The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S7189 on Nov. 28, 2018.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:
POM-306. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urging the United States Congress to pass the language from the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, as contained in the Farm Bill of 2018, removing industrial hemp from the Schedule 1 Controlled Substance List and legalizing commercial industrial hemp production in the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Senate Resolution No. 421
Whereas, A bipartisan effort has taken place at both the Federal and State levels to pass legislation which would allow American farmers to compete with foreign nations in industrial hemp production; and
Whereas, The United States relied upon hemp production from the time period of the Mayflower voyage to the War of 1812 and through every world war; and
Whereas, Hemp production in Pennsylvania has a 260-year history due to the favorable climate and soil; and
Whereas, Industrial hemp plants are cultivated for products derived from the whole plant, including stalk, seeds, flower and roots for products including fiber, food, oil and extracts; and
Whereas, Industrial hemp has thousands of applications and can be refined into a variety of commercial products including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, cannabinoids, paint, insulation, biofuel, food and animal feed; and
Whereas, Each year, American companies are forced to import millions of dollars' worth of industrial hemp seed and fiber products annually from China, Canada, Europe and other countries; and
Whereas, Industrial hemp has often been confused with marijuana, as it is a member of the cannabis family; however, it has no psychoactive effect due to a very low level of tetrahydrocannabinol; and
Whereas, Chapter 7 of Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes defines industrial hemp as the plant Cannabis saliva L. and any part of the plant with less than three-tenths of one percent tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC; and
Whereas, Uncertainty about Federal laws inhibits investment in the United States and Pennsylvania hemp industry by agricultural producers, manufacturers, processors and other businesses; and
Whereas, Section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, the Farm Bill of 2014 and the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2016, authorized State industrial hemp agricultural pilot research programs and the activities associated with such programs; and
Whereas, The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth, farmers, researchers and industry leaders recognized the potential for opportunities in industrial hemp production and products and in investment in Pennsylvania's industrial hemp industry where this Commonwealth could become a national leader to take advantage of the potential $1 billion national market for growing, producing, processing and selling industrial hemp and industrial hemp products; and
Whereas, To this end, in 2016, the General Assembly and Governor of the Commonwealth enacted Act 92 of 2016, which established Chapter 7 of Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and authorized an industrial hemp research pilot program to commence the initial research into such potential opportunities; and
Whereas, In the fall of 2018, the Congress of the United States is poised to pass the language from the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, as contained in the 2018 Farm Bill, which removes industrial hemp from the Schedule I Controlled Substance List and legalizes commercial industrial hemp production in the United States; and
Whereas, The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth is encouraged to immediately commence a study of this Commonwealth's industrial hemp pilot program and other industrial hemp pilot programs in other states and their regulations to recommend and draft statutory or draft regulatory language to the General Assembly to expedite the entry of this Commonwealth into the commercial industrial hemp market upon passage of the language from the Hemp Farming Act by the Congress of the United States; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United States to pass the language from the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, as contained in the Farm Bill of 2018, removing industrial hemp from the Schedule I Controlled Substance List and legalizing commercial industrial hemp production in the United States; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth to begin a study of the industrial hemp research pilot programs established under Act 92 of 2016 and similar research pilot programs in other states and their regulations to prepare any recommended draft legislation for submission to the General Assembly and a framework for any draft regulatory provisions that incorporate the following:
(1) The growth and cultivation of industrial hemp produced in compliance with Federal law is an agricultural crop.
(2) The producers of industrial hemp with this Commonwealth have access to United States-supplied seed, germplasm, rooted cuttings and other genetics.
(3) All industrial hemp projects, including genetics, that are produced in the Commonwealth shall be able to be freely shipped across State lines into and out of this Commonwealth.
(4) The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth prepares a process for institutions of higher education in this Commonwealth to obtain approval to conduct industrial hemp research that complies with existing law and is eligible for Federal grant funding.
(5) The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth prepares educational programs and materials for the education of youth and the public on the growth, cultivation and market potential for industrial hemp; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Secretary of Agriculture of the Commonwealth, the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
____
POM-307. A resolution adopted by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Jackson, Alabama memorializing their support for continued and increased exploration and production of the Gulf of Mexico, and urging the United States Congress to keep its commitment under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act to share Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues with Gulf producing states and their coastal political subdivisions; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
POM-308. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas relative to the acceptance of government-produced currency; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
____________________
