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U.S. Senate Committee Passes Critical Tobacco Legislation
May 20, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- May 20, 2009 -- "The nation is one step closer to ending Big Tobacco's unfettered access to children in America with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s passage of legislation to grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products.
"The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (S. 982), which has 52 Senate cosponsors, passed out of committee by a bipartisan 15-8 vote and is expected to be considered by the full Senate in June. This critical public health legislation would stop the marketing of tobacco products to children, require tobacco companies to disclose the poisons and other ingredients in their products and mandate larger and more effective warning labels on tobacco product packaging. The bill would grant regulatory authority over tobacco products to the FDA, the science-based agency that oversees regulation of virtually every other consumable product in America.
"Tobacco companies spend nearly $40 million each day on advertising to lure a new generation of consumers. The industry also engages in blatantly deceptive and misleading advertising of so called "light” and "low-tar” products, promotion and sale of candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes that are aimed at kids, and free product giveaways, all while downplaying the danger of their products.
"Each and every day the tobacco industry is allowed to continue to operate unregulated and to freely market its lethal products to children, 3,500 children will smoke their first cigarette and 1,000 children will become addicted smokers. The FDA is the only agency with the vast scientific and regulatory expertise to regulate addictive tobacco products, which are responsible for killing more than 400,000 Americans every year.
"The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), together with more than 1,000 organizations, including public health, medical, children’s, and faith-based groups, supports this lifesaving piece of legislation.
"We call on the Senate to pass the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act as soon as possible and send it to the President’s desk for his signature, continuing the momentum started by passage of a companion House bill last month by an overwhelming bipartisan vote."
ACS CAN is currently engaged in a print and online advertising campaign focusing on the fact that every day Big Tobacco is allowed to operate unregulated, 3,500 kids smoke their first cigarette. To view these ads and a counter that tracks how many children have tried their first cigarette since January 1, 2009, visit www.fightcancer.org/protectkids.
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate organization of the American Cancer Society, dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
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