WASHINGTON, DC, April 2, 2009 - Partnership for Prevention today congratulated the U.S. House of Representatives for passing HR 1256, the “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.”

The legislation, which was approved by an overwhelming 298-112 vote, would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products and provide ongoing oversight to protect the public’s health. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

“Partnership thanks the members of the House for their support and encourages enactment without delay,” said Diane Canova, Partnership’s Managing Senior Fellow and Senior Tobacco Program Officer. “The sooner this legislation becomes law, the sooner we can save more lives and reduce health care costs.

“We commend Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Representative Todd Platts (R-PA) for their leadership of this effort,” Canova said.

She noted that while tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States - killing more than 400,000 Americans every year and resulting in $96 billion in health care costs – it remains one of the least regulated consumer products.