By Carlos Curbelo For decades, the United States has debated cannabis. Whether it's the medical benefits of the plant, the economic benefits it could have for legal, state-regulated small businesses, or the role legalization could have in product safety and combatting drug trafficking, this hot-button issue has attracted a great deal of discussion among the American people and their representatives at all levels of government.The issue is often described as a generational one, with younger Americans overwhelmingly showing their support for limiting federal overreach. However that perception is misleading, as nearly 75 percent of Americans support allowing states to set their own cannabis policy. At the state level, and increasingly as a nation, we are making substantial progress toward understanding what benefits cannabis reform can have in our society in the spheres of healthcare, the economy and small business, and criminal justice.In the 2016 elections, Florida voters overwhelming supported the legal use of medical marijuana with 71.3% of Florida voters voting in favor. The two counties I represent, Monroe and Miami-Dade, voted in favor of the measure 80.3% and 68.3%, respectively. And Florida is not alone. Nine states have legalized the drug for recreational purposes and 46 states have adopted lawspermitting or decriminalizing marijuana or marijuana-based products.This has paved the way for extensive bipartisan debate in Washington about whether the federal government should persist in its attempts to supersede the will of these states or if federal marijuana policy needs to be modernized to allow these states to exercise the will of their voters.I firmly believe the federal government must get out of the way and allow state regulation of marijuana, which is why I worked with my colleagues in the Senate and the House to introduce the bipartisan Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act.The STATES Act takes significant strides to ease federal reign over cannabis by allowing states to legalize and regulate cannabis -- or keep it illegal, if they choose -- while exempting state-legalized marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. This bill would allow states like Florida the legal authority to dictate their own cannabis policy, while staying in the bounds of federalregulations.The STATES Act would also guarantee that compliant transactions would not be considered trafficking, thereby allowing small business owners working with cannabis to operate fully within federal law.Contrary to popular belief, these actions would not make cannabis more readily accessible. Instead, this bill would encourage state-regulation, thus eliminating the role of drug traffickers in the marijuana industry. Furthermore, the STATES Act would help keep marijuana products out of that hands of minors by requiring purchases by those only over the age of 21, unless they have a specific medical issue that falls within state regulations. This bill is an opportunity for us to leave the regulation of this substance to the states, just as the Tenth Amendment of our Constitution outlines.The STATES Act is a positive step toward reversing some of the rhetoric that comes with debating cannabis policy and also gives opportunities for small business to continue to grow. The federal government for years has ignored or impeded states' rights when it comes to this issue, and the current administration has only worsened that tension with the Attorney General's witch hunt against legal, state-regulated businesses and consumers.While we still have work to do in terms of creating a more comprehensive and modernized federal cannabis policy, many of us in Washington are working in a bipartisan way to ensure the will of voters in states like Florida are respected. The STATES Act is just one example of how we accomplish this goal.

By Carlos Curbelo For two decades, congressional inaction on immigration has become the status quo. During my time in Congress, I've found myself frequently disappointed as time and time again leaders of both parties -- in both the House and Senate -- lacked the courage to allow Congress to debate and address this complicated and pressing issue. At stake are various legal immigration programs that have allowed hundreds of thousands to positively contribute to communities across the United States, much-needed improvements to border security to prevent drug cartels and human traffickers from continuing to profit and endanger lives of innocent civilians and law enforcement, and the fate of millions of young immigrants, known as Dreamers, who arrived in our country by no fault of their own -- brought parents who either illegally crossed one of our borders or overstayed their visas. The future of these young immigrants has been personal to me. For most of them, the United States is the only country they have ever called home. They attended and graduated from school with our own children and today are seeking to serve in our military, pursue a college degree, or contribute to our economy by working. Many have no memories of their countries of origin. They speak English, work hard, pay their taxes, and are positively contributing to our nation. Congress first began working on legislation to provide certainty for the benefit of young immigrants who were brought to our country as children some 17 years ago. All attempts have come up short, but this time failure is not an option. If Congress does not act, hundreds of thousands of talented young people, who are by most measures Americans, are in very real danger of losing the only home they've ever known. Failure would also mean our border continues to be left unprotected as illegal drug traffickers continue to fuel the opioid crisis and human traffickers continue to take advantage and endanger the lives of countless others. Last year, the President set a deadline for Congress to take action and address these important immigration priorities, but the target date came and went because politics-as-usual took hold of leaders in both parties. The frustrating nature of this process has been exhausting to those of us dedicated to getting something done on this issue. Last month, several of my colleagues and I decided enough was enough and utilized a little-known parliamentary measure called a discharge petition. If successful, this seldom-used legislative tool would force a debate on the House Floor on four possible immigration proposals representing a wide array of views on the issue -- including increased and modernized border security and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. Thanks to the courage of many, my fight to force a debate on immigration is finally within striking distance of having the support we need to succeed -- ensuring the House of Representatives finally does its part to move forward comprehensive immigration reform in Congress. Moderate Republicans and Democrats have negotiated tirelessly to find a compromise that provides certainty for the DACA population, protects legal migration into our nation, and provides assurances that future illegal entry is discouraged and diminished. Members of both parties have worked hard for years to get to this point, and I will continue my relentless efforts to use all tools at my disposal to advocate for our South Florida community and the nation. A fair debate in the House of Representatives is the only way forward on immigration -- and I'm not going to stop until all our voices are heard.

By Carlos Curbelo For nearly 70 years, the United States has recognized May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Although much has been done since then to destigmatize mental illness, expand access to treatment, and encourage patients to seek care, there is more work to be done. Even everyday activities and responsibilities can cause difficulty and stress that, if left unchecked, may increase the incidence or severity of mental health conditions that can affect our daily lives, overall health and well-being. Prevention and awareness not only save lives, but are also essential to reducing the burden these conditions can have on individuals, families, and communities across the country. Effective treatment is necessary for individuals with mental health conditions to recover and lead full, productive lives. Given the crucial role mental health plays in our lives, now more than ever we need to act to make mental health research and treatment a priority in our society -- and government can play an important role. We need to encourage robust funding for agencies like the National Institute of Mental Health which focuses efforts on research related to mental illness and suicide prevention. There is still much work to be done, which is why I introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow Americans to contribute by purchasing postage stamps that benefit Mental Health Awareness programs. We also need to expand access to mental health care providers and treatments. Through the Medicare Mental Health Access Act I co- sponsored, my colleagues and I are working to allow clinical psychologists to provide their full range of services to Medicare beneficiaries in order to increase access to care. I'm also proud of my work to encourage mental health among our veterans. Through House passage of the Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Health Act, we're one step closer to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) providing former members of the Armed Forces with initial mental health assessments and any services they need to treat the veteran's urgent mental health care needs, including risk of suicide or harming others. Lastly, we need to stop the overcriminalization of those with mental health conditions and redirect them to the appropriate services that help them make positive contributions to their communities and reduce the chances of reoffending. As a supporter of the SAFE Justice Act, I want to ensure the federal government encourages judicial districts across the country to open mental health courts and increase the use of evidence-based sentencing. I'm also fighting to reauthorize the Second Chance Act, which includes a grant program that helps provide a range of services, including mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment programs. We need to do more to not only encourage those who may be suffering to seek treatment, but also ensure they don't fall through the cracks or get trapped in local or federal bureaucracies that may not be making mental health a priority. Regrettably, as we've seen time and time again, without treatment, those suffering from mental illness can cause serious harm to not just themselves, but also members of their family, friends, and even innocent bystanders. This Mental Health Awareness Month, let's pledge to do more to not only encourage individuals to reach out for treatment, but also fight for policies that expand access to care and make mental health a priority.