For Immediate Release
July 30, 2008 |
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Levin Statement in Support of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act |
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(Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) made the following floor statement in support of H.R. 1108, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
Madame Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1108, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. I urge the House to vote in favor of this legislation, which takes critical steps to protect the public, especially minors, from the dangers of tobacco use.
According to the American Heart Association, cigarette use is the number one preventable cause of poor health and premature death worldwide. It is estimated that smoking causes one in five deaths in the United States, or approximately 400,000 premature deaths per year.
Despite laws in every state prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to minors, the U.S. Surgeon General estimates that young people ages 12 to 17 continue to purchase and smoke millions of packs of cigarettes each year. H.R. 1108 contains a number of strong provisions to protect young people from tobacco advertising and access to tobacco products. The bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to ban outdoor tobacco advertising within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds, restrict tobacco vending machines to adult-only facilities, require retailers to verify age for all over-the-counter tobacco sales, and mandate Federal enforcement and penalties for those who sell tobacco products to minors.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act also includes provisions to ensure that tobacco advertising is not misleading to consumers. In the past, tobacco companies have been allowed to use such terms as “light,” “mild,” and “low” without proving that products labeled with these words were less dangerous to health than generic equivalents. This bill requires tobacco manufacturers to prove that products actually impart reduced risk or reduced exposure to users before employing terms that imply these safeguards.
In addition, H.R. 1108 contains vital provisions that aim to reduce the harmful health effects of tobacco products for adults who do decide to use them. The bill allows the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the contents of cigarettes and other tobacco products. This authority is of paramount importance. Over 4,000 chemicals, including 60 carcinogens, have been identified in tobacco smoke. It is unlikely that tobacco will ever be an inherently safe product. But allowing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the chemical additives to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco will help to reduce the health dangers of these products to the extent possible.
Passage of H.R. 1108 is an essential step forward in promoting the health of all Americans. Let’s pass this important legislation.
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To Contact Congressman Levin: -
Email Congressman Levin In Michigan: 27085 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 498-7122 | (248) 968-2025
In Washington: 1236 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-4961
