Congressman Bishop Congressman Bishop Spoke Against HR 2339 on the House Floor

Washington, D.C. - On February 28, 2020, Congressman Dan Bishop (NC-09) spoke on the House floor against a bill to ban all flavored tobacco products, H.R. 2339.

"Thank You Madam Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding. HR 2339 will hurt farmers in North Carolina, disrespect the free choice of Americans, especially African Americans, and do nothing to advance public health.

The uncertainty this bill will create serves no legitimate purpose and will hurt 1300 hard pressed, hardworking farmers all across North Carolina. Why are Democrats so dismissive of the interest of farmers and the challenges they face? And consider this, nearly 30% of adult tobacco users report flavored tobacco use, almost nine and 10 adult African American smokers choose menthol. This bill would ban them all. How can you not only dismiss, but discriminate against, their adult choices? Do you really expect that no black market will emerge to cater to those choices? Have you considered the harms that will result from that? Kids shouldn't use tobacco, nor in my opinion should adults, but more bureaucracy trampling arbitrarily on adult free choice and destroying family farmers are nowhere close to the solution. I yield back."