Quarterly Report: Campaign Contributions by Tobacco Interests

The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund has long supported legislation to grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products. Among other things, the FDA should have the authority to restrict tobacco marketing and sales, especially to kids; require changes in tobacco products to remove harmful and addictive substances; and stop the tobacco industry from misleading consumers about the harm their products cause.

While the U.S. Senate passed FDA tobacco legislation by a vote of 78 to 15 (and later by unanimous consent), a few leaders in the House of Representatives managed to block the legislation from becoming law in a recent House-Senate conference committee. As a result, Congress enacted into law a $10 billion buyout for tobacco growers, but did nothing to protect our children from tobacco addiction and reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use in our country.

The Tobacco-Free Kids Action fund has run an unprecedented campaign including advertising, grassroots mobilization and events in states all over the country. Our staff has been working double-time on this campaign, but we need your help to get this bill passed in the next Congress to protect our children from tobacco addiction and save lives. Please click here to get involved either by donating financially or by contacting your elected officials. We can’t win this fight without you.