FDA Control Over Tobacco Products Legislation Passes in U.S. House of Representatives

ALBANY, NY (04/02/2009)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association in New York commended New York's Congressional delegation today for voting overwhelming in favor of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This long awaited action will give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory control over tobacco products, including curtailing advertising to children.

"Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of death in New York, killing over 25,000 people every year, and costing our state a staggering $14 billion annually," said Michael Seilback, Vice President, Public Policy & Communications. "Although, the federal government does not currently regulate Big Tobacco and their deadly products, that is hopefully about to change."

With passage in the House, the bill now moves to the Senate for consideration, where quick action is necessary to keep momentum moving toward President Obama's desk. Both Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have supported this measure in the past. New York's Congressional delegation voted unanimously in favor of the bill. Congresswoman Velazquez was recorded as "not voting", and New York currently has one vacant seat.

Passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act would provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urgently needed regulatory control over tobacco products. This legislation would finally provide the FDA the ability to stop the tobacco companies from advertising to children, making misleading health claims about their deadly products, and from manipulating their products to make them increasingly more addictive.

Each day, the tobacco industry lures 1,100 kids into becoming regular, daily smokers. Half will eventually die from smoking related illness in their adult years.

The American Lung Association's State of Tobacco Control 2008 report gave the federal government an "F" for its failure to regulate tobacco products.

For more information, or to view the complete New York State report card, visit us online at www.alany.org/SOTC.