Federal Affairs

TELL CONGRESS: Protect Children from the Harms of Tobacco!

The American Academy of Pediatrics supports giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strong authority to regulate tobacco products and tobacco marketing to children and adolescents. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1108/S. 625), will adopt a science-based approach to protecting children and the public from the dangers of tobacco.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act:

  • Bans flavored tobacco products that attract youth smokers.
  • Limits advertising to youth audiences.
  • Strengthens enforcement of retail age restrictions.
  • Bans terms such as “light,” "mild," and "low."
  • Controls “reduced risk” claims and products that discourage smokers from quitting.
  • Imposes bigger and better warning labels to resonate with youth.
  • Requires tobacco company disclosure of cigarette ingredients.
  • Allows FDA to control ingredient and nicotine levels.
  • Funds program through industry user fees paid by tobacco companies, not taxes or FDA appropriations.

For more details about the bill and why it's necessary, click here.

TAKE ACTION NOW:

  • Use the form below to send an e-mail to your senators and representative, or
  • Call the main Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your senators and representative, or contact them directly by looking them up.

TELL CONGRESS:

  • Smoking is dangerous to child health and must be strongly regulated.
  • FDA has the scientific knowledge necessary to regulate tobacco.
  • Co-sponsor the bill and pass it this year!

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Del Monte, AAP Department of Federal Affairs, (800) 336-5475, ext. 3305, or mdelmonte@aap.org.

Subject: Protect Children from the Harm of Tobacco
Dear [Elected Official]:

As a constituent and pediatrician, I urge you to co-sponsor and work to pass the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1108/S. 625). The bill will protect children by giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strong authority to regulate tobacco products and keep them out of the hands of children and adolescents.

Smoking is a pediatric disease. Almost all adult smokers start smoking during or prior to their teen years. Every day, 1,000 children become regular smokers and, sadly, one-third of these children will die early from tobacco-related disease.

Regulation of tobacco must be strengthened to reduce the number of children who start smoking and to make cigarettes less harmful to those who already do. FDA is the only agency with the scientific knowledge to appropriately regulate tobacco products.

This bill would ban flavored tobacco products that attract youth smokers, limit advertising to youth audiences, and strengthen enforcement of retail age restrictions. It would also ban “light” cigarettes which can be just as dangerous as regular cigarettes, control “reduced risk” claims and products that discourage smokers from quitting, and impose bigger and better warning labels to resonate with kids. Finally, it would require tobacco company disclosure of cigarette ingredients and allow FDA to control ingredient and nicotine levels. The program would be paid for with industry user fees, not taxes or FDA appropriations.

Please co-sponsor and work to pass H.R. 1108/S. 625 as soon as possible to protect children from the dangers of tobacco. Thank you for your commitment to child health.
Sincerely,

Your name
Your street address
City, State Zip
    *required
    *
    *
    *
    *
    *
    *
    *
    This letter will be sent to the following individual(s):
    Your members of the U.S. Senate
    Your members of the U.S. House Of Representatives

    By clicking Continue, you agree to these terms and conditions

    Questions?

    Contact the AAP Department of Federal Affairs

    1-800-336-5475 or kids1st@aap.org


    ©  COPYRIGHT AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
    		 Site Map | Contact Us | Privacy Statement | About Us | Home
    American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007, 847-434-4000
    Use of this Web site signifies acceptance of our Terms of Use