Eliot Engel

Our nation has been at war in Afghanistan for more than 18 years.

We are in a military stalemate.

It is also critical that we streamline the federal process for medical research on cannabis.

The Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, introduced by New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, would decriminalize marijuana and THC.

Many of the proposals under consideration today would help us move closer to the complete legalization of cannabis.

As an advocate for legalizing cannabis, I have been supportive of state laws to legalize cannabis, including marijuana.

What I have--I think one of the main things that we need to understand as policymakers is that the inception of the United States Congress calling cannabis a class I drug...

I think it is really important for us to understand that calling cannabis a gateway drug in an anecdotal fashion is unfair to the American people.

I want to thank the leaders of the bills. Representatives Barbara Lee and Congressman Earl Blumenauer who have joined us.

It doesn't make sense, at least to me.

But State laws and Federal policy are a 1,000 miles apart.

And I would remind you that when we killed Soleimani, the Iranians chose to escalate by attacking our bases in Iraq.

I think we ought to put forward a diplomatic initiative and I think that will be clarifying.

We have never authorized strikes against Iran, and to say otherwise is just not factually correct.

Again, I think it would be helpful if peoples' motives or patriotism wasn't questioned. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).

I just can't really believe what I just heard. It was the 2001 AUMF that specifically authorized our going after Osama bin Laden. He is the example of Congress getting involved. That was the authorization to get Osama bin Laden in Pakistan…

I would say to my friends on the other side of the aisle, please don't question our motives or patriotism and we won't question yours. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal).

It is now my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat), an esteemed member the Foreign Affairs Committee. {time} 1545

It is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff).

Let me remind my friend that we, too, cherish our military and also have their backs. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating), a valued member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the chair of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment.

I am sorry that the Republican leader is casting aspersions. I think everyone on both sides of the aisle takes this seriously and has reasons for what we are voting on. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California…

Disability rights are human rights, and I look forward to the bill's full consideration by the House.

I hope all of you will join me in supporting the CROOK Act and ensuring that corruption has no place here, in Russia, or anywhere else.

I thank my friend, Mr. Wilson, for his leadership on this and so many other issues.