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THE MOTION IS NOT ADOPTED.
THE QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.
RECORDED VOTE.
A
RECORDED VOTE IS REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE
WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS
VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 241, THE NAYS
ARE 184.
THE BILL IS PASSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK -- I SEND
TO THE DESK A PRIVILEGED REPORT
FROM THE COMMITTEE ON RULES FOR
FILING UNDER THE RULE.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE.
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY
HOUSE RESOLUTION 487 TO PROVIDE
FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1633
TO ESTABLISH A TEMPORARY
PROHIBITION AGAINST REVISING ANY
STANDARDS TO
LIMIT FEDERAL REGULATION OF
NUISANCE DUST UNDER WHICH DUST
PURPOSES.
REFERRED TO THE HOUSE CALENDAR
AND ORDERED PRINTED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
WHEN THE HOUSE ADJOURNS TODAY IT
ADJOURN TO MEET AT 9:00 A.M.
TOMORROW.
OBJECTION.
SO ORDERED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RECOGNITION?
I OFFER A PRIVILEGED
RESOLUTION AND ASK FOR ITS MEET
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION
486, RESOLVED, THAT THE
FOLLOWING NAMED MEMBER BE AND
IS HEREBY --
I ASK THAT THE
RESOLUTION BE CONSIDERED AS
READ AND ORDERED IN THE
PRINTED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
READ.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND A
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, THE CHAIR WILL POSTPONE
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS TODAY ON
MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES ON
WHICH A RECORDED VOTE OR THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED OR ON
THE VOTE INCURS OBJECTION
UNDER CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 20.
ANY RECORD VOTE ON A POSTPONED
QUESTION WILL BE TAKEN LATER.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL H.R. 1254.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
--
DOES
THE GENTLEMAN OFFER THE RULE AS
AMENDED?
WITH AN AMENDMENT.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 196, H.R. 1254, A BILL
TO AMEND THE CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES ACT TO PLACE
SYNTHETIC DRUGS IN SCHEDULE I.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
MR. PITTS, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY, MR. PALLONE,
EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INSERT
EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS IN THE
RECORD.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN MAY PROCEED.
MR. SPEAKER, H.R.
1254 WAS INTRODUCED BY MY
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, REPRESENTATIVE
CHARLIE DENT, IN RESPONSE TO A
FRIGHTENING TREND OF SYNTHETIC
DRUG USE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THESE SYNTHETIC DRUG
SUBSTITUTES MADE FROM CHEMICAL
THAT ARE SOLD LEGALLY
IN MOST STATES MIMIC THE
HALLUCINOGENIC AND STIMULANT
PROPERTIES OF DRUGS LIKE
MARIJUANA, *** AND
METHAMPHETAMINES.
WHILE THESE SYNTHETIC DRUGS IS
JUST AS DANGEROUS AS THEIR
TRADITIONAL COUNTERPARTS, THEY
MANY FAMILIES AND YOUNG
FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES DO
NOT REALIZE THE DESTRUCTIVENESS
OF THESE SYNTHETIC DRUGS
BECAUSE OF THEIR LEGAL STATUS
AND THEY ARE WIDE AVAILABILITY
AND OFTEN HARMLESS-SOUNDING
NAMES SUCH AS BATH SALTS AND
PLANT FOOD, BOTH ***
SUBSTITUTES.
H.R. 1254 WOULD FIRST BAN
SYNTHETIC DRUGS THAT IMITATE
MARIJUANA, *** AND
METHAMPHETAMINES AND, SECOND,
ALLOW THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT
ADMINISTRATION TO TEMPORARILY
SCHEDULE A NEW SUBSTANCE FOR UP
TO THE THREE YEARS.
CURRENTLY, D.E.A. CAN ONLY
TEMPORARILY SCHEDULE A
SUBSTANCE FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
CONGRESSMAN DENT FOR WORKING
WITH THE D.E.A. ON THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I WOULD
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS COMMONSENSE AND
BIPARTISANLY SUPPORTED
LEGISLATION.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
PLEASED TO SUPPORT H.R. 1254,
THE SYNTHETIC DRUG CONTROL ACT.
THIS BILL ENJOYS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT AND IS AIMED TO
ELIMINATE COMMERCIAL
AVAILABILITY OF HARMFUL
SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS.
UNDER THIS PROPOSAL,
HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS WOULD NO
LONGER BE ABLE TO HIDE BEHIND
THE ALIASES.
I WAS AROUND THE COUNTRY,
ABLE TO
UTILIZE SYNTHETIC DRUG PRODUCTS
TO THE DETRIMENT OF THEIR
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND
THEIR LIVES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE IMITATION
DRUGS ARE NOT ILLEGAL AND THERE
IS A CRITICAL NEED TO
STRENGTHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO KEEP
THESE HARMFUL AND DANGEROUS
DRUGS OFF THE STREET.
THE SYNTHETIC DRUG CONTROL ACT
ADD SPECIFIC SYNTHETIC ABUSE OF
DRUGS TO SCHEDULE I OF THE
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.
IT MIMICS DRUGS SUCH AS
MARIJUANA AND CAN BE UNSAFE
CAUSING CONVULSIONS, HEART
ATTACKS.
UNDER CURRENT AUTHORITY, THE
DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAS
DIFFICULTY TAKING ACTION
AGAINST THESE DRUGS BECAUSE
THEY HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO FALL
OUTSIDE EXISTING STATUTORY
DRUGS.
H.R. 1254 WILL ENABLE THE DRUG
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO TAKE
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS TO GET THEM
OFF THE STREET AND AWAY FROM
OUR NATION'S YOUTH.
MR. SPEAKER, I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF
THIS LEGISLATION, AND I HOPE
THE WAY WE WORK TOGETHER ON IT
CAN PROVE A MODEL FOR OUR
EFFORTS ON FUTURE LEGISLATION.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
AT THIS TIME I YIELD
FIVE MINUTES TO THE PRIME
SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
MR. DENT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
SPEAKER.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE
SUPPORT OF MR. PITTS AND MR.
THIS ISSUE.
IT'S DEEPLY APPRECIATED.
BUT THIS ISSUE OF SYNTHETIC OR
DESIGNER DRUGS WAS FIRST
BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY A
WOMAN, A MOTHER IN MY DISTRICT,
WHOSE SON HAD BEEN ABUSING
LEGAL SUBSTITUTES FOR
MARIJUANA.
THESE CABARKAPA -- THESE
CANNABINOID OR MARIJUANA, IS
ONE CATEGORY OF DESIGNER DRUGS.
EVEN MORE POTENT SUBSTANCES
HAVE PROPERTIES SIMILAR TO
***, METHAMPHETAMINE,
L.S.D. AND OTHER HARD STREET
DRUGS.
THESE ARE MARKETED AS INNOCENT
PRODUCTS LIKE BATH SALTS, PLANT
FOOD, INSENTS AND SOLD UNDER
BRAND NAMES FAMILIAR TO THEIR
USERS SUCH AS K-2 SPICE,
VANILLA SKY OR IVORY WAVE.
THESE ARE MISNOEMERS.
THESE DRUGS ARE NO LEGITIMATE
PURPOSE PERIOD.
H.R. 1254, THE SYNTHETIC DRUG
CONTROL ACT, DRAFTED IN
CONSULTATION WITH FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, HAS THREE
PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS.
FIRST, A PROHIBITION OF BROAD
STRUCTURAL CLASSES OF MARIJUANA
OR THE CANNABINOIDS.
TWO, STIMULANTS AND OTHER
DESIGNER DRUGS SUCH AS BATH
SALTS, C 2--E,EST.
THIRD, AN EXPANSION OF THE
D.E.A.'S EXISTING AUTHORITY TO
BAN A SUBSTANCE FROM 1 1/2 TO
THREE YEARS.
UNDER CURRENT LAW THE D.E.A.
AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CAN PROVE IT IS DANGEROUS AND,
TWO, LACKING LEGITIMATE VALUE
WHILE IT IS TEMPORARILY BAN,
THE PROHIBITION WILL BECOME
PERMANENT.
OVER THE PAST YEAR THERE HAS
BEEN A SHARP INCREASE IN A
NUMBER OF NEW REPORTS DEALING
HORRIFIC STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS
HIGH ON SYNTHETIC DRUGS.
PENNSYLVANIA, STABBED A PRIEST
AND ANOTHER JUMPED OUT A
THREE-STORY WINDOW, BOTH HIGH
ON BATH SALTS.
SEVERAL DEATHS FROM WEST
VIRGINIA TO FLORIDA TO
PENNSYLVANIA TO IOWA HAVE BEEN
ATTRIBUTED TO ABUSE OF
SYNTHETIC DRUGS.
SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY HAS
INTRODUCED SIMILAR LEGISLATION
NAMED AFTER ONE OF HIS YOUNG
CONSTITUENTS WHO TRAGICALLY
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
A MAN FIRED A GUN OUT OF HIS
WINDOW IN A UNIVERSITY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
POLICE CHARGES INDICATE HE
INJECTED HIMSELF WITH BATH
SALTS AND HE LATER TOLD POLICE
HE THOUGHT THERE WERE PEOPLE ON
THE ROOF WATCHING HIM.
FINALLY, I WAS APPROACHED BY
ANOTHER MOTHER WHOSE SON WAS
HOSPITALIZED FOR OVER TWO WEEKS
AFTER SUFFERING LIVER FAILURE
AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS AFTER
SALTS.
THESE SUBSTANCES POSE A
SUBSTANTIAL RISK, BOTH TO THE
PHYSICAL HEALTH OF THE USER AS
WELL AS TO THE SAFETY OF THOSE
AROUND THEM WHEN THESE DRUGS
CONTRIBUTE TO DANGEROUS,
PSYCHOTIC BEHAVIOR, SUICIDE AND
PUBLIC ENGAININGERMENT.
THE -- ENDANGERMENT.
THE FACT THAT THEY ARE LEGAL
HAS THE MISCONCEPTION THEY ARE
SAFE.
AND BRAND NAMES AND LOGOS ON
THE PACKAGING PROMOTES THE
CONCEPT OF A CONSISTENT
PRODUCT.
POTENCY FROM ONE UNIT TO THE
LED HAS LED TO USERS TO
OVERDOSE.
ONE OF THE MAJOR DIFFICULTIES
IN COMBATING THESE DESIGNER
DRUGS IS THE ABILITY OF
PRODUCERS TO SKIRT THE LAW WITH
DIFFERENT CHEMICAL VARIATIONS.
BY MODIFYING THE FORMULA IN
SOME ONE, THEY CAN GENERATE A
COMPOUND WHICH CIRCUMVENTS
LEGAL PROHIBITIONS BUT SEMINAR
KOTYK EVENTS.
D.E.A. NEEDS TO TEMPORARY
SCHEDULE NEW VARIATIONS WHEN
THEY HIT THE MARKET.
FIRST.
THEN, THEY HILT THE UNITED
A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES,
PENNSYLVANIA, HAS BANNED
SYNTHETIC DRUGS BUT FEDERAL
ACTION IS NECESSARY FOR THESE
DRUGS BEING OBTAINED BY
CROSSING STATE LINES OR
THE INTERNET.
I BELIEVE OVER 30 STATES HAVE
PASSED BANS IF MEMORY SERVES ME
CORRECTLY.
STATE-BY-STATE DIFFERENCES IN
WHICH INDIVIDUAL SUBSTANCES ARE
CONTROLLED AND HOW STRONGLY
MAKES FOR A PATCHWORK AND
FEDERAL LEGISLATION CERTAINLY
WILL FACILITATE ENFORCEMENT.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
ANNOUNCED ITS SUPPORT OF H.R.
1254, AS AMENDED, BY THE HOUSE
JEWISH IN A LETTER DATED
DECEMBER 3, 2011.
I SUBMIT THAT FOR THE RECORD.
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF
EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS WHO NOTE
THE DEVASTATING PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOTIC AFFECTS OF THESE
DRUGS HAVE ALSO ENDORSED THIS
AND I THINK THAT'S QUITE
SIGNIFICANT AS WELL.
FINALLY, GO TO A HOSPITAL LIKE
PHILADELPHIA, THEY TELL YOU
THEY'LL GET A CASE EVERY DAY
WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
SUFFERING FROM THESE PARTICULAR
AND A YEAR AGO THIS TIME THEY
PROBABLY GOT NO CALLS.
NOW EVERY DAY, AND THAT'S NOT
JUST TYPICAL IN PHILADELPHIA
BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THIS LEGISLATION.
YOU'LL ALSO HEAR SOME FOLKS
HERE TODAY WHO MIGHT ARGUE THAT
THE -- THAT MEDICAL RESEARCH
WILL SOMEHOW BE IMPEDED.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM
THE TRUTH.
THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT IN
RESEARCH.
I'D BE HAPPY TO GET INTO THAT
AT SOME POINT.
MY TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. PITTS,
RESERVES HIS TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, I'D
LIKE TO YIELD NOW TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MAINE, MR.
MICHAUD.
THE
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY AS A
CO-SPONSOR AND A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF THIS BILL, THE
SPREAD OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS LIKE
BATH SALTS HAVE QUICKLY REACHED
CRISIS LEVEL IN MANY
COUNTRY.
THIS YEAR IN MAINE THE BANGOR
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS RESPONDED
TO HUNDREDS OF BATH
SALTS-RELATED INCIDENTS.
IN OCTOBER I ORGANIZED A
MEETING OF LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE
AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THE SPREAD
OF BATH SALTS IN OUR STATES.
THE MESSAGE THEY SHARED WITH ME
IS CLEAR AND THE MESSAGE THEY
SHARED WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
WAS CLEAR, WE NEED TO GIVE OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MORE
TOOLS TO COMBAT THIS EPIDEMIC.
A NATIONAL LAW WILL BUILD UPON
THAT GOOD WORK AND HELP MAKE --
MAKE THIS A BIGGER IMPACT ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THE SYNTHETIC DRUG ACT,
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
AT THIS TIME, MR.
SPEAKER, I'D LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
FLORIDA, CONGRESSWOMAN SANDY
ENFORCEMENT.
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
OCTOBER, 2010, A 31-YEAR-OLD
TEXAS MAN COMMITTED SUICIDE.
HE SAID, THANKS, BATH SALTS.
JANUARY, 2011, IN PANAMA CITY,
FLORIDA, A DAUGHTER TRIED TO
ATTACK HER MOTHER WITH A
MACHETE BEFORE FLEEING THE
SCENE.
SHE SPENT SEVERAL DAYS TAKING
BATH SALTS.
SERGEANT KILLED HIS
WIFE FOLLOWING A POLICE CHASE.
BOTH HAD CHEMICALLY ALTERED
BATH SALTS.
THE COUPLE'S SON WAS FOUND DEAD
WITH A PLASTIC BAG OVER HIS
HEAD AND BRUISES ON HIS BODY.
THESE INCIDENTS LED MANY
STATES, INCLUDING MY HOME STATE
OF FLORIDA, TO OUTLAW THESE
SUBSTANCES.
. I ADDED
CHEMICALS ADDED TO BATH SALTS TO
INDUCE A DRUG HIGH TO SCHEDULE I
OF THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
THESE SUBSTANCES ARE NOT
MARKETED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
THIS ALSO IS WHY I HAVE JOINED
REPRESENTATIVE CHARLIE DENT IN
HIS WORK TO BRING H.R. 1254,
WHICH INCLUDES THE BILLING I
INTRODUCED IN APRIL TO THE FLOOR
TODAY.
YOU HAVE HEARD NO RESEARCH CAN
BE CONDUCTED IF THIS PASSES, BUT
THOSE CLAIMS ARE FALSE.
THEY CAN BE CONDUCTED.
RESEARCH WILL CONTINUE TO BE
DONE ON SCHEDULE I CHEMICALS.
JUST LISTEN ON THE E.R. DOCTORS
AND POISON CONTROL CENTERS, WHO
ARE BOTH ASKING FOR THIS BILL
AND BOTH WANT THIS BILL TO SAVE
LIVES.
TOO MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST
AND TOO MANY VIAL EPT ACTS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED DUE TO
THESE DRUGS.
THESE DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES ARE
BEING PACKAGED AND MARKETED TO
OUR CHILDREN, TO OUR CHILDREN,
BY USING NAMES LIKE BLISS,
VANILLA SKY.
BATH SALTS.
DRUG-ALTERED BATH SALTS.
TODAY I URGE SUPPORT FOR H.R.
1254 AND GET THESE DRUGS OUT OF
THE HANDS OF OUR CHILDREN.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
REMAINDER OF THE MINORITY TIME
H.R. 1254 BE CONTROLLED BY
MR. SCOTT OF VIRGINIA BY THE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY.
OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA WILL
CONTROL THE TIME.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF 1/2 MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 2
1/2 MINUTES.
THIS BILL WILL PLACE
OVER 40 CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ON
SCHEDULE I OF THE CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES ACT AT A TIME WHEN
ONLY EIGHT OF THESE SUBSTANCES
CAN BE FOUND IN THE UNITED
STATES AND DOES SO IN A WAY THAT
SIR COUPLE VENTS THE NORMAL
PROCESS OF SCHEDULING SUBSTANCES
AND DOES SO WITHOUT ANY
SCIENTIFIC OR MEDICAL RESEARCH
OR EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT.
CONGRESS HAS A PROCESS FOR
PLACING SUBSTANCES ON DRUG
SCHEDULES.
THE CRIMINAL CODE SETS FORTH A
PROCESS WITH THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL AND THE SECRETARY OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MUST
ENGAGE IN TO DETERMINE THE
PROPER PRITE OF SCHEDULING
SUBSTANCES.
THE SECRETARY MUST CONDUCT A
SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL
EVALUATION AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHETHER
THE SUBSTANCES BEING ANALYZED
NEED TO BE CONTROLLED AND THIS
NEEDS TO BE A SCIENTIFIC STUDY,
NOT A COMPILATION OF ANECDOTES.
AND THERE IS A MECHANISM FOR
ADDRESSING EMERGENCIES WHERE THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL DETERMINES
THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, THE CODE
PROVIDES THAT SUBSTANCES MAY BE
PLACED ON SCHEDULE I UP TO 1 1/2
YEARS WHILE THE EVIDENCE IS
BEING DEVELOPED TO SCHEDULE
THEM.
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, DURING
OUR CONSIDERATION, RECEIVED
NUMEROUS STATEMENTS FROM
PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL
RESEARCHERS IMPLORING US NOT TO
HAMPER THEIR ABILITY TO
DETERMINE MEDICAL USES BY
PLACING THEM ON SCHEDULE I THAT
MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO POSSESS
THESE SUBSTANCES WITHOUT A
PERMIT, EVEN FOR RESEARCH
PURPOSES.
THIS INCLUDES PROMISING RESEARCH
ON THE CURE OF PAR KIN SON'S
DISEASE THAT WOULD BE
COMPROMISED WITH THIS BILL.
ONCE ON
SCHEDULE I ARE ONEROUS.
THERE ARE LEGAL USES OF THESE
USES.
WHEN CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE
PROCESS FOR THE SECRETARY AND
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DO THEIR
DUE DILIGENCE AND STUDY THE
PROPER PRITE OF PLACING
SUBSTANCES ON SCHEDULE I, WE HAD
A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS.
AND IF WE WANT TO ESTABLISH GOOD
CRIME POLICY, WE NEED TO FOLLOW
THAT THOUGHTFUL PROCESS.
H.R. 1254 CIRCUMVENTS THAT
PROCESS AND I URGE A NO VOTE ON
H.R. 1254 AND RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD
LIKE TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA,
CONGRESSMAN TOM LATHAM.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES.
I THANK THE SPEAKER
AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THE TO
SPEAK TODAY.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1254,
SYNTHETIC DRUG CONTROL ACT.
THIS BILL ADDRESSES AN ALARMING
DANGER TO OUR KIDS THAT MANY
AMERICAN FAMILIES MAY NOT BE
AWARE OF.
MANY AMERICAN TEENAGERS ARE
EXPERIMENTING WITH SYNTHETIC
DRUGS THAT ARE LIKE MARIJUANA OR
OTHER TYPES OF DRUGS.
THESE PRODUCTS THAT ARE KNOWN AS
K-2, PURE EVIL, CLOUD NINE AND
OTHER NAMES CAN BE BOUGHT
LEGALLY AT CONVENIENCE STORE OR
SO-CALLED HEAD SHOPS AND PASSED
OFF AS BATH SALTS.
IN REALITY, USERS CAN EXPERIENCE
UNEXPECTED ANXIETY ATTACKS,
EXTREME PARANOIA, HALLUCINATIONS
AND THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE AND ARE
IN SERIOUS RISK OF HARMING
THEMSELVES.
OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ISSUE
IN THE STATE OF IOWA ILLUSTRATES
WHY A FEDERAL BAN ON THESE
DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES ARE SO
IMPORTANT.
A YEAR AND-A-HALF AGO YESTERDAY,
DAVID ROZKA SHOT
HIMSELF AFTER TAKING K-2.
IN RESPONSE TO THE TRAGEDY,
DAVID'S PARENTS HAVE LED A
CAMPAIGN TO OUTLAW SYNTHETIC
DRUGS LIKE K-2, AND TESTIFIED
BEFORE CONGRESS ABOUT THE
THE HELP OF THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES ON CRACKING DOWN
SUBSTANCES.
WE MUST ACT ON THIS ISSUE TO
PROTECT OUR KIDS AND THE TIME IS
THE THREAT POSED BY SYNTHETIC
DRUGS IS DANGEROUS AND GROWING.
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS ALONE,
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES
WHERE TEENS ARE INJURED OR
IN POLK COUNTY, THREE TEENS WERE
INVOLVED IN A HIGH-SPEED CRASH
CRASHES.
IN CENTRAL IOWA, A BOY WAS
HOSPITALIZED AFTER TAKING
SYNTHETIC DRUGS AND HAVING
HALLUCINATIONS.
I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY THANK THE
ROZKA FAMILY TO RELIVE THE
TRAGEDY THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED IN
THEIR EFFORTS TO PREVENT OTHER
FAMILIES FROM EXPERIENCING THE
SAME HEARTBREAK.
THIS LEGISLATION AND OTHER
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS THREAT
TO OUR CHILDREN WOULD NOT HAVE
OCCURRED WITHOUT THEIR COURAGE,
STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP.
I'M HARDENED TODAY THAT CONGRESS
HAS LISTENED TO THEIR MESSAGE
AND IS TAKING ACTION.
IT'S TIME TO RECOGNIZE HOW
DANGEROUS THESE SUBSTANCES ARE
AND BAN THEIR SALE IN THE UNITED
STATES BY COLLAR FILING THEIR
STATUS AS SCHEDULE I CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES.
AS A CO-SPONSOR OF H.R. 1254, I
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE PASSAGE OF THIS MOST
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
AND I THANK THE GENTLEMAN AND
YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM, MR. PITTS,
RESERVES HIS TIME.
VIRGINIA.
SCOTT: I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. LOFGREN.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
WE ARE ALL OPPOSED
TO THE DAMAGE THAT THESE DRUGS
CAN DO TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
BUT I HAVE TO EXPRESS MY
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.
MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL AND
RESEARCH.
WHEN A SUBSTANCE IS ON SCHEDULE
I, IT IS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN NOT
ONLY FOR LEGAL PURPOSES AND
RESEARCHERS WHO WISH TO STUDY
ITS MEDICAL POTENTIAL.
WHILE THIS MAY BE JUSTIFIED FOR
SOME DRUGS, IT ISN'T A A
RESTRICTION THAT SHOULD BE
IMPLEMENTED AND THAT'S BECAUSE
IT BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR
SCIENTISTS TO GET PERMISSION TO
OBTAIN THESE MOLECULES, EVEN FOR
SCIENTIFIC STUDY THAT WE NEED.
IN THE UNITED STATES, ONLY 325
RESEARCHERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
OBTAIN SCHEDULE I LICENSES AT
THIS MOMENT.
CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE
PROCEDURE FOR SCHEDULING DRUGS
AND REQUIRES THE SCIENTIFIC AND
MEDICAL EVALUATION.
THIS BILL WOULD BYPASS THIS
PROCESS RATHER THAN RELYING ON
SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL EXPERTS.
I HAVE HEARD FROM FACULTY AT A
RANGE OF UNIVERSITIES AND THEY
SHARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
HERE IS WHAT ONE PROFESSOR SAID
AT PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES AND
ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
SAID, QUOTE, THE BILL IS A
SIMPLISTIC RESPONSE TO A SOCIAL
PROBLEM OF GREAT COMPLEXITY.
THE WORLD WILL GET LESS MEDICAL
AND TECHNICAL HELP WITH THE LOW
PROBABILITY OF HELPING ANYONE
WITH A SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE.
THE LIST IS TOO BROAD AND WOULD
RESTRICT OTHERWISE WHAT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTS.
PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS ARE ALREADY
A SERIOUS CONCERN.
HERE IS WHAT THE CHIEF OF THE
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AT
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
SAID.
RESTRICT THESE SUBSTANCES?
SCHEDULING IMPEDES ACCESS TO
CHEMICALS IN SMALL QUANTITIES,
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERIOUSLY
HAMPER MEDICAL RESEARCH.
I WOULD ASK AN ADDITIONAL
MINUTE.
ON BALANCE, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
SERIOUSLY HAMPER MEDICAL
ON BALANCE, THE FACULTY ARE
AGAINST THIS MEASURE.
AND JOHN ARMED, BERKLEY CENTER
OF GREEN CHEMICALS SAID, THIS
EFFORT IS WELL INTENTIONED BUT
WILL CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT
WILL SOLVE.
WE ARE AGAINST DRUGS THAT HARM
OUR PEOPLE, BUT WE HAD NO
HEARINGS IN THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE ON THIS, AND I THINK
THE PLACING OF THESE MOLECULES
ON SCHEDULE I IS EVIDENCE OF
THAT LACK OF SCHOLARSHIP.
THESE DRUGS NEED TO BE
CONTROLLED BUT NEED TO BE
CONTROLLED IN SUCH A WAY THAT
THERE IS NO HARM DONE TO THE
VITAL SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL
RESEARCH THAT WE COUNT ON.
I JOIN MR. SCOTT AND URGE A NO
VOTE ON THIS BILL IN THE HOPES
WE CAN COME BACK WITH A MEASURE
THAT ACCOMPLISHES THE WORTHY
GOALS WITHOUT DOING DAMAGE TO
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT WILL
SAVE SO MANY LIVES.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, FORMER
PROSECUTOR, CONGRESSMAN PAT
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF
H.R. 1254 FOR THE REASON THAT AS
A PROSECUTOR, I HAVE SEEN THE
IMPACT OF WHAT CAN BE DONE WHEN
CHILDREN ARE LURED TO THE FALSE
PROMISE, SENSE THAT SOMEHOW
BECAUSE IT'S SYNTHETIC, IT
DOESN'T PRESENT THE SAME KIND OF
DANGER AS THE DRUGS THAT ARE
BELIEVED TO BE THE MOST
DANGEROUS, THE HEROINS AND THE
THESE ARE LURING KIDS INTO A
FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
AND THIS EVIDENCE ISN'T
ANECDOTAL.
I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT AN
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT ONE OF
THE LEADING CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS
IN THE NATION AND WE HAVE SEEN A
DRAMATIC RISE IN FAMILIES WHO
ARE BEING AFFECTED BECAUSE THEIR
CHILDREN ARE COMING IN AND ARE
UNDER THE CONTROL OF THESE
SYNTHETIC SUBSTANCES.
NO LESS THAN THE EMERGENCY
COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS
FOR THAT REASON SUPPORTS THIS
BILL.
BUT LET ME CONCLUDE BY THE
COMMENT THAT I THINK WE HAVE IT
BACKWARDS IF WE ARE SAYING THAT
SOMEHOW WE ARE GOING TO LET
THESE CHILDREN BE EXPOSED WHILE
WE WAIT AND GIVE SOME POTENTIAL
THAT THERE COULD BE RESEARCH
DONE.
I HAVE WORKED WITH
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AND THE
BE ABLE TO GET ACCESS
TO DRUGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD
UNDER CONTROL.
THAT CAN BE DONE.
JUST NEEDS TO WORK WITH THE
D.E.A.
THAT'S THE SOLUTION NOT TO PUT
OUR KIDS AT RISK.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS
I YIELD FIVE MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE,
MR. COHEN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA YIELDING
THE TIME.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
PARTICULAR BILL.
NOT THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF ANY OF
THE PARTICULAR DRUGS THAT ARE
HERE, BUT JUST LIKE MS. ADAMS,
MY COLLEAGUE FROM FLORIDA
MENTIONED, THE STATE OF FLORIDA
HAS CRIMINALIZED IT.
IT SEEMS INTERESTING WHEN THE
SUBJECT OF THE DAY COMES UP THAT
THERE IS A RUSH TO ACTION AND
STATES' RIGHTS, THAT
THERE IS THE DESIRE ON GUN BILLS
TO OVERLOOK THE STATES AND HAVE
A FEDERAL LAW ON INTERSTATE
SHIPMENT OF GUNS AND IN THIS
SITUATION, DRUGS THAT SHOULD BE
CRIMINALIZED AND ARE
CRIMINALIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL
AND WE ARE DOING THEM MORE AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THIS WOULD PLACE MORE THAN 40
CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ON SCHEDULE I
WITHOUT SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT
DOING SO IS NECESSARY OR
WARRANTED.
IT IS A RUSH TO LEGISLATE BEFORE
WE KNOW THE FACTS.
THIS BILL ESSENTIALLY BANS THESE
SUBSTANCES WITHOUT ANY STUDY
WHATSOEVER.
I HAVE READ THE PRESS REPORTS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
HARMED BY THESE SUBSTANCES AND
OTHERS AND I'M VERY SYMPATHETIC.
BUT WE SHOULDN'T LEGISLATE ON
THE BASIS OF THIS EVIDENCE.
IT IS ON SHOOT FIRST ASK
QUESTIONS LATER THAT WE HAVE
TAKEN IN THIS COUNTRY FOR
DECADES.
OUR NATIONAL DRUG POLICY SHOULD
POLITICS.
WELL DESERVED
REPUTATION HERE AS A DO-NOTHING
CONGRESS A OUR ATTITUDES TOWARDS
CLEAN AIR, GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
HAS MADE THIS THE NO RESPECT FOR
CONGRESS AS WELL.
THE D.E.A. HAS PLACED CERTAIN
SUBSTANCES ON SCHEDULE I WHILE
IT CONDUCTS A REVIEW.
IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THAT
REQUIRES TEMPORARY SCHEDULING
THE OTHER SUBSTANCES IN THIS
BILL, THE D.E.A. CAN DO IT AS
WELL BUT SHOULDN'T CIRCUMVENT
THE PROCESS THAT IS ESTABLISHED
I KNOW THE SPONSORS OF THIS BILL
KNOW ABOUT THE EMERGENCY REVIEW
PROCESS BECAUSE THE BILL HAS
DOUBLED THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT
IT CAN BE PUT ON BY EMERGENCY
REVIEW ON A SCHEDULE FROM 18
MONTHS TO THREE YEARS.
IT DOUBLES YET.
YET THERE HAS BEEN NO HEARINGS
THAT THERE IS NO HEARING.
IT WAS A KNEE-JERK WAY TO
RESPOND TO THE ISSUE OF THE DAY.
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND
DESERVES SERIOUS CONSIDERATION
I FEAR THAT THIS BILL CONTINUES
THE MISGUIDED POLICY THAT WE
CREATED TOWARDS DRUGS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
LOOK AT MARIJUANA, WHICH
CONGRESS PLACED ON SCHEDULE I IN
LET'S PUT ASIDE FOR A MINUTE
THE QUESTION WHETHER IT HAS
POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE.
CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF
EVIDENCE IT DOES NOT.
BUT I THINK THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WHO DEPEND ON MARIJUANA TO
TREAT THE EFFECTS OF DISEASES
SUCH AS AIDS, GLAUCOMA, CANCER
AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
IT INCREASES APPETITE AND EASES
PAIN IN A WAY THAT HAS HELPED
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST
SAMES OF LIFE.
BUT WE TREAT DRUGS AS A POLICE
MATTER.
WE ASK TO RESCHEDULE STUDIES ON
MARIJUANA TO CONTINUE TO
RESEARCH.
THEY ADVOCATED WIDER RESEARCH
WITH QUALITY CONTROLLED
CANNABIS.
NONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITH
THE TIGHT RESTRICTIONS WE
PLACED ON CANNABIS.
THAT'S THE SITUATION WE MAY
FIND OURSELVES WITH -- IN WITH
SOME SUBSTANCES IN THIS BILL.
THERE'S NO REASON TO MAKE
RESEARCHERS GO THROUGH HOOP, IT
IS NEARLY AS EASY TO GET
PERMISSION TO DO RESERGE ON A
SCHEDULE ONE DRUG AS TO GO TO
THE VATICAN AND ASK FOR
PERMISSION TO -- FOR A GRANT TO
STUDY BIRTH CONTROL.
PERHAPS THEY BELONG ON A LOWER
SCHEDULE AND SCHEDULE 2 WOULD
DETER YOUNG PEOPLE FROM USING
THEM, BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA.
WE DECIDED TO THROW THE BOOK
ONE.
MAYBE THEY SHOULDN'T BE
SCHEDULED AT ALL.
BUT MAYBE THE -- BUT THE
SCIENTISTS SHOULD BE DECIDING
THIS, NOT THE CONGRESS.
HAVEN'T WE LEARN FLED 40-YEAR
EXPERIENCE WITH THE WAR ON
DRUGS, PROHIBITION DOESN'T
WORK.
IT FILLS UP OUR PRISONS AND
PLACES A MARK ON OUR CITIZENS
THAT CAN MAKE JOB, HOUSING AND
EDUCATION NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
OBTAIN.
WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON
EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT
THESE SUBSTANCES AND CONTINUE
TO DO RESEARCH ABOUT THE
BENEFITS AN RISKS INSTEAD OF --
AND RISKS.
INSTEAD OF BASING OUR DECISIONS
ON SCIENCE, WE ARE BASING IT ON
POLITICS.
WE NEED CONGRESS TO MAKE THIS
DECISION ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS.
THE DEFORM E.A. COULD USE ITS
EMERGENCY POWERS TO TEMPORARILY
SCHEDULE THESE SUBSTANCES WHILE
PLAY OUT.
LET'S DEFEAT THIS BILL.
IF WE PUT SCIENCE FIRST AN
POLITICS SECOND, MAYBE WE WON'T
BE IN SINGLE FIGURES IN THE
PUBLIC'S MIND AS AN
ORGANIZATION THEY SUPPORT.
PART OF THE 9% LEVEL IS BECAUSE
WE TO THINGS IN A RUSH TO JUM
AND POLITICS AND THE ISSUE DU
JOUR RATHER THAN ALLOWING THE
SCIENTIFIC PROCESS AND DOING
WHAT IS LOGICALLY BEST FOR OUR
NATION PREVAIL.
I URK DEFEAT OF THIS BILL AND
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
CAN I INQUIRE HOW MUCH TIME
IS LEFT ON EACH SIDE?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA HAS
6 1/2 MINUTES.
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA
HAS SIX MINUTES.
COULD I INQUIRE HOW MANY
SPEAKERS YOU HAVE LEFT?
I HAVE ONE
REMAINING.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM PENNSYLVANIA MANY MARINO.
I RECENTLY
CO-AUTHORED A LETTER CONCERNING
THIS VERY ISSUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ JUST A
PARAGRAPH.
AS OF OCTOBER 4, 2011, THE
D.E.A. HAS 325 RESEARCHERS
CONDUCTING RESEARCH WITH
SCHEDULE ONE CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES.
THESE RESERMINGERS INCLUDE
RESEARCH CENTERS AND
UNIVERSITIES WHO SEEK TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF
SCHEDULE UP WITH CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES.
ADDITIONALLY, AS OF OCTOBER 4,
2011, THE D.E.A. HAS 3,983
ACTIVE REGISTRANTS WHO
MANUFACTURE, RESEARCH AND
CONDUCT CHEMICAL ANALYSIS WITH
SCHEDULE ONE CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES.
MANY RESEARCHERS WHO COULD AND
RESEARCH TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMPOUNDS
CONTROLLED IN THE H.R. 1254 ARE
ALREADY REGISTERED WITH THE
DEFERMENT E.A. WHICH MEANS
THERE WOULD BE VIRTUALLY NO
IMPACT ON ONGOING RESEARCH.
AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR FOR 18
YEARS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL
LEVEL, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND
WHAT THE DISASTER THIS DRUG
CAUSES.
AND -- MAY HAVE ANOTHER 30 --
MAY I HAVE ANOTHER 30 SECONDS?
THE
GENTLEMAN VECK NICED.
I'VE SEEN WHAT THIS
DRUG DOES.
IF IT DOESN'T KILL OUR
CHILDREN, IT MAKES THEM
SUICIDAL, IT MAKES THEM
INCREDIBLY VIOLENT AND I STILL
GET CALLS AS A FORMER
PROSECUTOR FROM HOSPITALS AND
EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSONNEL
TELLING ME THE VIOLENCE THAT A
CHILD UNDER THE INFLUENCE
CAUSES NOT ONLY ON HIM OR
HERSELF BUT EMERGENCY
PERSONNEL.
THEREFORE I ASK MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
MR. PITTS, RESERVES HIS TIME.
I HAD ANOTHER
SPEAKER ARRIVE --
I HAD ANOTHER
SPEAKER ARRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
--
I RISE IN -- BEFORE
WE HAPHAZARDLY RUSH TO A
SETTLEMENT WE NEED TO PAUSE FOR
WHAT I CALL STATION
IDENTIFICATION, SO TO SPEAK.
I'M THINKING OF THE WRONG BILL.
ALSO RISE IN OPPOSITION
TO THE SYNTHETIC DRUG BILL,
THAT'S THE ONE WE'RE -- THE
SYNTHETIC -- I THINK THERE IS
NOT ENOUGH RESEARCH.
I THINK THERE IS INFORMATION
STILL NEEDED.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE IN A
POSITION TO ALLOW THIS ACTION
TO TAKE PLACE AND SO I JOIN IN
OPPOSITION TO PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA.
CLOSE.
I CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, IN
CLOSING THIS BILL CIRCUMVENTS
THE NORMAL PROCESS FOR
SCHEDULING DRUGS.
MOST OF THE DRUGS IN THIS PILL
CAN'T BE FOUND IN THE UNITED
STATES AND TO THE EXTENT THERE
IS AN EMERGENCY AND NEEDED
KNEAD TO PLACE THESE ON A
SCHEDULE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
HAS THE EMERGENCY PROCESS TO
JUST PUT A DRUG ON THE SCHEDULE
FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
MEDICAL RESEARCHERS HAVE ASKED
US NOT TO PASS THE BILL BECAUSE
IT WILL DISTURB PROMISING
RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY ON
PARKINSON'S DISEASE SO THEY
ASKED US NOT TO PASS THIS BILL.
WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE THOUGHTFUL
PROCESS FOR SCHEDULING DRUGS
AND DEFEAT THIS BILL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
MR. PITTS.
I YIELD TO THE PRIME
SPONSOR OF THE BILL, MR.
CHARLIE DENT, FOR SUCH TIME AS
HE MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I DO WANT TO ADDRESS
A FEW STATEMENTS I *** THE
FLOOR FROM MY FRIENDS FROM
TENNESSEE AND VIRN.
MY FRIEND FROM TENNESSEE MAZE
SOME COMMENTS.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, THESE
DRUGS A DANGEROUS, HAVE A HIGH
POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE AND NO
ACCEPTED MEDICAL USE, WHICH IS
WHY THEY BELONG ON SCHEDULE
ONE.
SCHEDULES TWO THROUGH FIVE ARE
RESERVED FOR DRUGS USED IN
LEGITIMATE MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
WE'RE TALK ABOUT SKI SQULE ONE
HERE, NOT SCHEDULES TWO THROUGH
FIVE.
SECOND THE F.D.A. IS STATED THE
DRUGS LIFTED IN H.R. 1254 HAVE
NO MEDICAL USE AND THERE ARE NO
I.N.D., INVESTIGATIONAL NEW
DRUG STUDIES, PENDING WITH THE
F.D.A.
H.R. 1254 WILL NOT PREVENT
FURTHER RESEARCH INTO SYNTHETIC
DRUGS.
IT'S SIMPLY FALSE TO SAY IT
WILL.
D.E.A. HAS A ROUTINE,
WELL-ESTABLISHED PROCEDURE IN
PLACE TO FACILITATE SCIENTIFIC
STUDY OF SCHEDULE ONE DRUGS,
INCLUDING MARIJUANA, ***
AND ***.
CURRENTLY THE D.E.A. HAS
LICENSED NEARLY 4,000, LET ME
REPEAT, 4,000 INDIVIDUALS AND
OTHER ENTITIES INCLUDING
UNIVERSITIES, MANUFACTURERS,
RESERGERS AND LABS TO HANDLE
SCHEDULE ONE DRUGS FOR
SCIENTIFIC AND INVESTIGATIONAL
THESE ARE FACTS.
ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT, TOO, MY
FRIEND FROM VIRGINIA MADE SOME
COMMENTS ABOUT THE -- ABOUT, I
GUESS, EIGHT COMPOUNDS HAVING
STATES.
ACTUALLY, DOZENS OF COMPOUNDS
STATES.
MANY BATH SALT CHEMICALS
CURRENTLY ARE IN THE UNITED
STATES BUT ONLY THREE SYNTHETIC
STIMULANTS AND FIVE SYNTHETIC
CABANOIDS HAVE BEEN FOUND BUT
THEY HAVE TO GO CHEMICAL BY
CHEMICAL AND DEAL WITH THIS ON
A CHEMICAL BY CHEMICAL BASIS.
WE NEED TO GIVE THE -- WE NEED
CONGRESS TO GIVE THE D.E.A.
THIS PROBLEM.
WE KNOW THESE ARE COMING IN
FROM EUROPE.
THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE COMING
THERE ARE SOME IN EUROPE RIGHT
OUR GOAL IS TO GET OUT IN FRONT
OF THIS BEFORE THEY HAVE A
CHANCE TO BE EXPORTED TO THE
U.S.
ANOTHER COMMENT I HEARD ABOUT
325 RESEARCHERS.
325 RESEARCHERS, BECAUSE THAT'S
ALL WHO HAVE APPLIED TO DO THIS
TYPE OF RESEARCH.
D.E.A. IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS
OF TURNING RESEARCHERS AWAY, SO
POINTS.
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT CAN
BE SAID ON, BUT AGAIN, RESEARCH
WILL NOT BE IMPEDED IN ANY WAY.
THERE'S A MECHANISM, THERE'S A
PROCESS IN PLACE TO DO RESEARCH
ON THESE SCHEDULE ONE DRUGS,
WELL-EST TABLIED, NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
DEBATE, I HEARD THAT ARGUED
EARLIER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA, SYNTHETIC
***, THIS STUFF IS
DANGEROUS.
SOME WOULD ARGUE WORSE THAN THE
REAL STUFF.
THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY,
THIS IS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS, WE KNOW WHAT IS
GOING ON.
SOMEBODY POINTED OUT TO ME
TODAY THAT IN A STORE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., A FEW BLOCKS
FROM THE CAPITOL, SOMEBODY IS
SELLING THIS STUFF MY STATE AND
OTHER STATES HAVE SEEN THIS
PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
DEFORM E.A. IS ALARMED BY THIS.
JUSTICE IS ON BOARD, DEFORM
E.A. IS ON BOARD, LET'S DO
SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, LET'S PASS THE
SYNTHETIC DRUG CONTROL ACT OF
2011, IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE PEOPLE, THE BEST
INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN AND I
YIELD BACK TO MR. PITTS.
I YIELD BACK THE
MANS OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
YIELDS BACK.
ALL TIME HAVING BEEN YIELDLE --
YIELDED, THE QUESTION IS WILL
THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND
PASS H.R. 1254, AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDEDFUL THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I OBJECT TO THE VOTE
ON THE GROUNDS THAT A QUORUM IS
A POINT OF
ORDER THAT A QUORUM IS NOT
PRESENT.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE OF RULE 20,
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE
20, PROCEEDINGS WILL RESUME ON
PREVIOUSLY POSTPONED.
VOTES WILL BE TAKEN IN THE
FOLLOWING ORDER.
H.R. 944 DE NOVO.
H.R. 2360, DE NOVO, H.R. 2351,
S.
COHNRES. 32 DE NOVO.
-- S.CON.RES. 32 DE NOVO.
THE THE QUESTION IS ON
SUSPENDING THE RULES AND
PASSING H R. 944 WHICH THE
CLERK WILL REPORT BY TITLE.
UNION CALENDAR
NUMBER 109.
H.R. 944, A BILL TO INCORPORATE
THE ROCKS AND SMALL ISLANDS
ALONG THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA
INTO THE NATIONAL MONOCUMET --
MONUMENT MANAGED BY THE BUREAU
OF LAND MANAGEMENT AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL?
THE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO IN THE
OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3 BEING
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE RULES
ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS
PASSED AN WITHOUT OBJECTION THE
THE TABLE.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
QUESTION ON SUSPENDING THE RULES
AND PASSING S. 535.
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO
LEASE CERTAIN LANDS WITHIN FORT
PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT.
THE
UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
QUESTION ON -- THE QUESTION IS
WILL THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES
AND PASS THE BILL.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOPE IN --
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
QUESTION ON SUSPENDING THE RULES
AND PASSING H.R. 2360, WHICH THE
CLECK WILL REPORT BY TITLE.
H.R. 2360, A BILL TO
AMEND THE OUTER CONTINENTAL
SHELF LANDS ACT TO EXTEND THE
CONSTITUTION, LAWS AND
JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED
STATES INTO DEVICES ATTACHED TO
THE SEABED OF THE OUTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF FOR PRODUCTION
AND SUPPORT OF PRODUCTION OF
RESOURCES OTHER THAN OIL AND GAS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE
RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS
PASSED AND WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID
ON THE TABLE THE UNFINISHED
BUSINESS IS THE PASSING OF H.R.
H.R. 2351, A BILL TO
DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR TO CONTINUE STOCKING
FISH IN CERTAIN LAKES IN THE
NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK,
ROSS LAKE NATIONAL RECREATION
AREA.
THE
QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE
RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS
PASSED AND WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID
ON THE TABLE.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
QUESTION ON SUSPENDING THE RULES
AND PASSING H.R. 1560.
UNION CALENDAR NUMBER
144, H.R. 1560, A BILL TO AMEND
THE YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO AND
ALABAMA AND COUSHATTA INDIAN
TRIBES OF TEXAS RESTORATION ACT
TO ALLOW THE YSLETA DEL SUR
PUEBLO TRIBE TO DETERMINE BLOOD
QUANTUM REQUIREMENT FOR
MEMBERSHIP IN THAT TRIBE.
THE
QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE
RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS
PASSED AND WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
QUESTION ON SUSPENDING THE RULES
AND PASSING S. 683.
683, AN ACT TO
PROVIDE FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF
CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND TO THE
TOWN OF MANAWA WAY, UTAH.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE
RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS
PASSED AND WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID
ON THE TABLE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
QUESTION ON SUSPENDING THE RULES
AND AGREEING TO SENATE CON
CURRENT RESOLUTION 32.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO AUTHORIZE THE CLERK OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS IN THE
ENROLLMENT OF H.R. 470, AN ACT
TO FURTHER ALLOCATE AND EXPAND
THE ABILITY OF HYDROELECTRIC
POWER AT HOOVER DAM AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND AGREE TO
THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE
RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION IS AGREED
TO AND THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER
IS LAID ON THE TABLE.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
THE FOLLOWING ENROLLED BILL.
SENATE 1639, AN ACT
TO AMEND TITLE 36, UNITED STATES
CODE, TO AUTHORIZE THE AMERICAN
LEGION UNDER ITS FEDERAL CHARTER
TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND
LEADERSHIP TO THE INDIVIDUAL
DEPARTMENTS AND POSTS OF THE
AMERICAN LEGION AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
THE
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN REQUESTS
FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES -- THE
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
REQUESTED FOR MR. NADLER OF NEW
YORK TODAY AND THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 8.
OBJECTION.
THE REQUEST IS GRANTED.
UNDER
THE SPEAKER'S ANOURNSED POLICY
OF JANUARY 5, 2011, MR. LEVIN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THE DESIGNEE OF
THE MINORITY LEADER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE
FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH
TO REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR
REMARKS AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS
MATERIAL ON THE SUBJECT OF
SPECIAL ORDER.
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK
NEED TO EXTEND
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
THE NUMBERS ARE TAGGERING.
IF WE DO NOT ACT BY THE END OF
THIS MONTH, IN JANUARY, WELL
OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE WILL
LOSE THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE AND BY MID-FEBRUARY,
THE TOTAL WILL BE WELL OVER TWO
MILLION.
AND BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR IF
WE DO NOT ACT, OVER SIX MILLION
PEOPLE.
AS I SAID, THESE NUMBERS ARE
STAGGERING, BUT THE PEOPLE
BEHIND THESE NUMBERS ARE
OVERWHELMING.
AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND ALSO TALK
ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
INVOLVED.
WHEN WE HAVE HAD EMERGENCIES
LIKE THIS, WE HAVE NEVER FAILED
TO ACT.
TODAY, WE FACE AN EMERGENCY
WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE
GREAT DEPRESSION.
AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY VITAL AS A
RESULT THAT WE ACT.
I'M JOINED BY SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES, AND I WANT TO CALL
ON THEM, AND AS I DO SO, I WANT
TO READ STORIES AND I'LL START
BY READING JUST ONE STORY, AND
THEN CALL ON ONE OR MORE OF MY
COLLEAGUES.
LET ME START BY READING WHAT
CAME IN FROM A PERSON IN AMHERST
JACKIE.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HELPED ME
MAKE ENDS MEET TO KEEP UP WITH
EVERYTHING.
NOW, THEY ARE GONE.
MY SAVINGS ARE LONG GONE.
MY 401K IS ALMOST GONE.
I'M WATCHING EVERYTHING I WORKED
SO HARD FOR MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE
AWAY FROM ME.
I'M 50.
I WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, IF HE
WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME.
AND I YIELD AS MUCH TIME AS HE
SHALL CONSUME.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FOR YIELDING AND TIME TO SPEAK
ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE
AND MR. SPEAKER, RECENTLY, THE