The legislation recently passed by the House – HR 1256 – introduced by Rep. Waxman (D-CA) giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration broad regulatory authority over tobacco may soon be debated in the Senate.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) recently placed that bill on the Senate calendar which means that that body may be taking this issue up very shortly.

AWMA will be making this issue a top priority next week when our members fly in to Washington, DC to lobby on behalf of the industry as part of our annual “AWMA Day on the Hill” program.  A spokesman for Senator Reid indicated that the bill would likely be on the Senate floor towards the end of the work period which could mean sometime in May.  However, Senator Kennedy has indicated that he is hoping to introduce a measure similar to Rep. Waxman’s bill sometime soon so it is unclear at this time whether the measure to be taken up will be the Waxman or Kennedy bill.

AWMA urges our members to make their views known on this issue.  Our Association is opposing the Waxman (and Kennedy if introduced) bill but supporting alternative legislation – HR 1261 in the House and S. 579 in the Senate – that would promote reasonable regulation of tobacco.  This issue is pressing at the moment, and if you have not already done so, please take a moment right now to visit our Web site and send a pre-written letter on this issue to your legislators.  You may find the letter at www.awmanet.org and simply click on the “government affairs” button to be taken directly to the issue.  Thank you for your continued support!