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Floor Speech

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Mr. BUDD. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 6747 and ask that it be reported by number.

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Mr. BUDD. Mr. President, 9 months ago, both Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly voted to close the hemp loophole. It happened right here. They wanted to stop intoxicating hemp products being sold and marketed to kids. It is no accident that these products are made to look exactly like something that a kid would want.

Emergency departments have seen a 461-percent increase in cases of pediatric cannabis poisoning, and most of those were children 4 years old or younger.

This body agreed right here 9 months ago that we wouldn't compromise the health and safety of the American people--especially our kids--so today, I am simply asking my colleagues just to reaffirm a decision we made 9 months ago right here.

My opponents have asked: What is the harm in a monthlong delay? I am going to tell you. The goal is not an extra month to work on policy, as many have said. The well-oiled hemp lobbying machine has already had 9 months to do that. The real goal is to jam us in December on a must- pass package and to permanently entrench their intoxicating products into the machinery of government.

Opponents say that this would stop research into hemp-derived products for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who rely on Medicare, but what does allowing unregulated, intoxicating edibles on gas station shelves have to do with CMS' ability to study hemp- derived products for pain relief? Not a thing. Not a thing at all.

So once again, I ask my colleagues to join me in doing what we have already done 9 months ago. Support my amendment. Just vote no to table this and close this dangerous loophole, just as 76 of us, Republicans and Democrats, did just 9 months ago.

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Mr. BUDD. Mr. President, I ask for remaining time.

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