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Rep. Melancon Votes for Landmark Tobacco Bill |
Measure to Reduce Youth Tobacco Use Passes out of Committee
April 2, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) voted today in support of historic legislation that would grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which Rep. Melancon is a member of, approved the “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act” (H.R. 1108) by a bipartisan vote of 38 to 12.
“Preventing our young people from starting a deadly, lifelong tobacco addiction is key to improving the overall health of Louisianians,” said Rep. Melancon. “While the health of our children must always come first, I also felt it was important that this bill be responsive to the concerns of small businesses. I am pleased the Committee has passed a bill that will significantly reduce the number of American children who will try their first cigarette.”
“Rep. Melancon worked very hard to ensure that retailers are treated fairly, but still held accountable,” said Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. “With his help, the Committee has produced a balanced bill that will protect young people from the dangers of tobacco, without unfairly penalizing retailers.”
H.R. 1108 would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the regulation of tobacco products by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the FDA. The legislation provides the FDA with resources necessary to fulfill its new responsibilities by requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco to pay user fees to fund the FDA’s new regulatory responsibilities under the bill.
H.R. 1108 would do the following:
- Subject new tobacco products to premarket review;
- Allow the Secretary to require prior approval of all label statements;
- Allow the Secretary to restrict the sale or distribution of tobacco products, including advertising and promotion;
- Allow the Secretary to take specified actions, including public notification and recall, against unreasonably harmful products;
- Require the Secretary to establish tobacco product standards to protect the public health;
- Set forth standards for the sale of modified risk tobacco products;
- Prohibit cigarettes from containing any artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol);
- Reinstate the FDA’s 1996 Rule, which restricted tobacco marketing and sales to youth;
- Require the Secretary to establish a Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee; and
- Amend the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act to change cigarette warning labels and advertising requirements. The legislation also makes changes to smokeless tobacco warning labels and advertising requirements.
The measure enjoys support from public health groups and from industry. The bill has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Large tobacco manufacturers like Philip Morris and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company have also voiced support for the measure, as have retailers represented by the National Association of Convenience Stores.
The legislation must now go to the floor of the House of Representatives for consideration.
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