Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, it is important to talk about what this amendment is not, as much as to talk about what it is. This amendment in no way federally legalizes marijuana. It does not allow for the recreational use of marijuana, and I maintain that I am still opposed to the recreational use of marijuana. What it does is it simply prevents the Federal Government from interfering in States that have legalized CBD and CBD oil.

CBD--cannabidiol is how you pronounce it--is an extract from hemp. CBD oil has been known to reduce the amount or duration of seizures in those suffering from epilepsy or other seizure disorders. CBD oil contains no THC, the active psychotropic ingredient that makes people high. It contains none.

Numerous families in my district have children with epilepsy, and they are out of options. They have tried all the FDA-approved drugs, and they sit and they watch their children fade away. And that is their option. They can either do that, they can break the law, or they can move somewhere where they can get CBD. Some have had to move to States where it is legal. They have had to split their families apart to care for their children.

Mr. Chairman, 17 States--most recently, Texas, where the good chairman resides--have legalized CBD. These States have made the choice to help children with epilepsy and seizure disorders. Parents who want to treat their children should not be hindered by Federal prohibition.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold), my good friend.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, some things have been said about the side effects of this. These are not the same side effects as with people who smoke marijuana. This is not smoke. This is an oil extract, usually given with the care of a doctor. It is not some weed grown along the road; it is actually classified in the therapeutic temp category because the plant has very scientific properties.

I understand and I respect the gentleman from Louisiana very much. When he says that he is concerned about the side effects for these children, understand children are in hospice, they are looking at their final days, their parents are looking at their final days. They take the oil extract and they start on the road to recovery. The side effect is the choice of death or life.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, this amendment prevents funds from being used for the implementation of the United States Global Climate Research Program's National Climate Assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report, the United Nation's Agenda 21 sustainable development plan, or the May 2013 Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis under Executive Order 12866.

Mr. Chairman, this administration and others before it have taken unilateral actions that push a climate change agenda that hinders our own domestic business and industry.

Programs such as the United States Global Climate Research Program's National Climate Assessment and Agenda 21 drive burdensome regulations on unsound science, such as the new ozone rules set to take effect this October, the waters of the United States, and regulations on coal-fired power plants.

I wonder why do we want to fund programs, panels, and treaties that create propaganda, propaganda that looks to drive industry out of this country.

With that, I urge passage of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I certainly respect the thoughts of my good colleague and good friend from Pennsylvania. I also want to remind him that we went through this last session. This very same amendment passed by vote. And while we do absolutely have the requirement and responsibility for the stewardship of the planet, I just want to remind everybody here, in case you don't know, we have these new ozone rules coming out, set to come out, or be codified in October. Yet from this administration's EPA, ozone levels have plummeted 33 percent since 1980. That is reported from the current administration's EPA. Let me just repeat that: ozone levels have plummeted 33 percent since 1980 because of the good work we have done. Yet in a downturn economy where the economy is actually contracted in the first quarter, we seek to force more unnecessary rules that are unvetted by this Congress, this people's House, on the businesses of America and also things like United Nations Agenda 21.

I just feel like those rules and those regulations should come at the vetting of this body instead of by the United Nations. What is good for America should be handled by Americans.

I thank the chairman for his support.

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