Tobacco bill on the move
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
The Senate June 4 debates House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman's, D-Calif., Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, H.R. 1256, which would give FDA authority to regulate tobacco products. The Senate will consider Help, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy's, D-Mass., nearly identical bill, S. 982, on June 8. The House passed H.R. 1256 in April. If the Senate passes the House bill without amending it, that bill would be sent to the White House. However, if the Senate amends H.R. 1256 or passes S. 982 instead, the two chambers would appoint a conference committee to iron out differences. President Obama supports giving FDA authority over tobacco products (1"The Tan Sheet" May 25, 2009, p. 8)