John Fleming

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, I would like to just say in rebuttal to my good friend that it is very interesting the radical environmental lobby wants to set aside the forest for the enjoyment of humans. The only problem is they cut off all access through their lobbying power by humans to this valuable land, like Kisatchie National Forest. If we are going to have a national forest set side for the American people, let the American people enjoy it. As such, they can't get in there without some type of vehicle. If they have game, they can't get the game out unless they have some type of vehicle. As for the Forest Service, yes, of course, the Forest Service opens for public comment, but they still do what they want to do anyway. That is the whole problem. It is time that we allow the American people to step forward and speak in favor of their lifestyles, particularly the hunter lifestyle, the ``Sportsman's Paradise'' lifestyle that we enjoy in Louisiana.

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 2406, the SHARE Act, which would allow hunters better access to and from hunting areas in the Kisatchie National Forest in northern Louisiana. The Louisiana Legislature passed House Bill 581 by Louisiana Representative James Armes in 2015. This new State law would allow municipalities to designate certain local roads for use by utility terrain vehicles, also known as UTVs or side-by-sides. These are not to be confused with ATVs, or all-terrain vehicles. They are larger, weigh more, seat multiple passengers, and are often equipped with safety features like roll cages, seatbelts, and enclosed cabs. My amendment would build on the Louisiana law to allow seamless access from these designated local roads into hunting areas within Kisatchie National Forest. The size of these vehicles makes them more difficult to transport when compared with ATVs. The ever-increasing list of features for UTVs makes them very attractive to hunters in order to recover game and transport supplies and equipment. This amendment would allow the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to nominate roads that would be opened in the Kisatchie Forest travel plan, unless the Chief of the Forest Service determined that such an opening would pose an unacceptable safety risk. If so, the Forest Service would have to publish a justification in the Federal Register as to why the road could not be opened. I believe my amendment strikes the right balance of public safety and hunter access, and I urge its adoption. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Abraham), my good friend.

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask how much time I have remaining.

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, Chris Smith, for all of the years of service in this area of pro-life and pro-family, not just domestically, but around the world. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for everything he does, and the blessings that he has provided to us. Also, Mr. Speaker, children are a joy to every mother and father. My wife and I share this joy, both as parents and as grandparents. As a matter of fact, I have seen all three of my grandchildren through ultrasound, before they were born, very early in gestation, watched them move, watched them suck their thumbs. I fell in love with each and every one of them right there before they were born. Certainly, if I can love them before they are born, God loves them and knows them before they are born. As a matter of fact, in Jeremiah 1:5, it says that God knows us before we are formed in our own mother's womb. The value of human life, however, isn't quantified through parental sentimentality. Children, including developing babies, the nascent life within a mother, are endowed by our Creator with the same unalienable rights as you and I have, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Good public policy will reflect this understanding and protect the lives of the unborn, those who are today's children and tomorrow's leaders. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the anniversary of the devastating 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that sanctioned the genocide--yes, the genocide--of 57 million children, I implore my colleagues and my fellow countrymen to stand for life. America's children, born and yet unborn, are our heritage and our future.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the story of Britnee Fergins of Shreveport, Louisiana. Care of family is a powerful expression of our humanity, and Britnee has provided us a touching example through the care of her father and her son. She stepped up to answer the noble calling to serve as the caretaker for her father, Percy Sr., who is a ninety year old World War II veteran. Caring for a family member can be a very rewarding experience, but it can also be a very challenging one. This challenge is only magnified when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a devastating disease which strips individuals of their memory and lives, all while placing an exhausting amount of stress on their caretakers. Nevertheless Britnee has persevered in her love and care for her father, and has faithfully devoted her time and resources. However she is more than her father's caregiver, as she also is a dedicated mom to her spirited two year old son. Britnee is a hero both to her father and her son, an example of courage, and a role model of selfless dedication. Thank you, Britnee, for all that you have done and sacrificed on behalf of your family. I am proud to recognize your service during the National Caregiver Month, and I salute the thousands who do the same thing unheralded.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, today I want to give special recognition to a special individual. Jason Spradley was recently awarded the Eagle Scout designation, the highest rank in the Boy Scouting program. He is a senior at Airline High School in Bossier City and hopes to pursue law and become a JAG officer in the Navy. While Jason is just 17 years old, he has worked over a decade to reach this Eagle Scout status. The qualifications state a Boy Scout must earn 21 merits to reach this level. Jason earned almost 40. These young men earn merits by proving their skills in camping, first aid, and many more, but more than learning how to fish or start a fire, Boy Scouts learn about serving their community. Obedience, loyalty, and many other characteristics make up what we know to be a true leader. The Boy Scouts motto is ``Be prepared.'' I would say Jason and these young men have already built a solid foundation in their lives. I wish him, the rest of the members in troop 105 in Louisiana, and the many other young men across the country who have attained Eagle Scout the very best. I know that they all have a bright future ahead.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to recognize the Minden-South Webster Chamber of Commerce for being presented the 2015 Louisiana Small Chamber of the Year Award. Since its inception in 1942, the Minden-South Webster Chamber of Commerce has worked towards the economic development of its members and the establishment of strong business relationships within the community. They are also actively engaged in strengthening and recognizing the contributions of all South Webster Parish residents. Recently the Chamber of Commerce hosted an inaugural First Responders Lunch, where they honored the self-sacrifice and dedication of all emergency first responders in the community. Through projects such as the Webster Education Endowment Fund, the Webster Youth Leadership Program, and 15 Under 40 Awards, students are poised for success and Webster schools are widely recognized as among the best in Louisiana. Furthermore the Chamber has achieved a rare combination of preserving the beautiful history of the community while incentivizing new urban development. They have the security interests of the entire nation at heart, as they coordinate closely with the National Guard in the economic development surrounding Camp Minden. All members of the chamber should feel confident that because of their dedication to initiative, our community will continue to prosper. I applaud the Minden-South Webster Chamber of Commerce for receiving this award, and I thank them for the exceptional work they provide in support of their community.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. Madam Speaker, as a physician, a father and a grandfather, let me first respond and say that, in the process of a birth, an abortion, there is no way one can tell whether that child is viable until you actually apply health-saving tools and techniques to that baby. So that argument that viability and all of that made in advance really makes no sense whatsoever. Look, committing abortions is not health care for women. The baby dies a horrifically painful and ghastly death. Her tiny hands and feet, brain, and spinal tissues are dissected and sold to the highest bidder, and her mother is agonizing over the loss of a child. What happens if a child survives this barbaric and inhumane murder attempt? Abortionists have been known to snip babies' spines, throw children into plastic bags, or leave the infant to die, away from a human touch and healing care. Today's bill, however, will put a stop to the double murder attempt on a baby's life. It will protect children, infants, who are born alive, affording these tiny patients immediate medical attention.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, graphic videos, personal testimony, and verbal assent reveal the true colors of Planned Parenthood. There is probable cause to believe that America's largest abortion provider is altering abortion procedures to obtain uncrushed baby body parts; is performing partial-birth abortions; and is selling baby hearts, brains, and other fetal specimens for monetary value. This is atrocious. Planned Parenthood staff doesn't want to lowball fees for baby body parts, and third parties are drooling over intact unborn children. It is unimaginable how one can camouflage the humanity of a clinician's announcement of ``another boy'' and watch a baby's beating heart just before harvesting the baby's brain to sell; yet Federal funding continues to pour unabashed, unabated into the coffers of Planned Parenthood, America's number one killer of unborn babies. This must stop. Mr. Speaker, I do not support this allotment of taxpayer dollars and will vote against any spending bill that funds Planned Parenthood.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2722.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I certainly agree with Dr. Harris. I rise also in opposition to this amendment. Cultivation of cannabis for industrial purposes is governed by the Controlled Substances Act, and that includes hemp. It is permitted pursuant to the registration requirements found in title 21, United States Code. In addition, the Agricultural Act of 2014 permits ``institutions of higher learning and State Departments of Agriculture to grow or cultivate industrial hemp.'' But let's make one thing clear. The DOJ says they have no intention at all of interfering with what has been provided for in this Department of Agriculture permit. But they still have control, they still have oversight responsibility, and as a result of that, they should do that. Now, if there is any delay along the way, certainly we should help with that. We should facilitate administratively. But the potential for abuse here is very significant. The DEA and law enforcement must retain control and oversight of hemp, which is a cannabis, just like marijuana.

Mr. FLEMING

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, what my colleagues are suggesting here is that we just pull a plant from someplace or something off the shelf and we give it to children, something that has not been a practice in probably 100 years. We just don't do it that way. That is why we spend millions, if not billions, of dollars of research to be sure that what we give the public is going to be healthy for them and safe for them. You may recall a drug that was prescribed for pregnancy, nausea and pregnancy, which was approved back in Europe but not approved here, and we found out that babies were born without arms and legs as a result. Saving children in America--why? Because we waited to be sure that not only was it efficacious, but it was safe. So I would say to my friends, my heart is in the same place. I want to see treatment for children who may have severe seizure disorders. We have it on a fast track. We may be months away. But I don't think turning this over to parents and others who may fiddle with it and experiment with it, in essence, making our children guinea pigs, is the right way to go. There are centers that are doing these studies, and certainly children can go and talk to those doctors, get on their studies, and get the trials. But I would again warn people that the preliminary results are not good, and in some cases we are seeing adverse side effects. So I think we need to stay with the scientific method. We need to stay with the discipline that has made us the leader in the world when it comes to health care. We should not depart from something that has been proven right. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, some of the things that have been said about this are quite true. First of all, it is pronounced--I can't even say it myself. We will say CBD oil for short. It is not psychoactive, although it is an extract from the plant of marijuana. There have been anecdotal reports that it reduces seizures in kids who have severe seizure disorders, so-called Charlotte's Web. It is actually on fast-track evaluation by the FDA both for safety and for effectiveness. Actually, the early reports are disappointing. Despite the anecdotal reports, they are not finding, thus far, the benefits that have been promised. Also, they are finding, in some cases, pretty severe side effects. One of the things that hasn't been discussed on this issue is, just as we don't allow people or encourage people, at least, to eat mold in order to get penicillin as an antibiotic for disease, it doesn't make any sense to give a raw plant as a medication. What we do in health care by using the scientific method is to extract the component, make sure we have a precise measurement, fully study it for safety and for efficaciousness, and then we prescribe it under the direction of a physician. The CBD oil right now is not being produced. It is not in a pill or injectable form or even in a liquid form. It is sort of grown on the side, and people are sort of experimenting with it to see whether it works. What I would say to my colleagues is let's let this thing play out. Let the FDA finish its fast-track evaluation. If they find it to be efficacious and safe, let them put it in the proper measurement form. Let's make sure we know what all the side effects are. As far as I am concerned, we would make it a nonscheduled drug. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. FLEMING. Again, my good friend from California would suggest that, really, Federal laws have no application, that we should just turn all laws and law enforcement over to the States. That simply isn't the case. Again, yes, the Federal Government does have jurisdiction. It is called the CSA, the Controlled Substances Act, and it has been around for a long time, and it is enforced by the DEA and many other agencies. I would just say that the gentleman is just flat wrong on that and that the Supreme Court came down on my side. Again, we can have different opinions, but that is where we are today. I would suggest that perhaps we get the Supreme Court to rule differently if we believe differently. But again, what is important to me is not the law. What is important to me is what is happening to the children of our Nation, especially Colorado: overdosages, brain changes, loss of IQ, memory loss, and cognitive impairment. Marijuana smoke has four times the tar of cigarette smoke. Who really believes that we are not going to see an epidemic down the road of lung cancer related to marijuana? As far as use for medical purposes, again, we don't have a single approved specific use of marijuana for medical purposes. And for heaven's sakes, we know that up to 17 percent of people who use it become addicted to it. So the first rule for us as physicians--and I have been a doctor for 40 years--is first do no harm. Well, we are doing a lot of harm with marijuana by legalizing it and liberalizing its use. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FLEMING. And who has the right to close?

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have?

Mr. FLEMING. I yield myself another minute. What we are finding out from Colorado, we are learning a lot of lessons. One is the way that marijuana is now getting into baked goods, gummy bears. There is a huge spike in emergency room visits, children who are overdosing on marijuana. Know that if you look, if you actually read what the media says and what the studies show is there are increasing problems in Colorado, not decreasing problems.

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have left?

Mr. FLEMING. If the gentleman is yielding to me, I would point out that the Colorado he describes does not exist.

Mr. FLEMING. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FLEMING. I do not yield.