[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                STOP MARKETING TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO KIDS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARY JO KILROY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 2009

  Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, for far too long, there has been a lack of 
oversight and regulation of a product that causes more than 392,000 
deaths in the U.S. each year. Our constituents, I'd contend, would be 
shocked to know what little oversight actually exists over tobacco 
products--the fuel driving the leading cause of preventable death in 
the United States.
  Today I want to tell you about a new, despicable product being sold 
in 3 cities around the country, including my hometown of Columbus, 
Ohio. Reynolds America is currently using my constituents in Columbus 
as guinea pigs and testing a smokeless tobacco product that looks like 
a mint. How is a child supposed to tell the difference between a mint 
that freshens your breath and one that gives you cancer?
  According to an article in a suburban Columbus newspaper, many high 
school students are using smokeless tobacco during school hours. The 
American Lung Association has confirmed with school janitors that they 
are finding smokeless tobacco pouches in the trash--confirming that 
kids are using smokeless tobacco in class. These new forms of tobacco 
will only make it easier for children to get access to tobacco products 
and become lifelong addicts. They won't even have to dispose of the 
evidence.
  What we need is for Congress to finally pass into law the Family 
Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This legislation would 
finally give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to 
regulate deadly tobacco products. Among other items in this bill, the 
FDA would be granted authority to regulate these appalling new 
smokeless, dissolvable tobacco products that are now hitting the market 
in Columbus.
  Chairman Waxman stated the other day that he intends to move this 
legislation ``very, very soon.'' I thank him for his leadership and 
urge this chamber to do just that so we can reduce the addiction, 
disease, and death caused by these products.