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. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I couldn't agree more with what Mr. Dingell said, but I do also want to point out to the minority leader that this is about kids.
In fact, many adults smoke, and I'm sure they're very much aware of what they're doing. I suppose you could argue that, if people want to kill themselves and they're adults, then let them do so, but every day, approximately 4,000 kids, children, try a cigarette for the first time, of which 1,140 become new daily smokers.
According to my calculations, this means that since 1996 almost 5 million children have become tobacco addicts and that one-third of those kids will end up dying prematurely from tobacco-related illnesses.
So I say to the minority leader: Forget about the adults for the time being. We've got to stop the kids who are not aware and who don't understand the dangers of tobacco. They shouldn't start smoking. I think that's really what this is all about. This is a very important day, and I do resent the fact that the minority leader is belittling it by saying this is a boneheaded idea.
I want to thank Mr. Waxman. He has been at this for I don't know how many years--12, 15, 20 years.
Twelve years after the FDA first published a comprehensive rule that would protect children from the harmful effects of tobacco, we are finally one step closer to actually implementing its provisions and protecting millions of Americans, and particularly the children, from a lifetime of addiction and of poor health.
Madam Speaker, it's hard to believe that tobacco products are exempt from the basic health and safety regulations that apply to other consumer products, but in fact, they are. Presently, the FDA is prohibited from regulating tobacco products, one of the most dangerous products available to consumers, and that's why we have to act today. Imagine that the FDA regulates toothpaste but not cigarettes. They monitor cereal but not chewing tobacco. Ironically, the FDA regulates both over-the-counter and prescription medications to help people quit smoking; yet it has no authority over the cause of the addiction. By passing this bill today, we're one step closer to changing all of that.
In closing, I just want to say that this is a very important bill, and I urge its passage.
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