mr. curbelo: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in strong support of h.r. 5192, the protecting children from identity theft act and i'm grateful it's being brought before the house today. this bill aims to combat synthetic identity fraud by directing the social security administration to accept electronic signatures when institutions want to verify their day tafment it has been recorded a record 355 million was owed by people who it suspects didn't exist in 2017 up more than eight-fold from 2012. the government accountability office describe this is type of fraud as involving decreeation of a fictitious identity using a combination of real data, like social security and date of birth from multiple individuals along with fabricated information. h.r. 5192 is an important step in reducing fraud while ensuring that the it's it's administration is able to continue providing prnt services and benefits. the s.s.a. commissioner is not allowed to begin go the new verification system until the commissioner determines that at least 50%

mr. curbelo, and the gentleman from illinois, mr. davis, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from florida. .

mr. curbelo, for 30 minutes. mr. curbelo: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i'm here this evening to emphasize the importance of reforming our nation's policies concerning cannabis. this issue has grown to be increasingly bipartisan over the years and yet some in this administration have largely ignored the rising public support for legal state-regulated cannabis. mr. speaker, at this time i'm pleased to yield to my distinguished colleague from the florida panhandle, mr. i'm very proud to announce in the coming days, i will be joining the gentleman from virginia, mr. bob goodlatte in introducing legislation that enjoys support from across the ideological spectrum and will do several important things. it will increase the number of people who are growing grade cannabis and end the gag rule at the v.a. that precludes physicians to consult and speak with their patients about the laws in their particular states. third, it will create a safe harbor so some of the finest medical institutions and universities in this great country will be able to research and partne