AMCNO Joins National, State and Local Organizations Endorsing the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

The AMCNO has joined the hundreds of other medically related organizations endorsing S.625/HR 1108, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This legislation would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products. Despite being responsible for more than 438,000 deaths each year, tobacco products are virtually unregulated by the federal government.

Led by the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the AMCNO joined organizations across the country committed to reducing and preventing the staggering death and disease caused by tobacco use. Tobacco-caused disease is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States. In 2004, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly, 78-15 to grant the FDA effective authority to regulate tobacco products, but the legislation ultimately died in a conference committee. Forty-three years have passed since the U.S. Surgeon General reported on the unquestionable dangers of smoking. Since that time, tobacco products have become the largest single preventable cause of death in America while Congress has yet to take meaningful action.

This legislation meets the standards long established by the public health community for a strong FDA tobacco regulation bill that protects the public health. It would give the FDA the necessary tools and resources to effectively regulate the manufacturing, marketing, labeling, distribution and sale of tobacco products. The FDA would have the authority to:

• Stop illegal sales of tobacco products to children and adolescents.

• Require changes in tobacco products, such as the reduction or elimination of harmful chemicals, to make them less harmful and less addictive.

• Restrict advertising and promotions that appeal to children and adolescents.

• Prohibit unsubstantiated health claims about so-called “reduced risk” tobacco products that discourage current tobacco users from quitting or encourage new users to start.

• Require the disclosure of tobacco product content and tobacco industry research about the health effects of their products.

• Require larger and more informative health warnings on tobacco products.

The AMCNO has written to Northeastern Ohio Congressional Representatives and Senators asking for their strong support of this legislation.