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House OKs Tobacco Measure

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The Washington Post

Published: July 31, 2008

WASHINGTON - The House approved legislation Wednesday that for the first time would empower the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the tobacco industry, a measure long sought by antismoking advocates.

After about 40 minutes of sometimes passionate debate, the House voted 326-to-102 to approve the measure.

It would give the agency broad authority over cigarette-makers, including the power to ban marketing of cigarettes to children, require disclosure of tobacco ingredients and mandate larger health warnings.

It also would enable the agency to require tobacco companies to reduce or eliminate harmful ingredients and ban flavored cigarettes.

The White House has signaled that President Bush would veto the legislation if it is approved by the Senate, which may not have a veto-proof majority in support of it.

"Regulating tobacco is the single most important thing that we can do right now to protect the public health of all Americans, especially our children." said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who co-sponsored the measure with Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.

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