[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 89 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1294-E1295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     A RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF THE ORDER OF THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LINDA SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 1997

  Mrs. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, under the leave to extend my 
remarks in the Record, I include the following:

     A Resolution in Honor of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry

                   (By the Honorable Linda A. Smith)

       Whereas membership in the Grange is synonymous with good 
     citizenship and fraternal respect for others.
       Whereas for almost 130 years the Grange has remained one of 
     the best examples of a grass-roots, bottom-up organization, 
     whose strength lies in the more than 3,000 local Granges in 
     over 30 states which offer a wide range of community-oriented 
     programs and activities for children, youth and adults, and 
     hold regular meetings where local and national issues are 
     often discussed. For over a century Grange halls have been 
     community centers where residents gather for educational 
     events, dances, potlucks, town meetings, political rallies 
     and other meetings and have allowed Junior Grange, 4-H, FFA, 
     scouting and Camp Fire groups to thrive; and each year tens 
     of thousands of Grange members participate in numerous 
     community service projects.
       Whereas the Grange is one of the first major national 
     organizations which allowed women to vote and sought the 
     membership

[[Page E1295]]

     and involvement of everyone in the family, and Grange members 
     have an equal voice and an equal vote at meetings regardless 
     of their age, sex or position within the organization.
       Whereas the Grange's activities with regard to legislative 
     action sets it apart from all other fraternities, service and 
     family organizations, and since its earliest years, the 
     Grange has included legislative involvement--from a strictly 
     non-partisan position--as one of its distinctive 
     characteristics such that all policies which the Grange 
     fights for on the local, state and national levels are 
     decided upon by the grass-roots membership.
       Whereas the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, the National 
     Grange, was founded in 1867, through the vision of Oliver 
     Hudson Kelley, who recognized that farmers, because of their 
     independent and scattered nature, needed representation and a 
     voice at all levels of government as well as a means of 
     coordinating social interaction, which is especially 
     important to rural residents.
       Whereas the Grange has been responsible for promoting 
     cooperatives which had the potential of helping farmers 
     economically; undertaken efforts to ensure that the voice of 
     the farming community is heard by lawmakers at the local, 
     state and national level which led to the Extension Service, 
     Rural Free Delivery, and the Farm Credit System, among other 
     nationally significant benefits; and has served rural America 
     in many other ways such as championing the education of rural 
     residents, which led to dramatic improvements in rural 
     schools.
       Be it therefore resolved the Grange should receive special 
     recognition and thanks for its many activities, programs and 
     functions benefitting its members, rural America and the 
     nation as a whole;
       Be it further resolved that on this day, June 23, 1997, 
     this resolution will be printed in the Congressional Record 
     as part of the public record recognizing the civic 
     achievements of the Grange and its membership and extending 
     the gratitude and thanks of the nation.

     

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