Georgia Kids 'Kick Butts' on April 2(ey. A report about the poll findings and...),Health

To protect kids from tobacco addiction and save lives, health advocates are urging Congress to pass pending legislation (S. 625/H.R. 1008) granting the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to vote on the legislation on Kick Butts Day (April 2). Representative John Barrow (D-GA) is a member of that committee and a cosponsor of the legislation.

Among other things, the legislation would grant the FDA authority to crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids; require that tobacco companies disclose the contents of their products and reduce or remove harmful ingredients; stop tobacco companies from misleading the public about the health risks of tobacco products; and require larger, more effective health warnings on tobacco products.

"It is unacceptable that tobacco products are the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, yet they are virtually unregulated to protect our kids and the nation's health," said William V. Corr, Executive Director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "By granting the FDA authority over tobacco products, Congress can stop the tobacco industry from targeting our children and misleading the public. We hope Kick Butts Day will inspire our nation's leaders to take effective action to protect children and save lives."

At the state level, health advocates are urging governors and legislators to adopt proven measures to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, including higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free workplace laws, and well-funded programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit.

Since the 1998 tobacco settlement, tobacco companies have nearly doubled their annual marketing expenditures,
'/>"/>