Durbin, Lautenberg Applaud DOJ Appeal of Ruling That Blocks New Tobacco Warning Labels

Press Release

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today applauded the Obama Administration for its decision to appeal a court ruling that blocks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from requiring new graphic warning labels on cigarette packages and advertisements.

"We applaud the Justice Department for appealing this ruling and fighting for public health, especially the health of our children." the Senators said. "The FDA's new labels provide a warning about the real health risks of smoking that shouldn't be kept away from the public. Big Tobacco must not be allowed to go ahead using slick marketing campaigns to deceive the public about the dangers of smoking."

In June, the FDA chose new graphic labels that send a tough message about the dangers of smoking. The nine warning labels chosen were scheduled for use on all cigarette packages and advertisements.

Earlier this month, Durbin and Lautenberg were joined by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in sending a letter to the Department of Justice and the FDA requesting the immediate appeal of the court's decision to block the new warning labels.

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