WASHINGTON, D.C. -- March 12, 2008 -- “On behalf of the millions of families who have experienced the devastating effects of tobacco addiction, I commend Chairman Pallone (D-NJ), Chairman Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Waxman (D-CA) as well as and the other members of the House Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee who voted today in support of legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) broad authority to regulate tobacco products. Passage by the Health Subcommittee is a significant step forward toward enactment of this critical public health initiative by the end of the year.
“The tobacco industry has been left to its own devices for far too long, at the expense of the 4,000 children who try their first cigarette every day and the 440,000 Americans we lose each year from tobacco-related illnesses. Despite all the death and disease tobacco products cause, they are exempt from basic health regulations that apply to consumable products, drugs and even dog food.
“This bill will put a stop to Big Tobacco’s decades-old marketing strategy to addict each new generation of young people to their deadly products. Ninety percent of smokers begin before the age of 18, not because they think it’s good for their health, but because they’re persuaded by slick advertising and promotions that convince them smoking is glamorous and cool. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We urge the House to move the tobacco legislation quickly through the full committee and to the House floor.”
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan sister advocacy 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.