[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14669]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL GRANGE ANNIVERSARY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
recognition of the National Grange's 150th anniversary and to celebrate 
their century and a half of service to agriculture and rural America.
  The National Grange was founded in 1867 by Oliver H. Kelley, an 
employee at the United States Department of Agriculture. He formed this 
organization to bring farmers from all over the country together in 
order to share best agricultural practices, drive educational 
discussion, and promote the economic and social needs of farmers.
  In the 150 years since its founding, the Grange has encouraged 
families and communities--both rural and urban--to come together at the 
community, county or district, State, and national level to advocate 
not only for agriculture, but for an array of causes affecting 
communities.
  For example, the Grange played a critical role in developing rural 
access, from electricity to rural mail delivery, and was an early 
supporter of women's suffrage.
  I congratulate the National Grange and its members on a century and a 
half of excellence.

                          ____________________