common-sense’ amendment
On June 26, the National Grange along with 14 other agriculture and rural interest groups such sent a letter to Senators urging them to support a farm bill amendment to be offered by Senator Chuck Grassley that would place a per-farm cap on the commodity program benefits. The amendment also closes loopholes in current law … Continue reading “Grange signs onto letter in favor of ‘common-sense’ amendment”
Cosigned Letter Urging HHS Secretrary Azar to Protect Drug Rebates to Patients
The Honorable Alex Azar, Secretary U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Secretary Azar, The 340B Drug Pricing Program was created in 1992 to help qualifying hospitals and safety net clinics get access to discounted prescription medicines for uninsured or vulnerable patients. While this program was created … Continue reading “Cosigned Letter Urging HHS Secretrary Azar to Protect Drug Rebates to Patients”
Statement of National Grange President Betsy Huber on FCC broadband & Internet priorities
Betsy Huber, president of the National Grange, issued the following statement to mark the beginning of new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules governing high-speed broadband service: “For more than 10 years, the FCC and federal courts have fought over methods of regulating the Internet. This has done nothing to … Continue reading “Statement of National Grange President Betsy Huber on FCC broadband & Internet priorities”
Huber featured on Paulsen’s Spark: Women in Agribusiness podcast
National Grange President Betsy Huber was featured recently on Paulsen News Network’s Spark: Women in Agribusiness podcast series. During the interview, Huber talked about the complex relationship she has with the public roles she has taken on in Grange and outside of the organization, and how the Grange helped move her outside her comfort zone. … Continue reading “Huber featured on Paulsen’s Spark: Women in Agribusiness podcast”
The National Grange Issues Statement Regarding Changes to Medicare Part D
Washington, D.C. (May 22, 2018) – The National Grange issued the following statement regarding Reps. Schneider and Kelly’s letter calling for solutions to potentially catastrophic changes to the Medicare Part D program: “The Medicare Part D is a foundational program for seniors living in rural America. With recent changes to cost-sharing incentives and an out-of-pocket … Continue reading “The National Grange Issues Statement Regarding Changes to Medicare Part D”
Opinion Editorial: Senate Net Neutrality Debate Misses Bigger Issue for Rural Communities
Opinion Editorial by Betsy Huber National Grange President Once again, net neutrality is the hot topic in Congress as the Senate begins debate on nullifying a 2017 Federal Communications Commission vote to change broadband service regulations. For more than a decade, this issue has been lobbied, litigated and shouted over. During that time, there have been at … Continue reading “Opinion Editorial: Senate Net Neutrality Debate Misses Bigger Issue for Rural Communities”
Opioid Epidemic
We have seen a lot in the news lately about the Opioid Epidemic and the attempts of various levels of government to address and stop it. I just read a book, Dreamland, by Sam Quinones, that was absolutely terrifying. Written in 2015, the book traces the history of America’s relationship with “the morphine molecule” from … Continue reading “Opioid Epidemic”
Grangers storm the Hill
Annually, Grangers descend upon the Nation’s Capitol, determined to learn more about priority issues for the organization and taking to the Hill to discuss these issues with legislators and their staff members. Most attendees from the fourteen states arrived Sunday, April 15, and had a meet-and-greet at the event hotel that evening. Early Monday morning, … Continue reading “Grangers storm the Hill”
Grange to Trump: ‘Do no harm to agriculture’
On Wednesday, April 4, the nation’s oldest agriculture advocacy organization, the National Grange, released a statement about the potential trade war with China that could devastate America’s agricultural sector and do great harm to our economy. National Grange President Betsy E. Huber said in the statement: “The National Grange message to the White House is … Continue reading “Grange to Trump: ‘Do no harm to agriculture’”
Grange cheers streamlining of 5G deployment
Wednesday morning, Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr announced that the Commission will vote on a plan to speed next-generation wireless network (5G) deployment by streamlining the environmental and historic review processes. National Grange President Betsy Huber issued the following statement about Commissioner Carr’s announcement: We at the National Grange thank Commissioner Carr for his … Continue reading “Grange cheers streamlining of 5G deployment”
Op-Ed: 23M Americans without broadband need paper option
It’s not shocking that politics in Washington D.C. are often detached from the needs of Americans outside the Beltway. One example is the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) efforts to quietly give the financial industry more power over how Americans receive information about their investments. When the SEC proposed and approved Rule 30e-3, which would … Continue reading “Op-Ed: 23M Americans without broadband need paper option”
Op-Ed: Recommendations to FCC good for Rural America
By Betsy E. Huber, National Grange President For 150 years, the National Grange has worked to ensure that all communities directly benefit from the latest advances in communications technologies. We have consistently supported FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s efforts to promote better high-speed internet access for all Americans, regardless of location. As a proud member of … Continue reading “Op-Ed: Recommendations to FCC good for Rural America”
Grange urges passage of bill to fix discount drug program
WASHINGTON, D.C. (JANUARY 22, 2018) — The National Grange sent a statement to Senate on Monday, Jan. 11, supporting legislation that will provide added reforms to an essential program for rural health. The bill, S. 2312, submitted by Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy will both alter the hospital eligibility and increase oversight by the federal Health Resources … Continue reading “Grange urges passage of bill to fix discount drug program”
