Local Health Care Advocates Call on Congressman Pallone to Regulate Tobacco by the FDA this summer

 Local Health Care Advocates Call on Congressman Pallone to Regulate Tobacco by the FDA this summer 

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -  Local healthcare advocates gathered today for a Tobacco & Health Forum at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to urge U.S. Representative Frank Pallone to pass legislation this summer to grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco. The proposed legislation would require that tobacco companies disclose the contents of tobacco products and remove harmful ingredients; crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids; stop tobacco companies from misleading the public about health risks of their products; and require larger, more effective health warnings on cigarette packs.  Identical, bipartisan legislation granting FDA this authority (H.R. 1108) has been introduced by U.S. Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Tom Davis (R-VA). 

As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health, which has jurisdiction over the legislation, Congressman Pallone’s support will be critical to the enactment of the legislation. “The Tobacco Lobby has prevented the passage of this piece of legislation. There are very few congressmen who will stand up and oppose this bill, but the Big Tobacco always finds a way to kill it. We must make sure that that doesn’t happen again this year." Congressman Pallone told the forum participants.

 The audience was somber as Gerry Schwab recounted how smoking cigarettes led to a serious heart condition that made him lose nearly 30% of his heart muscle, cutting short a successful financial career. “It’s ridiculous that the FDA can regulate macaroni and cheese, lipstick and even dog food, but cannot regulate cigarettes,” said Schwab. Schwab has recently been named Survivor-Advocate of the Year by the American Heart Association.  

Tobacco use is the nation’s leading preventable cause of death, killing more than 400,000 people and costing more than $96 billion in health care costs each year.  In New Jersey, tobacco use kills 11,380 residents and costs the state $3.17 billion in health care bills a year. State Senator Joseph Vitale also spoke to the crowd urging the Federal Government to act. The Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee Chairman said: “We need the Federal Government to pass legislation to get these products, such as flavored cigarettes, off the shelves and out of the hands of teens. The FDA, if given the authority, could easily accomplish this.”

Dr. Michael Steinberg, Medical Director for UMDNJ’s Tobacco Dependence Clinic, added: “Tobacco companies are actively trying to maintain addiction among smokers and addict a new generation of replacement smokers.  The fact that the tobacco companies have been able to secretly increase nicotine levels in tobacco smoke occurred only because no federal or state agency currently has regulatory authority over cigarettes or what tobacco companies put in cigarettes.”

"Representative Pallone has a critical role to play in ensuring that strong FDA tobacco regulation is enacted into law,” said Deb Brown of the American Lung Association who served as the moderator for the event.  "The tobacco industry spends $15.4 billion a year marketing it's products and $314 million in New Jersey alone.  Unfortunately, until Congress grants the FDA authority over tobacco, the tobacco industry will continue to market to our children and not fully disclose all ingredients. This legislation must be passed by Congress this year. To wait until next year, an election year, would present serious difficulties."

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