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Charlotte NC

Adams Amendment Prohibiting the Purchase of Tear Gas Adopted by the House

July 30, 2020

"it is my hope that today we ae nearing the dawn of a fairer, more equitable, and more just era of policing in this country."

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An amendment introduced by Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) to prohibit law enforcement from using federal funds to acquire chemical agents for domestic riot control was adopted today and is now a part of H.R. 7617, an appropriations bill commonly known as a "Minibus."

"Since the tragic death of George Floyd, millions of Americans have sought to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest and assemble," said Adams. "Too often, these actions have been met by the brute force of the state, as the elderly, as children, as those with medical conditions choke and asphyxiate due to the use of so-called 'riot control agents.' We can no longer condone the use of agents that hundreds of public health professionals say can help spread respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19. The use of such agents is banned by international law – so why would we use them against our own people?"

Previously, Adams introduced the Right to PROTEST Act, another measure to restrict the use of chemical agents like tear gas by local law enforcement.

A clip of Adams' remarks in support of the Amendment is available here.

A copy of the Amendment is available here.

Rep. Adams' full remarks (as prepared for delivery) are below:

Mr./Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this en bloc package –

And speak specifically in support of my amendment to prohibit the use of federal funds for the acquisition of chemical agents, such as tear gas and pepper balls.

Since the tragic death of George Floyd, millions of Americans have sought to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest and assemble.

Too often, these actions have been met by the brute force of the state, as the elderly, as children, as those with medical conditions choke and asphyxiate due to the use of so-called "riot control agents."

Mr./Madam Speaker, we can no longer condone the use of agents that hundreds of public health professionals say can help spread respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19.

The use of such agents is banned by international law – so why would we use them against our own people?

With my amendment, it is my hope that today we ae nearing the dawn of a fairer, more equitable, and more just era of policing in this country.

I yield back.

Congresswoman Alma Adams represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.