Senate Takes Key Step Toward Approving Historic Tobacco Regulation Bill
Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
June 09, 2009
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Senate today has taken a critical step toward enacting historic legislation to finally regulate tobacco products and reduce tobacco's devastating toll on our nation's children and health. We applaud the 61 senators who voted to limit debate on this legislation and ensure that a final vote takes place later this week. Today’s vote clears the most significant obstacle remaining to enactment of this long-overdue legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over tobacco products. This legislation will at long last end special protection for the tobacco industry and protect our nation's children and health instead. As Senate debate continues, we urge senators to reject all amendments to weaken the bill.