The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee (HELP) approved legislation – S. 982 – introduced by Sen. Kennedy (D-MA) that would give sweeping regulatory authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over tobacco products.  This bill is similar to legislation recently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives – HR 1256 introduced by Rep. Waxman (D-CA).

Both bills would give the FDA broad regulatory authority over virtually every aspect of tobacco manufacture, distribution, sales and access.  AWMA has consistently opposed these bills as harmful to the distribution community but has supported alternative measures – HR 1261 and S. 579 – that would promote more reasonable, less intrusive regulation of tobacco.  AWMA lobbied most recently on behalf of these bills and opposing the Kennedy/Waxman measures at our “AWMA Day on the Hill” event in Washington, D.C.  S. 982, Sen. Kennedy’s measure, will now have to be considered by the full Senate but as Congress will recess shortly for the Memorial Day holiday it will not likely be until sometime in June.  AWMA will keep members apprised of any new developments.

Meantime, AWMA continues to promote our grassroots initiative on this issue through our Web site at www.awmanet.org where members may send pre-written letters to their legislators outlining their concerns on this important matter.  Simply visit our Web site and click on the “government affairs” button on the lefthand side of the page to be taken directly to a pre-written letter that you may send to your lawmakers.  Thank you for your continued support!