How You Can Help Hold Big Tobacco Accountable
Nearly 20 years ago, a U.S. Federal District judge found that the major cigarette manufacturers violated civil racketeering laws for deliberately defrauding the public.
News
U.S. House Passes FDA Legislation
April 3, 2009
A solid victory today in the fight to protect children from Big Tobacco!
By a strong bipartisan majority of 298 to 112, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (HR 1256). The bill gives the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products and the marketing of those products.
We couldn't have done it without the hard work of ACS CAN and Society staff and volunteers. Since the bill was first introduced 10 years ago, thousands of staff and volunteers have put in countless hours urging their members of Congress to vote for the bill. In just the past two weeks leading up to today’s vote, ACS CAN advocates sent more than 4,200 emails, made hundreds of phone calls to key congressional offices, and helped secure dozens of cosponsors for the legislation.
The outlook for this bill is brighter than ever before. The next stop is the U.S. Senate, where we closed out 2008 and the 110th Congress with 60 Senate cosponsors—the critical number necessary to overcome filibusters. With several new Senators in the 111th Congress, we believe support for this bill will continue to grow. The momentum resulting from the House passing the bill leads us to look forward to the bill’s introduction in the Senate after it returns from a two week Congressional recess that begins this Friday, April 3. The recess is a great time to shift our focus to the Senate, conducting meetings and contacting senators to urge them to cosponsor and support this legislation. We will press for quick Senate floor action so the bill can move to President Obama’s desk for signature.
Without your unwavering commitment, this vote would not have occurred. I am grateful for all you are doing, and will continue to do. Together, we CAN fight back against decades of Big Tobacco targeting children and deceiving adults. Together, we CAN save lives. Together, we CAN make cancer history!
Dan Smith
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