Ted Kennedy: Kennedy Supports President’s Cancer Panel Recommendations

August 16, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement today, strongly supporting the recommendations by the President’s Cancer Panel for effective national action to reduce the danger of tobacco.

“The recommendations eloquently reaffirm what is widely recognized throughout the public health community; that giving the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products is the most important step Congress can take to reduce smoking and the immense toll of illness and death it causes. It is absolutely essential to reduce smoking, especially among the nation’s youth.

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Legislation to do so has the support of a broad bipartisan majority in Congress. It was recently approved by the Senate Health Committee, and is likely to be acted on by the full Senate this fall. This legislation would enact the recommendations of the President’s Cancer Panel to prevent tobacco advertising targeted at children, ban the sale of tobacco products to minors, prohibit unsubstantiated health claims by the tobacco industry that mislead the public about the dangers of smoking, help smokers overcome their addictions, and require tobacco products to be less toxic and less addictive for those who continue to use them. Enacting this bill this year is the right thing to do, particularly for America’s children.”

Source: Senator Edward M. Kennedy