FDA regulation of tobacco products MAY actually happen!

Hi everyone,

If you haven't met me or didn't know, I'm Emily, the new Coordinator of the Winnebago County Tobacco-Free Coalition. I look foward to meeting and working with each of you on some exciting events coming up this year.

Some coming up soon include:
Oshkosh's National Night Out
Tuesday, August 5 from 4-8pm
South Park in Oshkosh

Back to School Fair
Thursday, August 7 from 12-6pm
FVTC Oshkosh

Winnebago County Fair
Thursday/Friday, August 7 and 8 from 3-5pm
Sunnyview

I'll be bring the Tobacco Candy Store to each of these events. I am hoping to target youth and their parents. If any one is free to help at any of these events, email me: edieringer@co.winnebago.wi.us


On a different topic, the US House yesterday voted to give the FDA regulatory power over tobacco products. An article is below:

In a truly historic event today, the U.S. House of Representatives just voted overwhelmingly to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products. This action comes almost twelve years after the FDA under David Kessler first asserted jurisdiction over tobacco and more than eight years after the Supreme Court ruled that only Congress could give the FDA that authority.

The overwhelming vote of 326 to 102 in favor of the legislation is rare in today's political climate and reflects the tremendous work that everyone around the country has done to educate the public and our policymakers about the toll of tobacco and the solutions needed to reduce that toll. Attached is the Campaign's statement on today's vote.

The version of the bill passed today includes a few modications from the bill voted on by the Energy and Commerce Committee in April. One important modfication is the addition of language drafted and approved by the Congressional Black Caucus regarding menthol cigarettes. We support these improvements, which accelerate the formation of the new FDA Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee and direct it to issue recommendations on the regulation of menthol in cigarettes within one year of its establishment.

Additional provisions require FDA to publish an action plan to enforce restrictions on the advertising and promotion of menthol and other cigarettes to youth, with priority attention to enforcement in minority communities, and to assist State, local, and Tribal governments in carrying out their authority under the Act to prevent underage tobacco use, particularly in communities with a disproportionate use of menthol cigarettes by minors.The next step is the Senate, where the legislation has 57 co-sponsors, along with a handful of other members who have indicated they will support the bill on the floor.

We are hopeful, despite the limited time left on the Senate calendar, that today's overwhelming bipartisan vote in the House will help encourage the Senate to take up the issue in September.

If you want the full article/information, just email me!
Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to this very important health issue.

Emily

FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products!

The House Energy and Commerce Committee this afternoon voted overwhelmingly, 38 to 12, to approve the bill to grant the FDA authority over tobacco products. The committee also defeated all amendments to the weaken the bill. This is the first time a House committee has ever approved such legislation, and the strong, bipartisan vote provides powerful momentum. We will provide additional information later on next steps. Today's victory would not have happened without the hard work of advocates across the country who have contacted members of Congress, written letters to the editor and op-ends, participated in press conferences, and taken other action in support of this legislation. So thank you to everyone who has worked to support this legislation!

US Smokeless Tobacco Company making it way into local events!

I just saw an advertisement for the Tough Enough to Wear Pink rodeo that is coming to the Resch Center in Green Bay on April 4-5th. Having just returned from the National Spit Tobacco Summit, I was acutely aware of the Copenhagen banner in the background footage. I called the Three Hills Rodeo company and they confirmed that US Smokeless is one of their sponsors for the rodeo series. At least for the Green Bay event, she noted that US Smokeless and/or Copenhagen will be included on the free rodeo program (500 printed for each event) that you pick up from the novelty booth, but there won't be a banner in the arena.

The Deanna Farve Hope Foundation that provides grants to uninsured and underinsured women with breast cancer is a partner for this event, and will receive a portion of the funds. I have contacted them and asked them to reconsider their partnership with an event that promotes smokeless tobacco use (known cause of oral cancer). Will you do the same? Their contact information is:
http://www.deannafavre4hope.com/hopefoundation/contact+us/default1.asp

This is a family event. Check out their promotion:
"Three Hills Rodeo brings you this World's Toughest Bulls and Broncs event. Friday night is Family Night - adult tickets are $5 off with advance purchase and kids receive a free cowboy hat. On Saturday, don't forget to wear your pink for "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night to help support breast cancer research. Remember kids 12 and under tickets are 1/2 price every day!"
Tobacco-free rodeo links:
http://www.bucktobacco.org/
http://www.givetobaccotheboot.com/

Three Hills Rodeo scheduled events in Wisconsin:
April
4-5 Resch Center Green Bay, WI World's Toughest Bulls & Broncs
18 Alliant Energy Center Madison, WI World's Toughest Bulls & Broncs
May 30-June 1 Wisconsin HS Rodeo Lancaster, WI WHSRA
July
16 Green Co. Fair Monroe, WI PRCA
August
13-14 Juneau Co. Fair Mauston, WI PRCA
16-17 Brown co. Fair DePere, WI PRCA

Contact information for Three Hills Rodeo to ask them to reconsider UST's sponsorship of their rodeo series: http://www.threehillsrodeo.com/index.html

Lt. Governor Lawton to Call for Action on Statewide Smoking Ban

Just incase your in town for lunch...stop on over...

Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton will urge the legislature to pass a statewide ban on smoking in all workplaces at 12:00 p.m. today, Thursday, March 6, 2008 at The Bar in Appleton.
Lt. Governor Lawton will be joined by Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna.
WHERE: The Bar
427 West College Avenue
Appleton
WHEN: 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 6, 2008

Would you like to meet Lance Armstrong?!?!

What: Lance Armstrong at the Citizens for Smoke-free Air Rally
When: Tuesday, March 4th
Day at the Capitol lasts from 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Rally goes from 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Where: Monona Terrace in Madison
1 John Nolen Drive

RSVP here! (Free buses will be leaving from Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wausau, La Crosse, and Eau Claire)