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American Lung Association Urges Appropriations Committee to Reject All Riders that Threaten the Tobacco Control Act

WASHINGTON, DC | May 17, 2023

Today, the Committee on Appropriations released its the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (Ag-FDA) appropriations bill, which includes additional provisions, also known as riders, that if enacted, would weaken the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Tobacco Control Act. The American Lung Association’s National President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:

“The American Lung Association is deeply disappointed to see riders in the Ag-FDA appropriations bill that would threaten the FDA’s ability to protect the health of the public and our nation’s youth from tobacco products – including flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes. We urge the Committee to reject all riders.

“Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. The Lung Association is deeply troubled that members of the House would attempt to stop the FDA from finalizing the rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. These flavored products are aimed at attracting and addicting our nation’s youth and marginalized communities. Every day that menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars are on the market, it impacts our youth and contributes to health inequities in our country. 

“Another provision added to this bill would stop FDA from moving forward on a nicotine product standard that would propose to reduce the nicotine levels in tobacco products to non-addictive or minimally-addictive levels. Applying a low-nicotine standard to all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, will have significant public health benefits, including reduced youth initiation, reduced adult tobacco use and increased success at tobacco cessation attempts.

“Congress tasked the Food and Drug Administration with protecting the public health. The riders in the Ag-FDA appropriations bill impair the FDA’s ability to carry out this goal and undermine efforts to protect our nation’s youth. We urge the Committee to reject these riders.”

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About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.

For more information, contact:

Jill Dale
312-940-7001
[email protected]

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