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American Legacy Foundation® Comments on FDA Authority on Tobacco Products

6/22/2009

Statement by Cheryl G. Healton, Dr PH, President and CEO

Washington, D.C. – The American Legacy Foundation^® applauds the historic step taken today by President Obama in signing the Family Smoking and Prevention Act into law. This legislation is an unprecedented public health victory and years from now, could be lauded as a true tipping point in the rapid decline of smoking and changing of social norms surrounding tobacco in the U.S.

For the last decade, forces in the tobacco industry have successfully fought efforts to grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco and tobacco products. The absence of regulation has allowed the industry to bypass disclosures, requirements and restrictions – standard for other drugs and consumer products that otherwise would provide the public with an accurate understanding of commercial tobacco products and the harmful consequences of using them.

This law marks a new and promising chapter in the fight against tobacco and we are eager to see its mandates take effect.  From sweeping marketing restrictions to banning flavorings that appeal to youth, the nation will soon see the end to misleading claims such as “light” and “low tar,” and benefit from transparency regarding ingredients and new more prominent warnings that will more effectively communicate the deadly effects of tobacco.

This measure would not have been possible without the dedication of many Congressional leaders and their staff who have long fought to reduce tobacco use in the United States. We want to also congratulate the bill’s lead sponsors, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Congressman Todd Platts (R-PA), Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX).

Senator Christopher Dodd’s (D-CT) leadership on the bill on the past few months also made today possible and the bill enjoyed support from long-time champions Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).

Many other Congressional leaders played a critical role to get this bill passed, sharing personal stories and speaking out against an industry that has gone long unchecked.

We congratulate the many organizations and groups that have worked tirelessly over the past decade to make this bill a reality. They have demonstrated incredible commitment to help protect Americans from the devastating consequences of tobacco use. 

We want to especially acknowledge the organizations that have championed this effort, including the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the American Lung Association, among countless others. The American Legacy Foundation looks forward to continuing our mission to build a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit.  That possibility is one step closer to reality today as this law is enacted.

The American Legacy Foundation^® is dedicated to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. Located in Washington, D.C., the foundation develops programs that address the health effects of tobacco use, especially among vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by the toll of tobacco, through grants, technical assistance and training, partnerships, youth activism, and counter-marketing and grassroots marketing campaigns. The foundation’s programs include truth^®, a national youth smoking prevention campaign that has been cited as contributing to significant declines in youth smoking; EX^®, an innovative public health program designed to speak to smokers in their own language and change the way they approach quitting; research initiatives exploring the causes, consequences and approaches to reducing tobacco use; and a nationally-renowned program of outreach to priority populations. The American Legacy Foundation was created as a result of the November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached between attorneys general from 46 states, five U.S. territories and the tobacco industry. Visit www.americanlegacy.org.

The American Legacy Foundation^® is equipped with a VideoLink ReadyCam™ television studio system, providing you with faster, easier access to the nation’s leading tobacco prevention and cessation experts. From this in-house broadcast studio, Legacy can offer immediate access to its experts to comment on breaking news, new research publications, or any news related to youth smoking prevention, adult quit smoking programs, or any issue related to smoking. The studio is connected directly to the Vyvx fiber network and is always available for live or pre-taped interviews. To arrange an interview using the ReadyCam, please contact Julia Cartwright at 202-454-5596.

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Contact: Julia Cartwright, 202-454-5596, jcartwright@americanlegacy.org