The Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy Applauds President for Enactment of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

Silver Spring, MD— The Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy (CCCA) commends President Obama for signing into law bipartisan legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products.  The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 79 to 17 and the House of Representatives gave overwhelming final approval to the measure on June 12 by a vote of 307 to 97. 

Tobacco-caused diseases remain the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing more than 400,000 Americans each year.  More than 1,000 kids become regular, daily smokers – and one third of them will ultimately die from their addiction.  Smoking and other health compromising behaviors are particularly harmful for survivors of childhood cancer.  “Because adolescent and young adult cancer survivors have an increased risk of secondary cancers, it is important to ensure that these survivors avoid the use of tobacco products which may increase risk of cancer recurrence,” stated Susan Weiner, PhD, President of CCCA. “We commend the U.S. Congress for its’ bipartisan efforts and leadership on this important public health measure.” 

Under the law, the FDA will be able to set product standards and ban some chemicals in tobacco products, but not completely ban addictive nicotine.  The FDA will set up a new tobacco regulatory office financed by industry fees, which are expected to be $85 million in the first years and as much as $700 million annually within 10 years.  Among these things, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act will also:

§     Restrict tobacco advertising and promotions, especially to children.

§     Restrict flavoring in tobacco and raise penalties for sales of tobacco to under-age buyers.

§     Require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of tobacco products, as well as changes in products and research about their health effects.

§     Charge the FDA with imposing a ban on misleading claims such as “light” and “low-tar.”

"As a leading national advocacy organization that works to address the needs and challenges of childhood cancer survivors, we believe that this legislation is critical in helping prevent the next generation of young Americans and survivors of childhood cancer avoid a deadly, life-long addiction to tobacco use," stated Craig Lustig, Executive Director of CCCA.

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CCCA is one of more than 1000 national, state and local organizations that support the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. CCCA is a national organization that works to achieve access to less toxic and more effective therapies, expand resources for treatment, and to address the needs and challenges of childhood cancer survivors and their families.  CCCA also works to ensure that these needs and perspectives are integrated into the highest deliberations of cancer policy.