The House voted 326-102 to approve the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) broad authority to regulate cigarettes and other forms of tobacco.
The bill is backed by the nation's biggest tobacco maker, Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris, and various other public health groups. Both presidential candidates Sens. John McCain, (R-AZ), and Barack Obama, (D-IL), are in favor of the legislation.
However, the Bush administration has shown opposition to the measure, saying it would undermine the credibility of the FDA and could possibly distract the agency's attention from other public health responsibilities.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the White House said that President Bush's advisers would recommend he veto the bill if it reaches his desk.
To ensure that no funding is taken from the FDA's current projects, the legislation would require tobacco companies to pay user fees. Though the FDA would not be authorized to ban cigarettes altogether, it would have to approve all new cigarettes and other tobacco products, and set standards for advertising and the introduction of new products.
Tobacco use kills more than 400,000 Americans and costs the nation nearly $100 billion in health care bills each year. Every day, another 1,200 Americans die from tobacco use and more than 1,000 children become new regular smokers.
