Tim Moore: “as we take up the Senate- passed bill to reopen the government, I want to clarify that we should be proceeding through…”

“as we take up the Senate- passed bill to reopen the government, I want to clarify that we should be proceeding through regular order before taking any action that could potentially impact the entire hemp industry and affect more than 220,000 American jobs. Authorizing policy through an appropriations bill is counter to House rules and undermines the jurisdiction of our authorizing committees. Appropriations bills are intended to fund the operations of government, not to rewrite permanent law. The Agriculture Committee is the proper venue to hear from stakeholders and debate this change. This provision should never have been added to an appropriations bill on the floor of the Senate without input from the farmers and small businesses who will be potentially impacted. What we need is a measured, transparent approach that prioritizes public safety while preserving a viable path forward for an emerging American industry. Once the government is reopened, I look forward to working with my colleagues to restore certainty and stability for farmers in North Carolina and throughout the U.S.”