Red Flag for Tobacco
One in five U.S. deaths are caused by smoking and lawmakers are stepping in. The $80 billion tobacco industry will be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed the legislation, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in a 39-13 vote in Washington.
The bill is supported by industry leader Altria Group Inc. President Barack Obama, who kicked the habit, plans to add more noticeable warnings to cigarette packages, restrict tobacco marketing to young people, and require the FDA to monitor ingredients and the introduction of new tobacco products.
“Regulating tobacco is the single most important thing that we can do right now to curb the deadly toll of tobacco,” said Representative Henry Waxman, “and the FDA is the right agency to do the job.”
However Representative Joe Barton says there are better ways to address the tobacco issue and he would hope as the bill moves forward members will reflect on the unintended consequences of legislation.
All of the Democrats at the panel’s meeting voted in favor of the legislation, and they were joined by six Republicans. The measure now moves to the full house.
