Policy Updates and Issue News August 2020
| OVERVIEW: Pandemic, Politics. Presidential Conventions |
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Democratic ConventionFrom August 17-20 the Democratic Party held its national convention, and formally nominated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their national ticket. During the event, the party highlighted voices from all sides, including progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and Republican turned Biden-supporter former Governor of Ohio John Kasich. The party also made a concerted effort to appeal to rural voters through rural outreach events and primetime speeches from rural elected Democrats such as Representative Cindy Axne from Iowa. Along with their convention the party released their 2020 Platform which featured support for key rural issues such as broadband deployment and support for rural healthcare. Republican ConventionFrom August 24-27 the Republican Party held its national convention, and formally nominated Donald Trump and Mike Pence for their national ticket. During the event, the party focused mainly on President Trump’s personal brand of Republican politics and featured many members of his family and official cabinet. The party featured an array of primetime speakers who focused on rural issues, most notably Governor Kim Reynolds and Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa who both spoke about agriculture, trade, and ethanol. The party also made a controversial decision to not release a 2020 platform and instead express support for President Trump’s second term agenda, a 50-bullet point list of policies which unfortunately does not address any key rural issues. Another COVID-19 Relief PackageAs convention season winds down, and Congress is set to return to work after Labor Day all eyes are on negotiations for a second coronavirus relief package. Unfortunately, after negotiations in early August fell apart both sides have steadily grown farther apart. Throughout the August congressional recess lead Democratic negotiators Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, and lead Republican negotiators Mark Meadows and Mitch McConnell have attempted to persuade voters that it is the other side who is being obstinate and preventing a new relief package. All of this has culminated in recent public clashes between Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, with Meadows predicting that a new deal will not come until the end of September. Further complicating negotiations is the imminent September 30 deadline to fund the government, which may become tied to coronavirus relief negotiations. |
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| Agriculture and Food |
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Give Feeding Programs FlexibilityThe National Grange joined the School Nutrition Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Feeding America and 70 national organizations to request that USDA extend critical child nutrition program waivers and flexibilities through the coming school year. This would allow the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option to be used to feed children during the upcoming school year for meals at school, to send meals home with children to use when they are not at school , and to provide meals at community sites closer to children’s homes. Secretary Perdue responded August 31 that he would extend the waivers and flexibilities through December with current funding. We expect Congress to appropriate (federal government FY 20-21 begins October 1) sufficient funds to possibly extend the program through the 2020-2021 school year if necessary. Additional Funds for Farmers to Families Food Box ProgramUSDA has added $1 billion to extend the program which has distributed over 75 million boxes so far. Farmers to Families was created last spring to shorten the food supply chain and allow farm commodities to be sold directly to distributors supplying feeding programs. The National Grange was an original supporter of creating Farmers to Families early last spring. Keep the Trucks MovingThe National Grange and the Agricultural Transportation Working Group wrote members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to urge adoption of a flexible agriculture trucking policy as the Committee develops its next highway bill. To ensure resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain, the bill should allow for a 10 percent load-shift axle tolerance and provide exemptions to the hours of service rule including:
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| Health Care |
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Extend Copay Coupons to Part D BeneficiariesThe National Grange joined the patient advocacy community to request the Department of Health and Human Services take action to reduce Medicare beneficiaries’ Part D out-of-pocket costs during the pandemic. Specifically, the group asked HHS to rescind the current ban on the use of copay cards in the Medicare Part D program at least through the end of the current pandemic emergency. Medicare currently does not limit how much patients must pay for prescription drugs under Part D. Faster Access to Lifesaving InnovationIn an August 31 proposed rule, Health and Human Services will shorten the “Valley of Death” time lag between approval of new medical technologies and their acceptance for Medicare coverage. Currently, the time between FDA approval for use and Medicare approval for coverage can take years. This rule, if approved, could include innovations like implants or cell-based tests to diagnose or treat life-threatening and debilitating diseases such as cancer and heart disease. |
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| Telecommunications |
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Morning Consult Features Grange President HuberIn mid-August, the daily Washington newsletter, Morning Consult, featured an op ed by National Grange president Betsy Huber calling on Democrats, Republicans and the President to include funding to expand emergency broadband infrastructure in the next COVID-19 relief package. High speed connectivity and more accurate broadband mapping are critical to support students learning at home, heath care providers standing up telemedicine networks, and businesses providing their services online. Huber on Agri-Pulse PanelGrange president Huber was a panelist in mid-August on the Agri-Pulse webinar, “Why Broadband is Important for Growing Sustainable Food”. Panelists also included Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA The Broadband Association, and Tom Vanverloh, Vice President of Sustainability for the United Soybean Board. Funding for Rapid Broadband AccessThe National Grange joined the Connect Americans Now coalition on a letter to Senate and House leadership to encourage Congress to provide urgently needed funding to rapidly and cost effectively expand broadband access. The group said resources should be focused in the short run on rapid service deployments so long as there are clear requirements that service meet at least the FCC-defined speed for broadband. Keep Lifeline AffordableThe National Grange wrote House Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader McConnell and members of the House and Senate Commerce Committees alerting them to recent actions by the Federal Communications Commission that could seriously impact Lifeline voice and broadband services. The FCC proposal, if enacted, would mandate a significant increase in copayment from Lifeline subscribers in this medically and economically uncertain time. Lifeline is a federally subsidized voice and broadband program specifically for disabled, isolated, chronically ill, elderly and low-income citizens and veterans. |
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| United States Postal Service |
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Political Focal PointOne of the biggest focal points for online political drama today is the unlikely U.S. Postal Service. Representatives of both political parties, the union, the media, the President, Hollywood and conspiracy theorists are all engaged in melodramatic rumor-mongering about the unsexy subject of mail. Make no mistake about it, the Postal Service faces challenges that require congressional action to solve. In the meantime, we have to get through fall elections and a lingering devastating pandemic. In a recent National Grange newsletter, Grange President Betsy Huber said, “The recommendations now being acted upon by Postmaster DeJoy were made prior to the pandemic, which has become the backdrop to much of our way of life. While still relevant, carrying them out today as if we were still living pre-COVID will not work. The pandemic has changed everything about normal life, and the USPS is no different. At the same time as the USPS has taken a financial beating due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has also taken an even more essential role in our lives as millions have been forced to work, learn, and do business from home…. We’ve asked for a review of best practices but always stood on the side of keeping Americans from every part of our republic connected.” National Grange ActionsThere are two major factors that frame the Post Office debate for the Grange:
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