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June 12, 2009

Senate Backs Sweeping Tobacco Regulation
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The Senate has approved a measure that would strengthen government
regulation over the tobacco industry. On Thursday, Senators voted
79-to-17 to give the Food and Drug Administration new authority in
overseeing the manufacture and marketing of tobacco. The FDA would be
able to ban the most harmful of the thousands of chemicals used in
cigarettes and reduce the amount of nicotine. Tobacco companies would
also be forced to disclose the ingredients in their products. The House
passed a similar measure last month. A longtime cigarette smoker
himself, President Obama has vowed to sign the legislation into law.



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