WASHINGTON, D.C. -- March 18, 2009 -- “Legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products now heads to the House Floor after being voted out of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today.
“The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1256) would at long last grant the FDA the power to regulate the manufacture, sale, and marketing of tobacco products, which kill 440,000 Americans each year. The bill is supported by the an overwhelming majority of the American public and by nearly 1,000 national, state and local public health, medical, children’s, and faith-based organizations. The prestigious Institute of Medicine and the President’s Cancer Panel have also recommended that Congress grant the FDA this authority.
“The FDA is the only federal agency with the scientific expertise necessary to effectively regulate tobacco products and prohibit misleading claims by the tobacco companies. Moreover, this bill provides FDA with the additional resources needed to ensure effective oversight of the industry.
“Each day, the tobacco industry spends $40 million to lure a new generation of young consumers, and 3,500 children pick up their first cigarette. Regulation of these deadly products is long overdue and we call on the House of Representatives to quickly approve this critical piece of public health legislation.”
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 https://www.fightcancer.org/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Alissa Havens
Phone: (202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected]
Steve Weiss
Phone: (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected]