MINNEAPOLIS, April 7, 2008—Ron Davis, M.D., president of the American Medical Association, hailed the passage by the U.S. House and Energy and Commerce Committee last week of “The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.”

“The AMA urges the full House to take a critical step to combat smoking-related diseases by passing the bill this year, giving the FDA needed regulatory authority over tobacco products," Davis said.

“Given what we know about the dangers of smoking, it is astonishing that tobacco products are one of the least regulated products in our society. The time is now for Congress to pass legislation to regulate the tobacco industry and protect the health of Americans, particularly our nation’s youth. The bill will stop illegal sales of tobacco products to children, further restrict marketing, especially to kids, and require more informative package health warnings," he said.

Davis pointed out that that the FDA currently serves a vital role in protecting the health of Americans through the regulation of food and drugs. "This bill ensures that the FDA will have the resources necessary to regulate the tobacco industry in addition to its current responsibilities,” he said.

News release about the bill from Sen. Edward Kennedy's office