WASHINGTON, D.C. May 15, 2014 Following is a statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing today on the state of tobacco regulation by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA): The hearing today demonstrates the critical need for the FDA to act as quickly as possible to regulate cigars, smokeless tobacco products and electronic cigarettes so these and other increasingly popular tobacco products are kept out of the hands of children. The FDA last month took a critical first step to oversee the full range of addictive tobacco products that are shamelessly marketed to kids, an action that comes fully five years after the FDA began regulating cigarettes. The FDA must quickly finalize its proposal to prohibit sales to people under 18 and require manufacturers to disclose ingredients measures that could help to prevent new users from starting and encourage current users to quit.æWithout swift action from the administration to finalize the rule and take the necessary regulatory steps, many manufacturers of these products can continue to engage in practices, such as advertising and use of flavoring, which can make them appealing to youth. With today 's hearing, HELP Committee Chairman Sen. Harkin is shining a light on the tobacco industry 's unscrupulous practices and highlighting how strong and swift FDA regulation of these products could help protect our kids. ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visitæwww.fightcancer.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lauren Walens or Steven Weiss American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Phone: (202) 661-5763 or (202) 661-5711 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] #tobacco #Harkin #HELP #FDA #cancer #ACSCAN #ecigarette #cigar