Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

FAMILY SMOKING PREVENTION AND TOBACCO CONTROL ACT -- (House of Representatives - July 30, 2008)

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Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1108, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This bill is a pioneering step forward in a decades-long struggle to safeguard the health of our citizens by ensuring that tobacco products are properly regulated. I am proud that the House of Representatives is taking this historic action on such an important public health issue.

The dangers of tobacco products are no secret. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 438,000 deaths, or nearly 1 out of every 5 deaths, each year in the United States. Additionally, a report released by the National Cancer Institute states that smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer causing agents. Despite these and a multitude of other troubling revelations, the tobacco industry has remained virtually outside the realm of transparency or oversight. This groundbreaking measure will empower the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with meaningful authority to regulate tobacco product content and marketing for the first time in our nation's history.

H.R. 1108 authorizes the FDA to restrict the sale and distribution of tobacco products, including its advertising and promotion, particularly as it affects children. It requires tobacco companies to disclose the nicotine levels and chemical contents of their tobacco products, and mandates reporting on changes to the products and any research regarding their health effects. This legislation does not permit the removal of nicotine from tobacco; however, it will grant the FDA authority to eliminate harmful ingredients and additives, and reduce nicotine levels. It will also prohibit terms such as ``light,'' ``mild'' and ``low-tar'' that mislead consumers into believing that certain cigarettes are safer than others.

Tobacco is a drug with well known adverse health effects, and it should be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration like any other. This bill will provide the FDA with the necessary regulatory and oversight authority to address how tobacco products are manufactured, advertised, and marketed. Further, it will fund this authority with user fees to ensure that other efforts at the FDA are not compromised.

The CDC estimates that every day, approximately 4,000 youth try a cigarette for the first time, and another 1,000 will become new, regular daily smokers. One-third of these youth will eventually die prematurely as a result. At a time when our nation's health care system is already straining under the increased weight of chronic disease, this Congress must take action to directly address the dangers of tobacco. To that end, I remain ready to work with my colleagues on this important issue and urge that they support the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

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