Senator Merkley on FDA Tobacco Bill

"Bill Includes Merkley Amendment to Place Dangerous Tobacco Candy Under Review"

June 22, 2009 --

Washington D.C. – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley joined President Obama today at the signing ceremony for the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which allows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products for the first time. The legislation includes an amendment from Senator Merkley and Senator Sherrod Brown (D – Ohio) that requires the new Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee to immediately study the public health effects of tobacco candy and report to the FDA on its findings.

After the signing ceremony, Merkley released the following statement:

“This legislation is a major victory for the health of our children and the future of our health care system. By bringing tobacco products under the purview of the FDA, this law will ultimately save lives and reduce health care costs.

“Big tobacco companies have realized that in order to keep raking in huge profits, they need to hook a new generation on tobacco products. That’s why it’s so important that Senator Sherrod Brown and I were able to include an amendment that places new, dangerous tobacco candy products under close scrutiny.

“Starting today, the FDA will have real power to crack down on the marketing of tobacco products to our kids. I will continue working to get dangerous tobacco candy products off of store shelves and out of the hands of children.”

Source: Senator Jeff Merkley