January 2007
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For more information, please contact: January 2007 Positive Outlook for Legislation on Tobacco Regulation Legislation in many areas affecting public health is expected to be introduced in the 110th Congress. One area that is particularly promising is implementing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of the sale, distribution, and advertising of tobacco products. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) have indicated that they will introduce legislation on FDA regulation of tobacco this year. The legislation will likely include restrictions on tobacco advertising to children, strict enforcement by the FDA of laws limiting tobacco sales to minors, and would require tobacco manufacturers to release information on ingredients and additives in their products. Further information and calls to action will be sent out to NACCHO members as this issue moves forward. Visit the NACCHO Legislative Action Center at http://capwiz.com/naccho/home/ for updated information on legislation and contact information for Members of Congress. Public Health Funding Update The 109th Congress adjourned without passing appropriations bills funding the Dept. of Health and Human Services for FY 2007, which started October 1, 2006. Last month, as reported previously in Notes from Washington, incoming Appropriations Chairmen Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Rep. David Obey (D-WI) announced that they plan to pass a continuing resolution in February that would fund all government programs not funded by the 109th Congress through the end of FY2007. The continuing resolution to be passed in February will not contain any Congressional earmarks, or funding for special projects identified by individual members of Congress. Working within the constraints of the Republican budget for FY2007, Byrd and Obey pledged to make "limited adjustments" to address their policy priorities. The Senate Appropriations Committee under Republican control wrote a bill for FY07 that added $5 billion to the President's budget for health, education and labor, to help prevent cuts in those areas. However, the full Senate had previously agreed to devote $7 billion to increasing that bill. Senators Harkin (D-IA) and Specter (R-PA) have asked for help getting that extra $2 billion into the overall total. This would help assure that vital public health programs can be sustained without cuts. Visit the NACCHO Legislative Action Center at http://capwiz.com/naccho/home/ to find out how you can take action on this issue. ***Remember to visit http://capwiz.com/naccho/home/ for all the latest legislative news from Washington.*** |