Senate Proceeding on Jun 4th, 2009 :: 2:45:50 to 2:56:45
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2:45:33 to 2:45:54( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: secure fashion, to put these prisoners in super maximum facilities, to stop using al qaeda as a device, it could mean the -- i yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from kentucky. a senator: madam president, we are in morning business, correct? the presiding officer: the

2:45:50 to 2:56:45( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jim Bunning

2:45:55 to 2:46:16( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: senator is correct. a senator: i have four amendments i would like to discuss to the pending bill. i wl not just would like to discuss and when the bill is presented on the floor then i will come back and talk about the specific amendments that are going to be

2:46:17 to 2:46:38( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: considered in the first tranche of amendments. but, first of all, i would like to rise today in strong opposition to the tobacco regulatory bill on the floor. mr. bunning: this sweeping legislation would dramatically increase the f.d.a.'s regulatory

2:46:39 to 2:47:00( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: authority outside the scope of original congressional intent. this is something that congress did not intend to give the f.d.a. when we wrote food and drug and cosmetic and that intent was even upheld

2:47:01 to 2:47:22( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: by the u.s. supreme court 2000. yet, there are still some of my colleagues out here that believe that it would be safer for the american public to regulate tobacco under the f.d.a. they will help reduce the negative effect of smoking and prevent

2:47:23 to 2:47:44( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: underaged smokers. ashe grandfather of 39 grandchildren, believe me, i the hand of kids. but the bill before us today does not do that. it is nothing more than an attempt to eliminate our

2:47:45 to 2:48:06( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: national and the big problem with this approach is that our nation's bacco farmers are the ones who are going to pay the price. not once in this bill did i read any type of language that would provide any type of protection to our tobacco farmers.

2:48:07 to 2:48:28( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: not e this is why i've introduced the four amendments -- let me give you their numbers, 1236, 1237, 1238, and 1239. if the f.d.a. is going to regulate tobacco and require sweeping changes within the

2:48:29 to 2:48:49( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: industry, i want to ensure that farmers have a voice at negotiatin my amendments do this. not only do they allow a fair grower representation, but they help ensure that those who will be most affected by this

2:48:50 to 2:49:13( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: legislation will n to patriot biggest price. let me be clear that i oppose the f.d.a. regulation of tobacco. i have said that as long tobacco is a legal commodity, it should be regulated through the usda. that's the united states

2:49:14 to 2:49:35( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: department of agriculture, not the f.d.a. if we're going to discuss giving the f.d.a. this authority through this or similar legislation, i want to make sure that we consider the impact of this on agriculture. in kentucky the family farm is

2:49:36 to 2:49:57( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: the foundation for who we are as a state. for over a century the family farm in kentucky has centered around one crop, tobac. tobacco barns in small plots of tobacco dot the kentucky landscape.

2:49:58 to 2:50:18( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: we are proud of our heritage and proud that tobacco plays in our history. even after the buyout, tobacco still plays a prominent role in my state's agricultural landscape. we have tried to broaden our agricultural base. we have had some success with

2:50:19 to 2:50:39( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: several types of cattle, and even raising catfish. but at the end of the day, nothing brings as much of a return to the small farmer in keucky as tobacco. it's big business for small farmers. with the current

2:50:40 to 2:51:00( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: conditions farmers in my state are turning to growing tobacco to supplement their cases tobacco is the source of income. the money they get from tobacco pays their mortgages, puts their kids through school, and actually allows them to stay on

2:51:01 to 2:51:21( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: the farm. outside of the western part of my state, kentucky does not have tens of thousands of acres of flat land. we have a lot of green rolling hills and climate where tobacco thrives. it can be

2:51:22 to 2:51:43( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: small plots -- small plots of land that simply cannot accommodate other crops. whether we like it or not, staple for ru it is profitable and farmers rely on it. that might not be popular but it is an economic reality

2:51:44 to 2:52:04( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: that we have to face. whatever the opponents of tobacco say, there is no denying that this bill will add unnecessary mandates and expenses on the farmers in the effect to punish the big tobacco companies. sure this bill will hurt big tobacco companies. they might have

2:52:05 to 2:52:26( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: offshore. they might have to start exploring more exporting more of their products, but they will survive. but don't have these options available to them. they're the ones tha are going to be hurt by this type of legislation.

2:52:27 to 2:52:49( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: now, some of my colleagues might support they would like to outlaw tobacco. well, the last time i looked tobacco was still a legal product in this country. and if my colleagues want to make it honest and upfront about it.

2:52:50 to 2:53:12( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: let's make itllegal. we can fight that here out on the floor of the u.s. senate. but let's not keep trying to slip it through the back door through overregulation and taxes in the name of preventing

2:53:13 to 2:53:33( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: underaged smoking. children should not have cigarettes. they shouldn't. this is why we have and advertising limits. we should do all that we can to keep cigarettes out of the hands of our kids, but the bill before

2:53:34 to 2:53:56( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: us is not the answer. we can do better and should do better. all this bill does is move the regulation of a legal product from one -- several agencies to another. one that has no jurisdiction to regulate it. the only people this bill is

2:53:57 to 2:54:19( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: going to hurt in the end are not the big tobacco companies, but the small and honest farmers who depend on tobacco to pay their bills. this is why i have offered four farmer-friendly amendments to the bill. i just want to explain a few minutes for the four.

2:54:20 to 2:54:41( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: one, bunning 1236, just clarifies nothing in this bill will prevent our farmers from growing and cultivating tobacco as they have been able to d the past 100-plus years. my second amendment, 1237, establishes a grower grant program that will would help

2:54:42 to 2:55:03( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: ease the financial burden on this bill on our farmers. 1238 gives growers a seat at the negotiating the underlying bill establishes a tobacco scientific advisory committee made up of 12 members. seven of those members are from

2:55:04 to 2:55:25( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: the medical fie to ensure that public health needs are taken into account. there is one of the public and three representatives from the tobacco industry. there are two manufacturers and one grower, all members of the committee are voting except for the last three, the tobacco representatives.

2:55:26 to 2:55:49( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: my amendment is simple. it gives the representatives the right to vote and adds two more grower positions. that way all three forms of

2:55:50 to 2:56:11( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: tobacco, relief. and the final is if they are going to impose any restrictions or requirements on farmers than they should consider and conduct a feasibility study so that we know the affect on the farm level. when my amendments come up, i encourage my colleagues to

2:56:12 to 2:56:34( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: support them. madam president, i thank you for your courtes floor. i note the absence of a the presiding officer: the clerk

2:56:35 to 2:56:40( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: will call the roll.