[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 135 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TESTIMONIAL FREE SPEECH ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2011

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Testimonial Free Speech 
Act. This legislation prohibits the federal government from censoring 
an individual's account of his experience with foods and dietary 
supplements. Hard as it may be to believe, the government is 
prohibiting individuals from sharing their stories of how they improved 
their health by using foods and dietary supplements.
  Just this year, armed federal agents raided the headquarters of Maxam 
Nutraceutics, a company that produces and sells nutritional supplements 
for people with autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer's disease. The 
raid was based on Maxam's alleged failure (a failure Maxam CEO James 
Cole disputes) to comply with a warning letter from the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) ordering Maxam to remove several ``improper 
labels'' from Maxam products. The labels in question were simply 
accounts from Maxam customers describing their experiences with Maxam 
products. That's right, the federal government sent armed agents into a 
private business because the business posted customers' testimonials.
  Mr. Speaker, restricting communication of individuals' accounts of 
their experiences with foods and dietary supplements is a blatant 
violation of the First Amendment. The necessity for this bill shows how 
little respect the federal bureaucracy has for the Bill of Rights and 
the principles of a free society. I therefore urge my colleagues to 
join me in taking a small step toward restoring free speech by 
cosponsoring the Testimonial Free Speech Act.

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