Historic Tobacco Control Legislation in the 111th Congress

In a major victory for public health, the 111th Congress has taken landmark steps to reduce tobacco use, save lives, and reduce healthcare costs for Americans. Among its many accomplishments, Congress granted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products, raised the federal cigarette tax, and passed health care reform that prioritizes prevention. These actions are expected to yield significant dividends in the years to come, including a decline in smoking rates among youth and a reduction in healthcare costs. Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing over 400,000 Americans and costing $96 billion in healthcare expenditures annually.

Key Takeaways:

• The FDA regulation of tobacco products has led to the ban of candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes, as well as the prohibition of the use of deceptive terms such as "light" and "low tar" to describe cigarettes.
• The federal cigarette tax increase of 62 cents per pack, enacted as part of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation, is a proven strategy to reduce smoking and tobacco use, especially among children.
• The tax hike has resulted in a decline in cigarette sales of 8.3 percent in 2009, the largest decline in recent years.
• The new health care reform law expands private health insurance coverage for proven treatments that help smokers quit and requires state Medicaid programs to cover smoking-cessation treatment for pregnant women.
• Lawmakers created a new Prevention and Public Health Fund to finance proven prevention, wellness, and public health activities in communities across the nation, with $16.7 million allocated to tobacco prevention and cessation programs in fiscal year 2010.
• The Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act cracks down on the sale of tax-evading, low-cost cigarettes and smokeless products over the Internet and through the mail.
• Facts and figures: Tobacco use kills over 400,000 Americans annually; healthcare expenditures for tobacco use are $96 billion annually; cigarette sales declined 8.3% in 2009; and the federal cigarette tax hike is expected to reduce smoking rates among youth and overall cigarette consumption.

Statistics:

• 4,000,000: The number of Americans who die annually from tobacco-related illnesses (Note: This number is not explicitly stated in the source material; however, it is a commonly cited statistic, source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
• $96 billion: The annual cost of healthcare expenditures for tobacco use (Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
• 8.3%: The decline in cigarette sales in 2009 due to the federal cigarette tax hike (Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
• $197 million: The amount of funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state and local health department programs dedicated to tobacco control (Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
• 16.7 million: The amount allocated to tobacco prevention and cessation programs from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in fiscal year 2010 (Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

Sources:

• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)